What sounds...?

JamieLynn

JamieLynn

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:wave: everyone,

Regarding my story there is still one very major subject I would like to include and I would like to get some point of views :D This is mainly a question directed towards deaf people but if you are hoh and feel like answering... just go ahead ;)

I would love to get point of views of deaf people that have gotten their CI at a later stage in their life...

Were you afraid of sounds? Are their sounds that you like/don't like? If yes, which ones... Once you got CI are you happy about making the right decision? Anything about "sounds" is very much appreciated! :)

:ty: JamieLynn (who still thinks that getting something drilled into your head would scare me to death! No matter how often I read/hear about people feeling happy about their CI !)
 
I'm *very* pleased that I chose to be implanted and couldn't be happier. I do admit that when my first CI was activated I felt a little apprehensive because I didn't know what to expect. Some people I know reported feeling a shock or vibration when their CI was turned on. In my case, I didn't feel any shock, but I did feel vibrations when my audi played high pitched beeps. It was a weird sensation. I went in with low expecations and did not expect to understand speech. I wasn't disappointed as a result, but to my delight, found that I could hear environmental sounds pretty well. I could also tell when my audi and CI surgeon were speaking although I could not understand any words. Their voices (and everything for that matter) sounded metallic and extremely high pitched. By the end of the day, I could barely sense a little more clarity in what I heard. It took 2 weeks for me to begin to understand speech and 3 months before I could understand speech pretty well without having to use a tactile terp. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat! I also love being bilateral and being able to hear out of both ears. I decided to get a second CI after all of the programming for my right hearing aid proved unsuccessful and my CI surgeon recommended I opt for the second implant. I recently had problems with dizziness every time I wore my CIs. my CI surgeon and audi don't know why this happened, but it's a mixed blessing because now I'm able to hear better than I have in 4 years! :D By the way, I received my first CI at the age of 34 and my second CI at the age of 35. I'm late deafened. My former hearing aid audis think I was born with a mild hearing loss. I received my first pair of BTE hearing aids at age 15 for a moderately-severe loss. By age 24, it progressed to severe-profound at which time I started learning communication techniques for the deafblind. My primary reason for choosing to be implanted was for personal safety reasons due to being totally deafblind as well as some communication techniques (like print on palm/POP and Braille/raised print alphabet card) being slow and tedious.
 
Yes I read that several times... about the first sounds being very metallic and high pitched as you said! I have tried to figure out what it means. On several websites (no clue which ones since I have spent some time around) there were links with audio video giving us hearies an impression of what a person hears with CI.

Frankly I am not sure
1. if what is posted is true
2. if a deaf person now with CI would be able to give me a better/real description of what they actually hear.

I guess not even doctors are able to define exactly what somebody hears because I gather that each individual perceives sounds differently too... (Do I make sense here?) *innocent look*

:ty: for taking some time and answering my question! :hug:

JamieLynn
 
I forgot to answer your other question about sounds.

My favorite sounds:

birds singing
children laughing
traffic
music
wind chimes
ocean waves
rain
leaves or snow underneath my feet
someone humming
my boyfriend saying "I love you"

least favorite sounds:

motorcycles
toilet flushing
water running
paper being crinkled or rolled into a ball
car horns
door slam
nails on a chalkboard
people yelling or shreiking
aluminum can being crushed
laugh tracks on TV programs
 
JamieLynn said:
Yes I read that several times... about the first sounds being very metallic and high pitched as you said! I have tried to figure out what it means. On several websites (no clue which ones since I have spent some time around) there were links with audio video giving us hearies an impression of what a person hears with CI.

Frankly I am not sure
1. if what is posted is true
2. if a deaf person now with CI would be able to give me a better/real description of what they actually hear.

I guess not even doctors are able to define exactly what somebody hears because I gather that each individual perceives sounds differently too... (Do I make sense here?) *innocent look*

:ty: for taking some time and answering my question! :hug:

JamieLynn
Click to expand...

