Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 , This has happened to me as well. My N24C has been activated for 14 months and I've noticed that I can actually hear bass on my stereo. I didn't think this was possible with a CI, but it is -- at least in my case. I don't have any residual hearing in my N24C ear, so I know I'm not hearing any low frequencies through natural hearing. My guess is that one of three things may be happening -- 1. your hearing is continuing to improve, 2. since you are bilaterally implanted, you are beginning to notice more of a bassy quality to sounds and/or 3. you are due for a new map. I, too, noticed more of a bassy quality to sounds when I had one CI, but it wasn't as pronounced as it is now with bilaterals. One thing I'm really starting to appreciate with bilaterals is more of a difference in vocal quality in people's voices. Sounds are much louder and easier to recognize. I've also found a new appreciation for my 25+ year old component stereo system and floor speakers. Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 Right ear - Nucleus Freedom Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 Hi , I hope that you do not mind if I ask you for clarification. You said from your previous post that " one thing I'm really starting to appreciate with bilaterals is more of a difference in vocal quality in people's voices. " I am really curious because I am trying to decide which brand to go for, and I am currently not convinced to try either Freedom or Auria. The brand isn't the question, but the speech quality is the focus here. I am looking for something that will give me better speech quality like you say vocal quality in people's voices. I lack imagination when you say that you are appreciating with bilaterals and vocal quality. I have couple questions and I hope that you can help answer them if you can: a) Can you understand somebody else's speech over the telephone and television as well as hearing it without lipreading? Does the bilaterals actually nurture and enforce your confidence and trust in what you hear? c) Before you were implanted with Freedom, were you able to understand the speech, use the phone, and understand without lipreading? I also wonder if I am asking these questions to you too early since you recently got activated--March 3rd. I am interested in your progress because I am thinking about getting a second CI soon! Kent --Mekutochi Left Ear -- Cochlear Nucleus Freedom Implanted: August 15, 2005 Activated: August 23, 2005 Right Ear -- Pending > > , > > This has happened to me as well. My N24C has been activated for 14 months > and I've noticed that I can actually hear bass on my stereo. I didn't think > this was possible with a CI, but it is -- at least in my case. I don't have > any residual hearing in my N24C ear, so I know I'm not hearing any low > frequencies through natural hearing. > > My guess is that one of three things may be happening -- 1. your hearing is > continuing to improve, 2. since you are bilaterally implanted, you are > beginning to notice more of a bassy quality to sounds and/or 3. you are due > for a new map. I, too, noticed more of a bassy quality to sounds when I had > one CI, but it wasn't as pronounced as it is now with bilaterals. > > > One thing I'm really starting to appreciate with bilaterals is more of a > difference in vocal quality in people's voices. Sounds are much louder and > easier to recognize. I've also found a new appreciation for my 25+ year old > component stereo system and floor speakers. > > > > Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G > Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 > > Right ear - Nucleus Freedom > Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2006 Report Share Posted March 18, 2006 Hi , Basey? Low frequency? Couple questions came up. When did you have CI? How many mappings have you had so far? I remembered after second mapping that I heard everything was at low frequency. I hated how men talked, and there were times that I had to ask them to change their pitch (laugh). It was awful for me, and I was really missing the high frequency including women's voice and music! I was really " homesick " for a while--I couldn't think of a better word but I hoped that you got my drift. Imagine listening to women in very low frequency? My dating life was temporarily disastrous! (soft laugh) Kent --Mekutochi Left Ear -- Cochlear Nucleus Freedom Implanted: August 15, 2005 Activated: August 23, 2005 Right Ear -- Pending > > Anyone know why sounds would become more basey? It's been a few weeks since > I saw the audie. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi, I hope you don't mind if I take a stab at these questions! a) I can absolutely understand speech on the phone and from the television. It's been 5 1/2 years since I was implanted and the phone took me several months from initially trying to get a really good at. At first the quality of sound from the phone was very disappointing but eventually I was able to discern who was talking to me without asking. Each time I talk to a new person, it takes a while before I can recognize who that person is without asking...but it does happen. Some TV shows are clearer to understand than others. I like to have the captions on no matter what because... why not? I can also understand movies but I still enjoy going to captioned movies because the more input I get the happier I am. I can't speak to bilateral implants but bilateral hearing is the tops! With only one side of hearing the sound is more flat and tinny. With bilateral hearing the sound is more full and rich and enjoyable. I recently bought a digital hearing aid for my unimplanted side. One dcay I was listening to a friend play his guitar through a new amp he bought. When I listened with both sides turned on it was amazing. With only the implant it just wasn't as good. If I ever lose more residual hearing in my left ear then I will go bilateral CI. For now, though, I'm perfectly happy with my implant and the HA together. Before I was implanted, I could barely hear anything without lipreading anymore. Music was all drumbeats, the phone was only possible with my parents and sister and my Mom had to pick up my