Hearing for the first time on CI

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Atomic_Catfish

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My daughter recently got her Initial Stimulation for her CI. Just like what her audiologist told us, with the CI, she is basically starting from square 1 as far as hearing goes. Before that depended on both hearing aids.

During the process, she was basically overwhelmed (she's 8 y/o) and didn't know what to make of the new sounds she's hearing, i.e. with hearing aids, she processes sounds aurally; now with the CI, sounds are electronic.

For the adults that are on CI: how do you describe the sounds you heard upon your initial stimulation? Do sounds previously heard aurally differ that much compared to sounds processed by the CI? How long did it take to get used to it?
 
Hello, and Welcome.

It depends on her hearing pre CI. Some hear well straight away some take a while, it's depends on individuals, I started to recongise sounds at about 6 months. It does sound very different to HA's but I prefer the CI to HA due to having much better clairty in sounds. I NEVER heard my dog coming up behind me with HA, Now days i know where he is with out looking!

I was born profoundly deaf and had very little hearing until i was implanted at age of 30!
As an Adult it was over whelming few weeks then it started to settle. As i never heard real sounds so having CI "hearing" I would have to start from stratch. the sounds were not clear at first but once i hear a sound I follow it/ask someone what it is then my brain learns the sound. Later when the sound happens again it's became clearer then i would recongise it. At first it would sound tinny/beeps alot/high pitched then it would normalise.... however I would never know what NORMAL sound is... with my explaination to Audiologist she says that i am hearing almost to normal sound, My Audi and I worked together very well to make sure I am hearing well.

My advice is turn the or keep CI down then go by step to step turning it up through the day/week then move on to louder program. I must warn you that when putting on the CI in the mornings is not nice! (loud then it subsides after few seconds/minutes) Also the first few weeks are very tiring.

Good luck.
 
Atomic_Catfish said:
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For the adults that are on CI: how do you describe the sounds you heard upon your initial stimulation? Do sounds previously heard aurally differ that much compared to sounds processed by the CI? How long did it take to get used to it?
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When I was first turned on, it was most interesting.

At the time, I didn't realize I was getting more of the higher frequency than I ever did with my HA. So, things were different. Not tinny as such (as some describe it) but different. I had the least trouble with voices and understanding speech. That was the easy part for me. I could actually understand what people were saying. My audi was "shielding" her assistant at one point asking me what her assistant was saying. I was able tell her word for word. Even on the way home while driving, I was able to listen (without looking at her as I had to drive) in to my wife's conversation on her cell phone to several different people.

So, I say I had speech down pat by day two across the board. The only exception was my daughter (who was 4 at the time). That took me over a week to get used to her voice (much higher pitch).

Regular sounds were more difficult for me especially if was a noisy environment. We went to a restaurant after hookup to celebrate as a family. I had a hard time with the music in the background, hearing the clashing of silverware and general noises like that. I was having difficulty making sense of it all on day one. The next day was much better as I was already classifying sounds for what they were. I say by day four I was a going concern with general sounds.

The biggest issue overall I think was the "loudness" of everything around me. I would cringe when cars or trucks go by, the toilets flushing in public restrooms, and other such abrupt sounds. Another issue was getting used to the higher pitches that I really didn't hear before with a HA. For example, the water flowing out of a faucet was incredible. I had to ask what that sound was the first time I heard it at home.
 
Thanks for sharing, sr171. The issue with my daughter was, too, hearing the high frequency sounds. It's comforting too that, with what you have described, she'll be able to hear things that she couldn't hear with HA, i.e. birds singing, and crickets :lol:

Her audi (I'm assuming that's the audiologist) suggested that she program the CI at a lower, much tolerable level so that my daughter could bond and accept her CI. Then we can progressively adjust it when she becomes more comfortable with it.

So are you able to hear both low and high frequencies now accurately?
 
Overthepond: In my daughter's case, she has progressive hearing loss. We noticed signs of her hearing being impaired at age 4, so she already had a concept of what most of the sounds are. After the CI activation, the audi mentioned that she had to basically re-learn the sounds processed by the CI, since she was used to wearing HA since 4 y/o.

I saw your blog and the pile of batteries. My daughter's are rechargeables, but they don't last long either, max probably 7-9 hours.
 
Yes. That has been the case since very early on.


BTW - Best of success for your daughter!
 
Atomic_Catfish said:
I saw your blog and the pile of batteries. My daughter's are rechargeables, but they don't last long either, max probably 7-9 hours.
Click to expand...