You're welcome! :)

Unfortunately, the CI simulations available on the Internet are not an accurate representation of what a person with CI hears. Having said that, what each of us hears differs from person to person. What I hear sounds "normal" and exactly like what I remember with hearing aids -- only clearer. For example, a child's voice sounds like a child's voice, a female voice sounds like female voice, a male voice sounds like a male voice, a dog's bark sounds like a dog's bark and a cat's meow sounds like a cat's meow. Of course, it didn't start off that way. LOL! I'm trying to remember how voices sounded. Imagine hearing a person's voice being turned up to the highest frequency possible and then add a little static and harshness. That's what I heard for the better part of 6 months. As far as music is concerned, I started by being able to hear only percussion, then some instruments, then instruments being played alone or in unison and finally, female/male vocals. It took 6 months for music to sound halfway decent. For the longest time, I HATED how heavy metal sounded, but ever since I received my new maps, it no longer bothers me and all music genres sound wonderful!
 
I think that nails on a chalkboard and motorcycles is something even hearies don't like :giggle: I hate it when they ran them in front of my house at midnight for several minutes! *argh* - oh and waking me up btw! ;)

I can understand why hearing my boyfriend saying "I love you" being one of the most beautiful sounds! I am definitely planning on adding it into my story :D

JamieLynn

Thanks so much!
 
You know what? My sister is hearing and she LOVES the sound of motorcycles. Of course, she's also a huge Harley fan. Go figure! :lol:

I'm glad that you'll be adding my comment about my boyfriend saying "I love you." Out of all my favorite sounds, that's number 1 on my list. :D
 
Hear Again said:
You're welcome! :)

Unfortunately, the CI simulations available on the Internet are not an accurate representation of what a person with CI hears. Having said that, what each of us hears differs from person to person. What I hear sounds "normal" and exactly like what I remember with hearing aids -- only clearer. For example, a child's voice sounds like a child's voice, a female voice sounds like female voice, a male voice sounds like a male voice, a dog's bark sounds like a dog's bark and a cat's meow sounds like a cat's meow. Of course, it didn't start off that way. LOL! I'm trying to remember how voices sounded. Imagine hearing a person's voice being turned up to the highest frequency possible and then add a little static and harshness. That's what I heard for the better part of 6 months. As far as music is concerned, I started by being able to hear only percussion, then some instruments, then instruments being played alone or in unison and finally, female/male vocals. It took 6 months for music to sound halfway decent. For the longest time, I HATED how heavy metal sounded, but ever since I received my new maps, it no longer bothers me and all music genres sound wonderful!
Click to expand...


Well here are facts I didn't know about. I knew that the hearing could get accustomed... meaning little by little one's hearing would get better. I thought it would always remain kind of metallic - especially when it comes to music...

I learnt something new today :D

You've been a wonderful help! :ty: JamieLynn
 
Hear Again said:
You know what? My sister is hearing and she LOVES the sound of motorcycles. Of course, she's also a huge Harley fan. Go figure! :lol:

I'm glad that you'll be adding my comment about my boyfriend saying "I love you." Out of all my favorite sounds, that's number 1 on my list. :D
Click to expand...


But you put it last on your first post
Motorcycle sounds are ok, but not at midnight in front of my bedroom!

:giggle: JL
 
Thanks! It should be noted that some people do not like the way music sounds with their CI. One person I know described it as sounding like cats and dogs fighting. My former CI audi told me that I'm lucky to be able to hear music as well as I do especially given the fact that I was severely-profoundly deaf for 10 years prior to receiving my first CI.
 
JL,

I should have made the "I love you" first on my list. Psst. Don't tell my boyfriend that it was the last sound on my "favorite sounds" list. :lol:
 
I promise I won't tell him ;)

I'll get back again tomorrow 'cause now I'm off to watch Without a Trace :D

Thanks again! :hug: JL
 
Hi JL,

After 30 years of Profound deafness (i was born profound deaf) I struggle to find my Identity in the deaf/hearing world. It was my decision to get CI as i have nothing much to loose also i wanted more out of my life. It was difficult decision because for one i know i can loose friends (or so called friends), perhaps be in Hearing world more than ever. Pre Operation i met up with a friend who got one, she explained all about it and gave me bit of horror story about her switch on (audi forgot to set her comfort levels!) I was very nervous about the switch on! Man, it was 5 weeks, each week i sweated more! and it was summer too! At my switch on, I asked the Audi not to forget the comfort levels but she reassured me that it would be very low. I stuck with that Audi since... She's great. I was asked to hear the beeps... i got worried when i couldn't...she then started from highs, i heard the first 2 then my grandmother gave almighty sneeze! My grin broke...

