Cochlear is offering free shipping this month for web orders. It's usually $9.95 for shipping and it's shipped FedEx 2 day.
I'm sorely tempted to buy David a Hatis system for his phone, but even on sale with free shipping it's pricey. It's worth it right?
So, Jaime corrected David yesterday when he mispronounced Ballerina. We all got a laugh out of that.
I honestly can say that I never appreciated how difficult the English language is until David started speech therapy.
Listen is pronounced liss-en, not LIS-TEN. I never realized that certain letters have the same mouth position, just different vocalizations. Why would you if you're hearing?
When you grow up as a hearing person, it's second nature. You learn to speak that way and you don't really have to work at it. It's much easier to learn when you're young. David is working very hard to learn it at 28.
Jen, if you read this, I'd like to congratulate you on your recent surgery, and David and I wish you all the luck in the world with your upcoming activation :)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
(and news of improvement...)
Me, not David.
David continues to rock his implant. He's in speech therapy now, working with Rebecca once a week. He's making progress, though it's slow and frustrating at times.
Right now they're working on recognizing vowels sounds in closed sets of words, and working on l,r,w for consonants.
As far as how the implant has improved his hearing, here are the before and after audiograms!
The first one is pre-surgery from his CI evaluation. I left the info on the bottom so that you can get a gist of what it all means.
The second image is from ONE MONTH post activation. ONE MONTH. That is HUGE.
He went from 43% accuracy with his hearing aids on his HINT test with only auditory cues, to 76% correct with his implant. He scored 100% with auditory and visual cues in quiet conditions.
I can't wait until his next audiogram to see how things are changing.
We both continue to work hard, and it is paying off in a major way!
David continues to rock his implant. He's in speech therapy now, working with Rebecca once a week. He's making progress, though it's slow and frustrating at times.
Right now they're working on recognizing vowels sounds in closed sets of words, and working on l,r,w for consonants.
As far as how the implant has improved his hearing, here are the before and after audiograms!
The first one is pre-surgery from his CI evaluation. I left the info on the bottom so that you can get a gist of what it all means.
The second image is from ONE MONTH post activation. ONE MONTH. That is HUGE.
He went from 43% accuracy with his hearing aids on his HINT test with only auditory cues, to 76% correct with his implant. He scored 100% with auditory and visual cues in quiet conditions.
I can't wait until his next audiogram to see how things are changing.
We both continue to work hard, and it is paying off in a major way!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Mickey Mouse and Cell phones.
Mickey Mouse. Apparently when David was first activated this is what I sounded like. I asked him yesterday if I still sounded like that. He said "no, you sound normal now." I asked what normal was, he said I have a pitched voice (not high, not low) and that it sounds like it did with his hearing aid.
He's hearing everything "like a hearing aid" now. It sounds the same, not so mechanical, but sharper, clearer. It's amazing. I can't wait to see how he does with speech therapy, and what changes that brings about.
The good thing about the speech is that Martha (audiologist) and Rebecca (speech therapist) will be working together and communicating to better map David's implant. If he's having a hard time with a certain sound, Rebecca will let Martha know and she'll tweak that electrode so David will hear better.
Cell phones. David was able to talk to me and carry on a clear conversation with the HOUSE PHONE. From the cell phone it isn't as clear. In fact, he had to switch to talk on his left ear, with the hearing aid. I don't know what his current phone is rated. We're about to both switch cell phones. I'm looking for phones with a T4/M4 rating for David.
Maybe someone can answer this question for me...
Would it make a difference if he was on a T4 and I was on a T3? Should we both be on T4's? Would that make things clearer?
He's hearing everything "like a hearing aid" now. It sounds the same, not so mechanical, but sharper, clearer. It's amazing. I can't wait to see how he does with speech therapy, and what changes that brings about.
The good thing about the speech is that Martha (audiologist) and Rebecca (speech therapist) will be working together and communicating to better map David's implant. If he's having a hard time with a certain sound, Rebecca will let Martha know and she'll tweak that electrode so David will hear better.
Cell phones. David was able to talk to me and carry on a clear conversation with the HOUSE PHONE. From the cell phone it isn't as clear. In fact, he had to switch to talk on his left ear, with the hearing aid. I don't know what his current phone is rated. We're about to both switch cell phones. I'm looking for phones with a T4/M4 rating for David.
Maybe someone can answer this question for me...
Would it make a difference if he was on a T4 and I was on a T3? Should we both be on T4's? Would that make things clearer?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
small update...
David starts speech therapy next week :)
After that, he'll be re-mapped.
♥ appointments...
After that, he'll be re-mapped.
♥ appointments...
Another CI victory
So, I went to a party last night. It was a Silpada party, very pretty (expensive) silver jewelry. I don't wear silver, but it was fun to get out.
ANYWAY, I do have a point to this post.
David called me. He called me from the home phone (we NEVER use the home phone!!). I realized that he never ONCE said "huh, what?" He told me he wanted to try out the phone with the implant.
He was carrying on a conversation using his implant! That is HUGE!!! I asked him if he was using the captions (we have a CapTel phone)and he said NO!! Unfortunately, the phone apparently took a fall and the screen is a bit messed up. We'll have to get that fixed...
Amazing. It's been just over a month and already if he's not wearing his processor it's harder to communicate. He is rocking the implant.
The phone. THE PHONE!!!!
ANYWAY, I do have a point to this post.
David called me. He called me from the home phone (we NEVER use the home phone!!). I realized that he never ONCE said "huh, what?" He told me he wanted to try out the phone with the implant.
He was carrying on a conversation using his implant! That is HUGE!!! I asked him if he was using the captions (we have a CapTel phone)and he said NO!! Unfortunately, the phone apparently took a fall and the screen is a bit messed up. We'll have to get that fixed...
Amazing. It's been just over a month and already if he's not wearing his processor it's harder to communicate. He is rocking the implant.
The phone. THE PHONE!!!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Another weekend has come and gone.
First, I'm going to photowhore some pictures of absolute perfection.
Now a different kind of perfection...
Lastly for the pictures...
*whew* All done slamming photos in your faces.
Have you ever noticed it's harder to listen and pay attention when you're exhausted? David is the same way. I think everyone is. It's just harder for us when he's exhausted. He doesn't concentrate on the sounds, and then he gets frustrated, I get frustrated, and the kids get frustrated.
My tip of the day:
When you're tired GO TO BED!!!
LOL :)
Now a different kind of perfection...
Lastly for the pictures...
*whew* All done slamming photos in your faces.
Have you ever noticed it's harder to listen and pay attention when you're exhausted? David is the same way. I think everyone is. It's just harder for us when he's exhausted. He doesn't concentrate on the sounds, and then he gets frustrated, I get frustrated, and the kids get frustrated.
My tip of the day:
When you're tired GO TO BED!!!
LOL :)
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