messages from my answering machine for me. I hadn't been to a movie in years, and I had to run around my classroom to get close enough to each kid I called on to make sure I could hear something and lipread at the same time. Horrible! Now, my biggest problem is that people forget that I am still a hearing disabled person so sometimes they don't understand why I still may misunderstand a word or 2 when I am trying to hear in a lot of noise. I'll take it! I have a journal of all my implant experiences to share if you or anyone else would like to read it! N24C 9/2000 In a message dated 3/19/2006 8:11:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, mekutochi@... writes: I have couple questions and I hope that you can help answer them if you can: a) Can you understand somebody else's speech over the telephone and television as well as hearing it without lipreading? Does the bilaterals actually nurture and enforce your confidence and trust in what you hear? c) Before you were implanted with Freedom, were you able to understand the speech, use the phone, and understand without lipreading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 good morning and , It's so good to see you posting, . I have also noticed greater fidelity and a more enhanced bass response in music, especially with headphones, after becoming bilateral. I know it will only get better! I found a good website for practicing with your CI: www.voaspecialenglish.com You must donload realplayer or windows media to access this website. Although this site was designed for people learning English as a second language, it is fantastic for people with a CI. They read the news and other features slowly and pronounce words clearly without accents. Larry Re: Basey > , > > This has happened to me as well. My N24C has been activated for 14 months > and I've noticed that I can actually hear bass on my stereo. I didn't > think > this was possible with a CI, but it is -- at least in my case. I don't > have > any residual hearing in my N24C ear, so I know I'm not hearing any low > frequencies through natural hearing. > > My guess is that one of three things may be happening -- 1. your hearing > is > continuing to improve, 2. since you are bilaterally implanted, you are > beginning to notice more of a bassy quality to sounds and/or 3. you are > due > for a new map. I, too, noticed more of a bassy quality to sounds when I > had > one CI, but it wasn't as pronounced as it is now with bilaterals. > > > One thing I'm really starting to appreciate with bilaterals is more of a > difference in vocal quality in people's voices. Sounds are much louder and > easier to recognize. I've also found a new appreciation for my 25+ year > old > component stereo system and floor speakers. > > > > Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G > Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 > > Right ear - Nucleus Freedom > Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 and Kent, When the Freedom was activated and the only CI on, I was struck by the crispness of words but found it very basey to the point of annoyance really because everything was too low pitched, like Kent said, and I too was " homesick " (good word!) for the high frequencies. With being relatively new with the Freedom, I knew I needed to give myself time to adapt to it. After a few MAPpings, I expressed discomfort to the audie about the baseyness and he eased it some. Now it basey again, as is the3G, and I likely need another MAPping. , do you have any residual hearing in the Freedom ear? Kent, if you already have one CI, wouldn't you go with a CI from the same company? Kent I received my N24 in 2000 and the Freedom in July, 2005. Not sure how many MAPpings I've had since last summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi , I have a CI, and it is Freedom. I love having it, and I still do. You know that the research is rare for Freedom, and I do not know if getting another Freedom for my right ear would make everything better than just having one Freedom. I notice that many implantees have two different brands. We all have different experiences so that makes my decision very hard to make. I do not want to rely on the word of my audiologist or my friends who are in the audiology field. I do not want to be biased and realize that I have not researched enough. I can not believe how much support I have from my family, friends, and professionals. They realize how much I have changed with my Freedom, and they want me to have another one. They have so much confidence in the second implant. I will admit that my experience with Freedom is SO GOOD and the progress. It will greatly influences my decision to have Freedom; therefore, I am very much likely to get it. At least, I want to be confident that I am making a reasonable, realistic decision about getting another Freedom. Kent --Mekutochi Left Ear -- Cochlear Nucleus Freedom Implanted: August 15, 2005 Activated: August 23, 2005 Right Ear -- Pending <wdywms@...> wrote: and Kent, When the Freedom was activated and the only CI on, I was struck by the crispness of words but found it very basey to the point of annoyance really because everything was too low pitched, like Kent said, and I too was " homesick " (good word!) for the high frequencies. With being relatively new with the Freedom, I knew I needed to give myself time to adapt to it. After a few MAPpings, I expressed discomfort to the audie about the baseyness and he eased it some. Now it basey again, as is the3G, and I likely need another MAPping. , do you have any residual hearing in the Freedom ear? Kent, if you already have one CI, wouldn't you go with a CI from the same company? Kent I received my N24 in 2000 and the Freedom in July, 2005. Not sure how many MAPpings I've had since last summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 , I'm glad you're enjoying the benefits of bilateral hearing through your CI and HA. Thank you for sharing your experience regarding clarity of sound. I thought I was in the minority because I, too, have noticed some of the same observations as you in regards to radio and TV programming. Sounds and voices are so much clearer and understandable with both CIs, but there are still times I have difficulty understanding voices -- especially female voices that are above a certain pitch. It's good to know I'm not alone. Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 Right ear - Nucleus Freedom Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi , I believe I may have some low frequency hearing in my Freedom ear, but I haven't had any tests to confirm hat as of yet. I think those tests will take place at my 6 month evaluation. When I wore my Oticon 3800P and turned the volume as far as it could go, I could hear the TV when the volume was very loud. I could also hear my stereo at maximum volume when wearing large headphones. I don't know how useable that hearing is, but I can hear something. It will be interesting to see my audiogram at that time to find out how much hearing I have. As for the bassy quality to sounds...I can understand why that quality would be irritating to you. I don't feel the same way at the moment, but perhaps that's due to the fact that I've been activated for only 2 weeks. I'm sure as my Freedom side continues to improve, the crispness of the right side will be more noticeable. Will you be upgrading to the Freedom once it's available for the N24C? Perhaps your audi can request an upgrade based on the fact that the bassy quality of what you hear with the 3G necessitates (sp?) that you use the Freedom in place of the 3G? Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 Right ear - Nucleus Freedom Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2006 Report Share Posted March 19, 2006 Hi , I am curious since I failed to do this with my digital hearing aid. How can you hear the hearing aid on one ear and the processor on the other ear? My brain couldn't pick up the sounds from the ear aided a hearing aid because it is focusing on the other side aided with a processor. Did you try to train yourself, or hearing from the hearing aid a natural thing for you? Regards, Kent --Mekutochi Left Ear -- Cochlear Nucleus Freedom Implanted: August 15, 2005 Activated: August 23, 2005 Right Ear -- Pending Ci92000@... wrote: Hi, I hope you don't mind if I take a stab at these questions! a) I can absolutely understand speech on the phone and from the television. It's been 5 1/2 years since I was implanted and the phone took me several months from initially trying to get a really good at. At first the quality of sound from the phone was very disappointing but eventually I was able to discern who was talking to me without asking. Each time I talk to a new person, it takes a while before I can recognize who that person is without asking...but it does happen. Some TV shows are clearer to understand than others. I like to have the captions on no matter what because... why not? I can also understand movies but I still enjoy going to captioned movies because the more input I get the happier I am. I can't speak to bilateral implants but bilateral hearing is the tops! With only one side of hearing the sound is more flat and tinny. With bilateral hearing the sound is more full and rich and enjoyable. I recently bought a digital hearing aid for my unimplanted side. One dcay I was listening to a friend play his guitar through a new amp he bought. When I listened with both sides turned on it was amazing. With only the implant it just wasn't as good. If I ever lose more residual hearing in my left ear then I will go bilateral CI. For now, though, I'm perfectly happy with my implant and the HA together. Before I was implanted, I could barely hear anything without lipreading anymore. Music was all drumbeats, the phone was only possible with my parents and sister and my Mom had to pick up my messages from my answering machine for me. I hadn't been to a movie in years, and I had to run around my classroom to get close enough to each kid I called on to make sure I could hear something and lipread at the same time. Horrible! Now, my biggest problem is that people forget that I am still a hearing disabled person so sometimes they don't understand why I still may misunderstand a word or 2 when I am trying to hear in a lot of noise. I'll take it! I have a journal of all my implant experiences to share if you or anyone else would like to read it! N24C 9/2000 In a message dated 3/19/2006 8:11:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, mekutochi@... writes: I have couple questions and I hope that you can help answer them if you can: a) Can you understand somebody else's speech over the telephone and television as well as hearing it without lipreading? Does the bilaterals actually nurture and enforce your confidence and trust in what you hear? c) Before you were implanted with Freedom, were you able to understand the speech, use the phone, and understand without lipreading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 , Sounds as if you may have some residual hearing. Mine is limited; it turned out not to be enough for an in-ear-ear aid. . My powerful BTE aid got lost in surgery so I never had an opportunity to try it post surgery. Will be interesting what you find out at 6 months. I don't know if I'll be able to get the Freedom backward compatible software for the other ear, but it would be nice if it better the hearing in the other ear. Will you get it for the other ear? I think the more you you rely on Jaws, the better you will be able to pick up on errors. It's not fool proof but close enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 , I received two speech processors, so when the Freedom is compatible with the N24C, I will be using it for the left ear. My two 3Gs will be used as spares. Editing with Jaws continues to improve day by day as I learn more about certain features. Right now I'm using most of the basic commands, but hope to progress to intermediate and advanced settings within the coming months. So far, I love using speech and have even noticed the male voice I use for Jaws taking on more of a natural sound quality when I listen only with the Freedom. Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with 3G Implanted: 12/22/04 Activated: 1/18/05 Right ear - Nucleus Freedom Implanted: 2/1/06 Activated: 3/1/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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