zebadee2010,
I'm not sure if you mentioned previously, but what is the type of job that you hope to start in early January ?
The CI is not even remotely close to being able to distinguish if a specific pitch is 'in tune' or not (ie by listening if one "A" is A440 while another is A442 etc).
This is simply beyond the technology of any CI right now or for the foreseeable future.
I would strongly recommend that if you haven't already done so you find and regularly see a therapist as well as a psychologist to help you on this journey.
You are hoping that with the CI you will become "hearing" ... however this is not reality (and hoping really hard won't make it so). The CI will HOPEFULLY allow you to access at least some speech sounds ... however you mentioned that you have various types of damage to the cochlea - damage that may or may not impact how well the device will work for you.
While those who go through the implantation process always HOPE that they'll be one of the (many) who are able to hear and UNDERSTAND speech etc ... there are still those who are able to hear speech but not understand/process it in a meaningful way.
There are those who do ok in person, but are unable to use the phone even after years.
You will have a very long, hard journey ahead of you ... and to think that working everyday for a few weeks is going to get you to the point that you hear AND understand speech - is something that I think you really really need to discuss with your CI team in a frank and honest manner. I also think that you really need to discuss your over all expectations for what the implant is able to do with your team.
Best outcome - you'll be able to understand speech etc once you're implanted WHILE you wear the CI ... but you'll still have situations were you will be entirely deaf.
You'll need to make sure that you have an alarmclock such as a Sonic Boom that have a tactile (vibrating) and/or visual signal to wake you (you're not living with mum forever!).
You'll have to have visual smoke/fire/carbon monoxide detectors (you don't sleep with the CI on).
You'll need think about sports, recreation etc and how to stay safe
You might be able to hear with the implant - but you will also be deaf. forever.
While you might not think that learning ASL etc is useful now ... I know a number of people who had normal hearing, went deaf, were implanted and thought they'd be "basically hearing again" ... then found out that they really struggled with speech in many environments (espeically if they are unilaterally implanted) and started learning ASL to supplement their spoken language especially for situations where the CI has to be removed (bathing, swimming, water parks, some contact sports etc)
The job i'm going to be working is a christian winter conference. I'll be doing the words on the screen for the song lyrics. I don't have to be able to distinguish different pitches and such just overall lyrics.
Also the cochlea damage is only to one ear, and for the person who asked I got it from hitting my head on concrete floor from a 3 1/2 foot drop. They say that my right ear is just fine, minus the hearing part.
I don't need a therapist or psychiatrist. I'll be just fine without one. I feel as though you don't have one of these and just look down upon them as I have found out many people are able to understand speech upon activation day.
Working hard is the only way to success, and I feel that this helps my chances a lot more than just taking it slowly! I also think that its dumb to say have a discussion with my audiologist because right now I cant hear!
As for the time being I think that i'll be fine without an alarm clock, I don't see why I couldn't wear it at night. And as for a visual alarm clock, or a visual smoke/fire detector. I don't see how either of these would help me while i'm asleep.
I've never been a sports person and now i'm out of high school so i don't really have any teams i could play for if i wanted too. I'm a nature person, I like taking pictures and playing xbox or messing on the computer.
And sure I'll be "deaf forever" when its off, but when its on i'll get to continue to see the world with sound. Its been so hard for me not being able to hear anything. I can barely walk because I can't hear anything. I'm putting all of this in God's hands. If he wants me to hear in time to work it will be so. If he doesn't that will also be so. He is the great Physician. He is the ultimate Doctor who can heal and do anything if He wants.
Is it likely that after a year my natural hearing will come back? No.
Does that mean its not possible? No.
So until then I'm going to stick with my God and let him guide me.
It must suck when all you have to do in life is try and put someone else down..
, I've always been fascinated with ASL do you know how it is to learn?
