Cochlear implant testing and mapping

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Lissa

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What do you do during your yearly mapping appointment and CI testing?

And also how long does it take?
 
Since I have bilateral CIs, my mapping and testing take longer than it would for someone who only has one CI. My appointments usually last anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours. If I have issues I need to discuss with my audi, sometimes I can be there for three hours. During my CI testing, I'm given a standard hearing test to determine which frequencies I'm not hearing well. I'm also given hearing tests to determine how well I can hear single words, sentences in quiet and sentences in noise. The number of words, sentences in quiet and sentences in noise is 50 each. Once my hearing tests are completed, my audi reviews the results with me and we proceed to map my CIs based on this information.
 
I have only the one implant and I can be at the implant centre from under half an hour- 1 hour and half. During this time, my hearing is tested wit my CI, sometimes but rarely they test me with sentences with the audi voice and on the computer, then we do mapping, which can take a while with my twitching eye, trying to reduce it etc, my programme and map hasnt been adjusted for about three years because of this.
It is interesting finding out the differences in people
 
I only see my audi for a hearing test and mapping once a year unless I run into problems that need immediate attention.
 
Hear Again said:
Some CI users require more frequent mappings. This may be due to the fact that sounds become dull or distorted and they need a new map to make them crisp and clear again.
Click to expand...

I agree. So far I've gone for about 8 mapping sessions within a year. I recently got new mapped, I like it a lot, but then now when I'm in the "real world", it sounds a little off, and sounds like someone talking through a walkie-talkie. Looks like I need to get mapped again.

The reason behind this is when you're at your audiologist office, it's not "real environment" as everything is quiet. My audiologist is a female, so I was able to understand her really well with the new map. Now, when I listen to male voices, it sounds like a walkie-talkie. Looks like I need adjustments in the low frequency range.

Some people are happy with going just once a year or so. Others are picky...I am. :)
 
LadySekhmet said:
Some people are happy with going just once a year or so. Others are picky...I am. :)
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with being picky. You went through a big change to have a CI (like having surgery), and you might as well get the best out of it that you can. I am sure I would be the same if I were in your shoes.
 
LadySekhmet said:
Some people are happy with going just once a year or so. Others are picky...I am. :)
Click to expand...

I'm picky too. :giggle:

I prefer to see my audi for mappings every 6 months, so if I notice any difference in what I hear, I will let her know and schedule an appointment.

That being said, I'm typically scheduled for mappings once every 12 months.

Now that I'm hearing better since 6 high frequency electrodes have been turned off on each CI, I don't want to change a thing.

Something I've noticed is how much better my current audi is at mappings compared to my former audi. It seems like I couldn't get a satisfactory map with my former audi. Once I started working with my present audi, I noticed a real difference in what I could hear -- especially now that several electrodes have been disabled.
 
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