Hm... Going to see if I can get a CI soon.

Dark-Half

Dark-Half

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Date is set for Jan 10th. Time went by rather quickly, got a 300 mile drive to spokane, wa to meet the people, do the tests and such. I do not like being caught off-guard and would like to know what sort of things I should expect.

I already know they're going to question me about my history, probably run a CAT scan and stick me in the box again (By box I am referring to the soundproof room where they stick headphones on you and send you noises to see if you can 'hear' I did this for years as a kid every great once in awhile with nothing but tickles from vibrations of the headphones)

Anyways, I... eh sort of want my own thread as well seeing everyone makes their own threads when they get it done ehehe~ I'll keep you guys ... updated!

If I do qualify I am going to be a nervous wreck and I don't think I'll be able to sleep. I really want this, although hospitals give me the heebie-jeebies.
 
Good Luck!!!

You need to think about what your expectations are for CI...keep them low! They will be asking you about that!
 
Dark-Half,

Lucia's advice is excellent. The CI mantra is, "high hopes, low expectations." If you follow that, you shouldn't have any problem. Good luck and do keep us posted on how your evaluation goes! :)
 
Best of luck with your journey! :)
 
The CI mantra is, "high hopes, low expectations."
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Exactly............a blank slate for which everything is possible and nothing is promised.
 
When CI users have low expectations (or none at all), many of them are surprised at how much benefit they receive from the CI. In my case, I went into my activation day with a sense of fun and adventure. I had *no* expectation that I would be able to understand speech or make sense of environmental sounds. As it turned out, it took me 2 weeks before I could understand speech. However, on the day of my activation, I was like a child on Christmas day enjoying all of the environmental sounds I was hearing. As a totally blind person, I once again felt connected to the world. Thanks to my CI, I could hear my footsteps, an object being slid across a table, a door opening/closing and my guide dog's collar jingling. I can still remember my former CI audi telling me how refreshing it was to hear me marvel at all of the environmental sounds I was hearing. She said, "Most of my patients focus on the fact that they can't understand speech and here you are expressing joy at hearing the simplest environmental sounds. I wish more of my patients could appreciate their CIs in the same way." Even now, I still take great pleasure in hearing environmental sounds. While I don't hear as many "new" sounds as I did when my first CI was activated, there are still plenty of "CI moments" to enjoy. :)
 
Hear Again said:
When CI users have low expectations (or none at all), many of them are surprised at how much benefit they receive from the CI. In my case, I went into my activation day with a sense of fun and adventure. I had *no* expectation that I would be able to understand speech or make sense of environmental sounds. As it turned out, it took me 2 weeks before I could understand speech. However, on the day of my activation, I was like a child on Christmas day enjoying all of the environmental sounds I was hearing. As a totally blind person, I once again felt connected to the world. Thanks to my CI, I could hear my footsteps, an object being slid across a table, a door opening/closing and my guide dog's collar jingling. I can still remember my former CI audi telling me how refreshing it was to hear me marvel at all of the environmental sounds I was hearing. She said, "Most of my patients focus on the fact that they can't understand speech and here you are expressing joy at hearing the simplest environmental sounds. I wish more of my patients could appreciate their CIs in the same way." Even now, I still take great pleasure in hearing environmental sounds. While I don't hear as many "new" sounds as I did when my first CI was activated, there are still plenty of "CI moments" to enjoy. :)
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Oh yea!!! I had a question that I had been meaning to ask u but kept forgetting to post it. Ok, now that u are able to hear well with your CI, do u rely on spoken English to communicate with hearing people without any tactile signs?
 
shel90 said:
Oh yea!!! I had a question that I had been meaning to ask u but kept forgetting to post it. Ok, now that u are able to hear well with your CI, do u rely on spoken English to communicate with hearing people without any tactile signs?
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Shel,

Yes I do. I no longer use a tactile interpreter -- although I continued using one during the first 2-3 months following my (1st) CI activation. I found the use of TC to be very beneficial in allowing me to piece together what I was hearing with what was being communicated in tactile sign. (Sometimes this presented its own set of challenges since spoken English does not resemble PSE.) Once speech became clearer and I was confident in what I was hearing, I no longer found it necessary to use a tactile interpreter. However, I still keep up my signing by participating in social activities for the Deaf and deafblind.
 
Good luck.

For your own story.... this might be a good time to start a blog.

I did that for Lotte-Sofie and wish I had done it earlier....
 
Cloggy said:
Good luck.

For your own story.... this might be a good time to start a blog.

I did that for Lotte-Sofie and wish I had done it earlier....
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Cloggy,

That's excellent advice. My former CI audi suggested I do the same because oftentimes people forget what it was like in the beginning. I'm glad I took her advice. Looking back at my CI journal 2 years later is fun and helps me realize how far I've come. :) By the way, my CI journal is located online. I also have two stories I wrote about my activation day and the first day of hearing with my CI. If any of you are interested in reading them, let me know and I will be happy to post the URL.
 
Hear Again said:
Cloggy,

That's excellent advice. My former CI audi suggested I do the same because oftentimes people forget what it was like in the beginning. I'm glad I took her advice. Looking back at my CI journal 2 years later is fun and helps me realize how far I've come. :) By the way, my CI journal is located online. I also have two stories I wrote about my activation day and the first day of hearing with my CI. If any of you are interested in reading them, let me know and I will be happy to post the URL.
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I'm interested! :)
 
Good luck Dark Half! The advice given to you has been great. Patience is the key and keeping a journal really helped me see my progress over time.
 
Lucia,

You can read my CI journal and associated stories by visiting:

Welcome to CI Hear 's Deafblind Information Page

Click on the links that read, "New Beginnings" (CI journal), "Lisa's Activation Day" and "Lisa's First Day of Sound." I also describe my experiences with bilateral CI surgery. That can be found under the link that reads, "Lisa Has Bilateral Surgery."

If any of you have questions or comments about my journal, please feel free to send me a PM anytime!

Enjoy! :)
 
Cool! I've got that link bookmarked for reading later... (gotta get ready for church soon anyway). :ty:
 
greema,

Great! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. I'll be more than happy to answer them! :)
 
Hear Again said:
Lucia,

You can read my CI journal and associated stories by visiting:

.........
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Thanks for that link. Read the activation one...
Really nice to read your story. Makes a difference when you "know" the person... Get to know you a bit better...
Funny how that works...
 
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