Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Hi Janice, In another post you asked about my residual vision and whether or not I use a Braille display. I have light perception and have used a Braille display for computer use since I lost my hearing in 1995. Some of the Braille devices I've used in the past include the PowerBraille 40, Braille Lite and BrailleNote. I own a Braille Star 40 Braille display as well as a BrailleNote 32 BT with Perkins style keyboard. I started using JAWS with speech output last year so I could develop my listening abilities with my CI. So far, everything is coming along well. Although my Braille display is still connected to my computer, I do not use it as much as I used to since I am now able to hear and understand what is being communicated via speech and JAWS. The only time I prefer Braille to speech is when reading a book, magazine or online newspaper. There's nothing like the feel of " seeing " the words underneath your fingers -- although now that I have CIs, I'm re-discovering my love for audiobooks. As a teenager, I used to spend hours upon hours listening to talking books from NLS. I also use a dog guide. I have a 9 year old yellow lab named Tigger. She will be 10 in June and was trained at Leader Dogs in Michigan. We've been together for 8 years now and hope to be for many, many more. She was specifically trained to work with a deafblind person and her guide work is excellent. My previous dog guide was a golden retriever named Sugar. Sugar and I worked together for 8 years until cataracts and arthritis forced her retirement. In another post you asked a question about Medicare and bilaterals. From what I've bee told, Medicare will not pay for a second CI. My second CI was paid for by Medicaid, so if you're able to qualify under their guidelines, you might try finding out more from your audi and/or surgeon. You might also try the Let Them Hear Foundation as I know of two people who were recently able to receive funding for bilaterals through that organization. Unfortunately, I don't have their website at hand, but if you do a Google search for " Let Them Hear Foundation, " I'm sure you can locate it that way. 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 April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 , I am responding to your statement about listening to books. I am like you in that there is some coziness in reading books via braille in my armchair. The other day I heard my friend's Victor CD book player and it was wonderful. Now I am wondering what direction to go in terms of listening to books. Tapes? CD with special book player? Ipod or MP3 player? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 , You said you find a coziness in reading books in braille. I do too. Consider this point as well; you can read braille any time, with CI on or off. That is what I like the best about braille. That said, I plan to use some, just a few, audio books, mostly for listening practice. For that reason, I will try to get books on CD that will play on a regular CD player. *---* *---* *---* *---* *---* There are 10 types of people in the world, those who know binary, and those who don't. & Dreamer Doll (Guide Dawggie) Newport, Oregon N24C 3G 8/2000 Hookup rclark0276@... http://webpages.charter.net/dog_guide/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 , Given how limited my knowledge of MP3's and Ipods are/is, I'd probably opt for books on CD or the Victor Reader. I would think books recorded on CD and/or the Victor would be easier to access since you don't have to spend time bookmarking sections of text in order to remember where you left off like you do with MP3 files. Of course, the same could be said of CD books since you have to locate the CD and portion of text where you last left off. I know there are blind people out there using MP3 players and Ipods, but I have no idea how they download or read books from them. As for myself, I'm going to start off with audiobooks on CD and purchase a Victor or Daisy player until I learn more about MP3's and Ipods. 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 April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 , THanks for your reply. I see you are a late onset deaf person. I am congenitally deaf so I am not sure how well I will understand speech. I hope to work on that. I did get a lot of speech therapy and used the oral method as a child. Okay, now for braille displays... I have a Braille Lite adn Focus 70 and will get Braillenote Mpower 32 with Perkins keyboard soon and also a MPO by Alva (cell phone with braille display) I need it because some of my deaf friends use text messaging only. My question here is can I use Jaws to navigate the listening sites and which media player is best? I tried macromedia and saw a message saying it had some bugs with programs like Jaws. Any suggestion? I may as well call Freedom Scientific for tech support to find out how I can access listening sites. THanks again. Janice Re: Janice > Hi Janice, > > In another post you asked about my residual vision and whether or not I > use > a Braille display. > > I have light perception and have used a Braille display for computer use > since I lost my hearing in 1995. Some of the Braille devices I've used in > the past include the PowerBraille 