Dynamic range means the difference between the softest sound you can hear and the loudest. So, say you can hear 25 db and your dynamic range is 60, the lodest you can comfortable hear is 85 db. Does that make sense?
That does make sense. For Cochlear (I have never seen AB's mapping program, so I assume that it's somewhat similar), the TOP bars is the Threshold of that specific electrode. The bottom bars is the minimal threshold. The IDR/DR is the number of "spaces" in between. So, instead of hearing the max and min of db, it's more of the threshold of the electrodes of where it is placed. Remember - electrodes may be placed deeper from one person to another, so the electrodes are stimulating different nerves. In other words, the electrode number 5 will probably not be the EXACT same place as Miss Kat's electrode number 5 (for the sake being, let pretend that we both have the same implant). So therefore, the nerves that are being stimulated will be different.
Having said that - For Cochlear, I believe the highest is probably 80. I'm not too sure about AB though. The more DR someone gets, the more crisp and clearer the sounds are. Hence why it can get pretty powerful. However, the downside is it can be a bit too much or too overwhelming. That's where the volume plays a role. You can have the DR on a set position, but don't want MORE input (higher DR), so the volume can be increased.
I have DR of 42 in my left. Right now, I feel like everything has gone a little bit softer, however, I don't want to really increase my DR because I would be hearing stuff that I *don't* want to hear more intense of...so instead of increasing the DR, I would ask to increase the maximum volume.
Hope this makes sense. This is just purely by my observations and thinking logically.
If Miss Kat is complaining about hearing sounds that she really doesn't want to hear, she can have the threshold decreased a little bit for some of the electrodes, in turn will decrease the DR.
Okay, I'm gonna shuddup now as I'm getting way too analytical!
