Sam & audiologists

[Guest guest]

Hi Sam,

I think if you're at the max volume and aren't understanding speech,

then it's time to switch to a different program. If all your maps are

too soft, then it's time for the audiologist to listen to YOU and put on

a stronger map. Amazing as it seems, I ran through my first map in

HOURS. Was shopping around the town where the implant center was (2

hours from my home), and couldn't hear anything, so I went right back to

the center and had him boost the volume level. Takes literally minutes

to do this. Just move the volume level with the computer. They don't

have to go through T & C levels or anything. But YOU know when you need

more volume.

The sensitivity should be down lower than 12, which is I think the

max. That is going to bring in all kinds of background noises to compete

with the hearing. So you need sensitivity around 4-6 and volume about 7,

so you can boost it up when you need to. If it's already at 9 (which

again I think is the max) and you can't hear, you have nowhere to go.

You should NOT be at the max setting for either volume or sensitivity on

a map, because it leaves you nothing to play with. Remind the

audiologist of this. 7 for an understandable speech max (in case you run

into a little child with a tiny voice), and sensitivity around 5, so you

can increase it if you want.

Are there other audiologists in the practice who might listen to you.

Remind Mr. Audiologist that you have to PAY for these mappings, and that

he can put on 4 programs, each on progressively louder so that when you

max out on one, you can switch to another, and then you can talk a couple

weeks between mappings.

It is SO frustrating to " almost " hear something and know that with a bit

more volume you could hear and understand it. So if the audiologist

isn't going to cooperate and do what you want (within reason), then NOW

is the time to switch.

And tell him that. Most set 4 maps with progressive loudness anyway;

can't imagine why yours didn't. You don't need to waste time and money

and not have anything to work with.

Do you know which strategy you are working with? Probably ACE. So

ask him to put one CIS map on for you and one SPEAK map.

BTW, Cliff Bemis wrote that " White Christmas " is a huge hit in San

Francisco, and the audiences are " eating it up " .

Don't settle for a bad map, get something you can work with.

Keep me advised.

Nucleus Volunteer

Subject: Re: Sam & mapping

Hi ,

Sorry for the delay in answering your email. It's been hectic. As for

my

volume and sensitivity, it's set at 9 and 12. Apparently that is how my

audiologist was trained. Although I've told him a few times that I

wanted

to turn up the volume, he didn't change it. Apparently he needs to learn

to

listen. The only way to turn up the volume is to change the program.

Today

I switched to P4 and he didn't think I would get there before January.

Now

I'm waiting to see if he'll schedule another mapping for me next week.

He

is a newbie so I've been giving him the benefit of the doubt. However,

now

I feel like I'm suffering because of it. At what point do you decide to

change audiologists? Since it's early for me, maybe I just need to be

more

patient?

Regards,

Sam

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Actually, 20 is the max for the sensitivity. I tried it out. I tried

lowering the sensitivity like you did. It did soften the background noise

but it made speech sound a bit flat. For example, I was doing a listening

exercise and I was wondering why I couldn't hear the 's' sound like before.

Then I remembered I turned the sensitivity down. It was at 8 so I turned it

back up to 12.

I'm making a list of concerns to bring to my audiologist. Unfortunately, he

did not make an appointment for me this coming week. I'm going out of town

on the 23rd and will be back on the 31st. Will not see him until the 3rd.

Today I decided to take a break from my CI. I know I'm not supposed to do

this but I've been frustrated lately and didn't feel like dealing with the

CI. I'm using my HA today and, boy, do I feel relieved! One thing that

puzzled me is that some of you have mentioned that sounds were beginning to

sound " natural " . I wondered what that meant as sounds sound " mechanical " to

me with the CI. With my HA, everything sounds " natural " . I don't hear all

of the sounds that I hear with the CI and the sounds I do hear are much more

softer. I guess maybe I just needed a little peace and quiet for a change.

Regards,

Sam

N24C: 10/06/2004

BWP: 11/11/2004

CI: Left

HA: Right

[Guest guest]

Sam,

The brain is still being " molded " meaning that its still getting used to

the new sound. The " natural " phenomena is relative to each of us. At some

point the brain is going to think that sound is natiural thru the CI. I

think using the HA is only going to put off that recognition. You are only

a month into your CI journey. Remember this?

" Keep the hope high, keep the expectations low. "

As to changing the settings, they are not carved in stone. Its only

when one feels the need to set it to minimum or maximum that its time to run

to the audie for a new map.

*---* *---* *---* *---* *---*

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

--

& Gimlet (Guide Dawggie)

Portland, Oregon

N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup

rlclark77@...

http://home.comcast.net/~rlclark77/

[Guest guest]

Sam - you need to write down everything you are hearing - the good and the bad

and take it to a mapping. If you leave and you are unhappy with the map, call

for a new one. Be a pest! You are a newly activated CI user and you need to

have very frequent maps. Some need more than others. Remember - you are paying

for this and it is something you are doing for yourself. You are the only

person that can truly advocate for Sam. Let the wheels squeak!

Alice