40, Braille Lite and BrailleNote. I own > a > Braille Star 40 Braille display as well as a BrailleNote 32 BT with > Perkins > style keyboard. > > I started using JAWS with speech output last year so I could develop my > listening abilities with my CI. So far, everything is coming along well. > Although my Braille display is still connected to my computer, I do not > use > it as much as I used to since I am now able to hear and understand what is > being communicated via speech and JAWS. The only time I prefer Braille to > speech is when reading a book, magazine or online newspaper. There's > nothing > like the feel of " seeing " the words underneath your fingers -- although > now > that I have CIs, I'm re-discovering my love for audiobooks. As a teenager, > I > used to spend hours upon hours listening to talking books from NLS. > > I also use a dog guide. I have a 9 year old yellow lab named Tigger. She > will be 10 in June and was trained at Leader Dogs in Michigan. We've been > together for 8 years now and hope to be for many, many more. She was > specifically trained to work with a deafblind person and her guide work is > excellent. My previous dog guide was a golden retriever named Sugar. Sugar > and I worked together for 8 years until cataracts and arthritis forced her > retirement. > > In another post you asked a question about Medicare and bilaterals. From > what I've bee told, Medicare will not pay for a second CI. My second CI > was > paid for by Medicaid, so if you're able to qualify under their guidelines, > you might try finding out more from your audi and/or surgeon. > > You might also try the Let Them Hear Foundation as I know of two people > who > were recently able to receive funding for bilaterals through that > organization. Unfortunately, I don't have their website at hand, but if > you > do a Google search for " Let Them Hear Foundation, " I'm sure you can locate > it that way. > > > > 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 April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 hi Janiece, I listen to a lot of radio stations online. I listen with windows Media Player, Realplayer, or Live365. Larry Re: Janice > > >> Hi Janice, >> >> In another post you asked about my residual vision and whether or not I >> use >> a Braille display. >> >> I have light perception and have used a Braille display for computer use >> since I lost my hearing in 1995. Some of the Braille devices I've used in >> the past include the PowerBraille 40, Braille Lite and BrailleNote. I own >> a >> Braille Star 40 Braille display as well as a BrailleNote 32 BT with >> Perkins >> style keyboard. >> >> I started using JAWS with speech output last year so I could develop my >> listening abilities with my CI. So far, everything is coming along well. >> Although my Braille display is still connected to my computer, I do not >> use >> it as much as I used to since I am now able to hear and understand what >> is >> being communicated via speech and JAWS. The only time I prefer Braille to >> speech is when reading a book, magazine or online newspaper. There's >> nothing >> like the feel of " seeing " the words underneath your fingers -- although >> now >> that I have CIs, I'm re-discovering my love for audiobooks. As a >> teenager, >> I >> used to spend hours upon hours listening to talking books from NLS. >> >> I also use a dog guide. I have a 9 year old yellow lab named Tigger. She >> will be 10 in June and was trained at Leader Dogs in Michigan. We've been >> together for 8 years now and hope to be for many, many more. She was >> specifically trained to work with a deafblind person and her guide work >> is >> excellent. My previous dog guide was a golden retriever named Sugar. >> Sugar >> and I worked together for 8 years until cataracts and arthritis forced >> her >> retirement. >> >> In another post you asked a question about Medicare and bilaterals. From >> what I've bee told, Medicare will not pay for a second CI. My second CI >> was >> paid for by Medicaid, so if you're able to qualify under their >> guidelines, >> you might try finding out more from your audi and/or surgeon. >> >> You might also try the Let Them Hear Foundation as I know of two people >> who >> were recently able to receive funding for bilaterals through that >> organization. Unfortunately, I don't have their website at hand, but if >> you >> do a Google search for " Let Them Hear Foundation, " I'm sure you can >> locate >> it that way. >> >> >> >> 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 April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi Janice. Are you in Miami? I live in Miami too. Who are you seeing for your CI mappings, etc? Who did your implant? I am a candidate currently for a CI, but am waiting to see if my insurance will cover it. They denied the first time, as the Dr requested bilaterals, and they supposedly don't cover that. I am going to the U of M to Dr. Balkany. Take care all. Jane Re: : Question BTW, anyone out there looking for a job? It's in Miami . We need new audies here... Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Jane, It's me, Janice. I saw Dr. Balkany and he was great! There is another surgeon in Miami but I was unable to find anyone who knew about the second surgeon. I went to Dr. Hodges for mapping. Poor thing, she is working alone. They lost two audis and are advertising now. From what I hear Dr. Balkany has a great reputation and is very experienced. If he works on you, you're under very good hands. Perhaps your insurance will accept one implant at a time? I am now working on a second implant and it seems to be going thru but it's too early to say. Janice Re: : Question > > > > BTW, anyone out there looking for a job? > It's in Miami . We need new audies here... > > Janice > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi Janice. Yes, so far I really liked both Dr Balkany and Dr Hodges. I was only actually planning on one CI, but emailed me that she had applied to the insurance for bilaterals, and that they denied it, so she reapplied for one only. I'm still a little nervous about it, but getting more confident that I will be doing the right thing. Thanks for the added vote of confidence in the Drs. I need all the courage I can get. Surgery is always a little scary for me. LOL. Take care. Jane in Miami Re: Janice Jane, It's me, Janice. I saw Dr. Balkany and he was great! There is another surgeon in Miami but I was unable to find anyone who knew about the second surgeon. I went to Dr. Hodges for mapping. Poor thing, she is working alone. They lost two audis and are advertising now. From what I hear Dr. Balkany has a great reputation and is very experienced. If he works on you, you're under very good hands. Perhaps your insurance will accept one implant at a time? I am now working on a second implant and it seems to be going thru but it's too early to say. Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Jane, I, too was nervous! It's such a big deal but the morning of surgery, I was calm. Dr. Balkany has done so many surgeries and can work with difficult situations if necessary which doesn't happen too often. I asked about their failure rate and it was only four patients who didnt make it due to bone mass or something else. You ll be fine! Janice Re: Janice > > > Jane, > > It's me, Janice. I saw Dr. Balkany and he was great! There is another > surgeon in Miami but I was unable to find anyone who knew about the > second > surgeon. I went to Dr. Hodges for mapping. Poor thing, she is working > alone. They lost two audis and are advertising now. From what I hear > Dr. > Balkany has a great reputation and is very experienced. If he works on > you, > you're under very good hands. Perhaps your insurance will accept one > implant at a time? I am now working on a second implant and it seems to > be > going thru but it's too early to say. > > Janice > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Hi Janice. When you say they didn't make it, I hope you mean they still couldn't hear, not that they died! LOL. Thanks again. Jane in Miami Re: Janice Jane, I, too was nervous! It's such a big deal but the morning of surgery, I was calm. Dr. Balkany has done so many surgeries and can work with difficult situations if necessary which doesn't happen too often. I asked about their failure rate and it was only four patients who didnt make it due to bone mass or something else. You ll be fine! Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Jane, Haha! yes, they couldn't hear. They didn't die! SOrry I wasn't clear on that. Jan Re: Janice > > > Jane, > > I, too was nervous! It's such a big deal but the morning of surgery, I > was > calm. Dr. Balkany has done so many surgeries and can work with difficult > situations if necessary which doesn't happen too often. I asked about > their > failure rate and it was only four patients who didnt make it due to bone > mass or something else. > > You ll be fine! > > Janice > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2007 Report Share Posted November 24, 2007 I read an old post of yours that read as follows: #2) Oral motor coordination (motor planning) issues of the tongue. Tongue placement and 'dexterity' is extremely important and I have found that my boy is/was terrible with tongue coordination. We used bite blocks (the end of a wooden spoon will do as well) placed in the mouth at the back molar and had Mark put his tongue there and when he could do this proficiently, wiggle it too. Then the block is removed and replaced to have the exercise repeated. 5 times on each side. We also did an exercise (this one is really hard) to work his tongue. Take a mixer blade and cover a portion of it with peanut butter. Have the child lick off the peanut butter using his tongue while keeping his jaw stable. He is not to move his jaw as a means of moving his tongue. We are trying for good separation here between the jaw and the tongue. I notice that Mark has real difficulty in making his tongue go upwards (i.e.. licking an ice- cream cone) and prefers to lick with his tongue downwards. It just hit me like a brick: My NT daughter who had a language explosion at 14 months after what I now realize was a major detox on a beach vacation has some oral motr stuff. Ice cream, for example...first time she ate it she bit it and never did figure out how to eat it. Hmm.... I swear I see this everywhere. There is an early talker in 's music class. She is sharp and could teach the class. Her tongue protrudes though and she cannot close her mouth. I hate having speech radar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.