I have the rechargeables now, much easier and I have the choice of both. Changing the rechargeables are easier since I am teacher assistant and need to switch the batteries quickly. I have used rechargeables alot more since my one year. The disposeables lasts me 4 days, rechargeables about one and half day. Batteries depends on the mappings/the processor. I use the disposables for travelling so i don't have to carry all the equipment!! or emergencies.

Wish you and your daughter all the best of luck.
 
sr171soars said:
When I was first turned on, it was most interesting.

At the time, I didn't realize I was getting more of the higher frequency than I ever did with my HA. So, things were different.

Regular sounds were more difficult for me especially if was a noisy environment. We went to a restaurant after hookup to celebrate as a family. I had a hard time with the music in the background, hearing the clashing of silverware and general noises like that. I was having difficulty making sense of it all on day one. The next day was much better as I was already classifying sounds for what they were. I say by day four I was a going concern with general sounds.

The biggest issue overall I think was the "loudness" of everything around me. I would cringe when cars or trucks go by, the toilets flushing in public restrooms, and other such abrupt sounds. Another issue was getting used to the higher pitches that I really didn't hear before with a HA. For example, the water flowing out of a faucet was incredible. I had to ask what that sound was the first time I heard it at home.
Click to expand...


Very similar apart from speech (i never heard speech so is going through training to learn at the moment) but as he describe the evironmental sounds is very similar. It's very hard to describe Loud!! as it's not painfully loud like HA it's bit like over powering. It will subsides as the hearing progressed.

At this very moment i can hear bath running upstairs!.... thats how incredible CI is!!.... and hears whispers..... As I am learning to hear people talking without lipreading, I could pick out what they are saying.
 
overthepond said:
...As I am learning to hear people talking without lipreading, I could pick out what they are saying.
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The really interesting part for me pertaining to this aspect...

I could understand speech and comprehend what was being said from day one. But it took a while for me to automatically pickup what people said to me when not anticipating them. I think that took me about month or two before I naturally responded with having to think about what they said.

Even better was the ability to "replay" what they said if I didn't get it right away while busy with something. That has been the best part of all.
 
It was more like as if I knew what they were going to say like at work it's always about work, Rather than automatically. Sorry i didn't clarify it in previous post.

However It's same with phone calls, first few questions no problem but once subject had changed I have no idea! Also it's depend on the person I am speaking to for example i cannot hold converstaion with my mum on the phone because she changes subjects ransomly No matter how many times i explained to her not to (even the hearing therapist had told her) her habit still remains. My father is good but bit too soft/quiet but i preserved with him. My grandmother who i can immediately recongise her ways of talking, and KNEW what she was saying but that's probably because i already spent alot of time yakking with her (she lives 30 mins from me and my parents is 2 hour flight away!!)
At work i see those same people 4 days a week and they are quite deaf aware and do speak very clearly anyway, which i find easy to recongise their voice/sound patten and the building is huge, low ceilings and carpeted which is added bonus!!

This is a huge acheivement in my opinion as I never really heard anything with HA's all my life and having had no auditory memory, my Audi, Surgeon and Hearing therapist didn't think i get beyond environmental sounds.

Congrats on your last comment...
 
overthepond said:
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This is a huge acheivement in my opinion as I never really heard anything with HA's all my life and having had no auditory memory, my Audi, Surgeon and Hearing therapist didn't think i get beyond environmental sounds.

Congrats on your last comment...
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Thanks. I'm blessed indeed.

Of course this has been a huge achievement for you. That is great news especially that you are doing better than most thought you would. I hope you can get even better at it. Congratulations!!!

To put all this in perspective, I attended a Cochlear event last January. There were some 50-75 attendees with implants. A question was asked who uses the phone comfortably on a regular basis. I was one of three who raised our hands. I was somewhat surprised as I thought there be some more than that.
 
overthepond said:
At this very moment i can hear bath running upstairs!.... thats how incredible CI is!!.... and hears whispers..... As I am learning to hear people talking without lipreading, I could pick out what they are saying.
Click to expand...

Funny you mentioned that. Her audi said there's a possbility that my daughter can hear sounds from across the room or across the street, 007 ears, as she called it, provided that she programs her CI for that. But she's not going to do it.

How is this possible? Does it just overamplify the sounds?
 
Some of the sounds that were surprising at turn on was all the shh sounds that happens when I was walking and it turn out to be the noise that my knees makes when rubbing in the inside of my jeans. I never even heard that before. The CI implant will start compressing the sounds when it becomes to loud and that is determined by the C levels that are set with the Cochlear brand. Also I have a sensitivity control in which how soft or lound the sounds can be before the implant will response. You rarely adjust the volume as compared to adjusting the sensitivity.
 
sr171soars said:
When I was first turned on, it was most interesting.