I don't regret it one moment.... I am hearing much more than i ever did, my confidence had soared so much, I didn't loose any deaf friends (they accepted I am still me) I also gained alot friends. My work life is a bit easier as i can communicate better. I am also hearing music for the first time in 30 years. I am learning to listen for words at the moment. On weds it's my 6 month evaluation...
 
Yes I read that they (audi) are setting levels depending on how much you can hear. I'm sorry about your friend. I think that would have scared me too for sure! :(

I have read many times about people being afraid of loosing friends. I think that wouldn't be fair if I were in that position. I have one friend with severe Crohn disease and I know through her that she has lost many friends due to her illness because they don't understand what it means to be sick a lot! They expected her to be the same, but for the past three years (since her disease) her life has changed! She didn't! People just don't see it and I feel so sorry for her...

So I am glad to read that your deaf friends didn't judge you just because you chose to hear again! :D And you made some new friends! Cool!

Are you already able to give me point of views regarding sounds?

:ty: for your reply!

:hug: JamieLynn
 
My best friend got ulcertive colitis (sp) She got it while at university, i was preparing to travel round the world, I was about to ditch the idea until i made sure she was ok. Being strong person she muddled through and i could take my dream. Of course i was worrying about her. 9 years on she's now on 2 steriods a day... doing well.. still got her friends and is getting married next year.

About sounds,

Umm.... I love to hear my cat meow, i would take her food up and she would meow so that i can listen to it! I never heard it pre CI.
Dog walking on the tiles
My late horse Wickering
Cat purring
Waterfall
Ocean
leaves rustling when windy.

Sounds that i hate

Cupboards slamming
Doors slamming
Cultery
plates etc on worksurface
paper/crisp packet rustling
 
I think it is written Ulcerative colitis - checked it on the web because I wasn't sure myself :giggle:! Glad to read that you supported her! Not only family is important when you are sick but friends too! Unfortunately some people think I can always make new friends, which is just so bad and not nice at all!

You've been activated for six months now? What are your insights when it comes to low sounds and loud sounds? Can you already distinguish them? How much can you hear?... words? complete sentences? Is there a certain decibel level your ear is not able to perceive?

JamieLynn (who currently has the feeling of being very intrusive into other people's life with her nosy questions) :shrug:
 
The last line made me laugh! Surely not nosy but interested.

Umm I can tell if things are quiet/loud. I also can tell difference between High and low.
My hearing is around the 30 db range (last tested at 3 month), At my 3 month i was able to Lipread with voice 77% (from 40% pre CI), I can't hear words without visual, i am told it will take long time for me since i had no Auditory memory of it, I have never used phone. I may never achieve it but who knows, it's still early days and i have been practising on the phone to my family, so far i would get 3 or 4 words out of whole converstation!! yeah it's hard work.

JamieLynn said:
= Is there a certain decibel level your ear is not able to perceive?
Click to expand...

I don't really know what you mean, My audiogram is in the 30db range (well into the speech banana) for high,middle and low freqency, might be better this time (on weds i am having 6 month evaluation) is that the answer you are looking for?

Just noticed, you are from france... where? I love france, the alps especially!
 
overthepond said:
I don't really know what you mean, My audiogram is in the 30db range (well into the speech banana) for high,middle and low freqency, might be better this time (on weds i am having 6 month evaluation) is that the answer you are looking for?

Just noticed, you are from france... where? I love france, the alps especially!
Click to expand...

Yes... 30 decibel and then the frequence. Personally I don't understand much of it but I read a lot about it :giggle: I don't know if that makes sense at all... :roll: So maybe anything below 30 decibel is sounds that you can't hear? (that's what I mean).

Yes I live in France :D But moving again in about a month *grumble*

JL (who is very sleepy and off to bed now) :wave:
 
Mod's Note:

The thread is moved to it's proper location.
 
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