At the time, I didn't realize I was getting more of the higher frequency than I ever did with my HA. So, things were different. Not tinny as such (as some describe it) but different. I had the least trouble with voices and understanding speech. That was the easy part for me. I could actually understand what people were saying. My audi was "shielding" her assistant at one point asking me what her assistant was saying. I was able tell her word for word. Even on the way home while driving, I was able to listen (without looking at her as I had to drive) in to my wife's conversation on her cell phone to several different people.

So, I say I had speech down pat by day two across the board. The only exception was my daughter (who was 4 at the time). That took me over a week to get used to her voice (much higher pitch).

Regular sounds were more difficult for me especially if was a noisy environment. We went to a restaurant after hookup to celebrate as a family. I had a hard time with the music in the background, hearing the clashing of silverware and general noises like that. I was having difficulty making sense of it all on day one. The next day was much better as I was already classifying sounds for what they were. I say by day four I was a going concern with general sounds.

The biggest issue overall I think was the "loudness" of everything around me. I would cringe when cars or trucks go by, the toilets flushing in public restrooms, and other such abrupt sounds. Another issue was getting used to the higher pitches that I really didn't hear before with a HA. For example, the water flowing out of a faucet was incredible. I had to ask what that sound was the first time I heard it at home.
Click to expand...

So your saying that you could hear/ understand pretty well from the first day. Do you think given two weeks that i could understand someone singing a song that I knew very well and knew the artist very well? I have surgery next week and get activated jan 6th and 7th with my job being jan 15-19th.

Did you have experience with sound before or were you just an average sound person? for example were you an audiophile?
 
zebadee2010 said:
So your saying that you could hear/ understand pretty well from the first day. Do you think given two weeks that i could understand someone singing a song that I knew very well and knew the artist very well? I have surgery next week and get activated jan 6th and 7th with my job being jan 15-19th.

Did you have experience with sound before or were you just an average sound person? for example were you an audiophile?
Click to expand...

It depends on how well you adapt to using a CI. I have said before that everybody is different. You may be a going concern day one or it may take you a couple of weeks to get things down pat.

There are different aspects of sound one is dealing with. First, there is speech. Then, there is environment noises and lastly, music. You may have speech from the start but struggle with music.

As for being an audiophile, no I could never claim that. Just a normal person who enjoys music. I do recall in the beginning with my CI that I would listen to music non-stop at work to "train" my brain to handle the wide range of sounds.
 
What I have been doing for rehab with the CI:

YouTube I watch and watch even if its something stupid. Listening to many different peoples voices.

I try to use the phone daily in order to get better at it. ( still a lil shy on the phone its been years since i've used one).

I go to Jango - Free Music -- Listen to Music Online - Internet Radio for music, The more I listen the better it gets.

I also have taken guitar lesson's and listening to the guitar has helped heaps in my freq ranges.
Just living life with it is rehab. you got to wear the processor to learn it.
 
overthepond said:
At this very moment i can hear bath running upstairs!.... thats how incredible CI is!!.... and hears whispers..... As I am learning to hear people talking without lipreading, I could pick out what they are saying.
Click to expand...

:lol: We have to be very careful with my daughter: she can hear us discussing things in a very ow voice from another room (def. Christmas presents, chocolate,visiting friends, but never if it's about cleaning her room, brushing teeth, etc.), she's picked up up inappropriate language from outside the house when my husband dropped something on his foot (ooops!).

But that superhero hearing is also a drawback: in a classroom, she's hearing the kids playing outside if the window is open, children in the hallway, children talking among themselves, chairs moving across the floor, cars, air conditioning blowers, instead of the teacher. Can be VERY distracting if all of that is coming it at the same level and she has to consciously determine which to focus on, rather than the way typically hearing people have learned to automatically dampen environmental sounds when listening to specific voices.
 
I guess the hardest thing in getting used to my Implant was the massive amount of sounds that i MISSED WITH MY hEARING AID BEFORE becoming Bilateral deaf. It takes a long time for your brain to "kick in and filter out-unwanted sounds" which "normal hearing" do.
That is why-I was advised at Sunnybrook/Toronto-to keep your Implant on all the time and get used to all of this new sound-to you. The exact time for everyone is very different which is not a surprise.Each of us is an individual which is why it is hard to advise anyone else on the specific of the entire process.That is why the audi listens to YOU! You must be honest on what is happening! I have just crossed over the 3 year anniversary date of implantation-recently.

Implanted Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07
 
she is basically starting from square 1 as far as hearing goes. Before that depended on both hearing aids
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. On the other hand, she is progressively dhh. It's not like she started out with a flat profound loss, and is learning to hear from scratch. She's got the hearing memory, pretty much like someone who's late deaf.
 
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