Rachel's bold new world thanks to implant

Rachel Fishwick, who can now hear birds for the first time.

RUSTLING crisp packets, the clacking of high heels and dripping taps are sounds most of us take for granted.

But for Rachel Fishwick hearing these noises clearly for the first time marks the start of a new era. The 40-year-old is beginning to adjust to life with a cochlear implant.

When Rachel was two her mother, Ann Heptonstall, realised there was a problem with her daughter's development.

Ann had a friend with a child of a similar age. He was starting to talk, but Rachel was not. A test with a cup and spoon at a local clinic highlighted her hearing problems.

Ann, who lives in Wyke, said: "They were clanging the spoon on the cup and Rachel of course couldn't hear it. She was just looking around everywhere, totally oblivious."

Rachel was born deaf. The nerve endings which pick up sound are missing from her ears and throughout her life she has worn a variety of hearing aids from heavy body models to much lighter digital ones.

But last year, after she was diagnosed with tinnitus, the hearing aids stopped working properly.

She said: "It was terrible. I couldn't hear at all."

At the time Rachel was living in Belgium as her husband Howard, 43, who is in the RAF, was based there.

Her doctor said the only option left was a cochlear implant.

Rachel said: "I wasn't nervous about it whatsoever. I was looking forward to it. I was very calm because I wanted it so much. It's going to make a bigger difference than my hearing aids did."

Rachel had the internal part of the implant fitted on October 18. Last Wednesday she returned to Bradford Royal Infirmary for the 'switch-on' - the connection of an external sound processing unit.

She said: "One of the first things I heard was tapping on the keyboard when I was typing.

"At first everyone's voices sounded like robots, but I've started to hear the difference between male and female voices now.

"I'm just beginning to hear the television now and can follow what's happening."

Rachel has also noticed high heels clacking on the pavement, crisp packets rustling and clocks ticking.

She is on a 10 year programme to help her adapt to the implant and uses a BBC website to get used to different voices.

She will visit her specialist less and less often over the decade, but regular check-ups mean the processor can be adjusted as required.

Rachel, of Millstone Rise, Norristhorpe, said she is looking forward to talking to her friends on the telephone, hearing her children - Conor, 11, and James, seven - shouting and getting a job in administration.

But she has never let her hearing problems hold her back. She is a keen canoeist and diver and has travelled the world, including a solo visit to Australia.

She is also a leader at 10th Mirfield Guides and in 1987 met the Queen to receive the Queen Scout Award.

The mother-of-two said: "The main problem I have is with group conversations. If there are more than four people I don't know where to look. It can be quite difficult."

The biggest concern Rachel had after her operation was about the implant setting off security scanners in shops and airports, but she carries a card which explains her situation.

She said: "I'm not allowed on rollercoasters either. This summer we went to two theme parks and I told the boys to make the most of it because I won't be able to ride them next year. "

"I'm also not allowed to play rugby - which I didn't anyway!" She added: "The implant is working, I know that. It's great, I am starting to hear without having to lip read and I'm really confident with it. It's still early days, but it's opening up things for me."

Next year Rachel and her guides will be raising money towards extending the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Centre at BRI.

Extracted from Spenborough Guardian, Friday 23rd November 2007

Rachel's joy at the sound of her family

Rachel Fishwick with her sons James, left, seven, and Conor, 11

The rustle of a packet of crisps, the laughter of children in a playground and the tip-tap of high heels on a pavement are all sounds most people take for granted.

But for Rachel Fishwick they are sounds she is hearing for the first time thanks to a cochlear implant fitted at the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Earlier this month the Telegraph & Argus revealed how the 40-year-old mother-of-two, who was born profoundly deaf, was fitted with the internal part of the implant in October and waiting for it to be switched on.

That switch-on has now taken place with Rachel accompanied to the appointment by her husband Howard, with whom she has two sons, Conor, 11, and James, seven.

"At first it was weird because everything sounded robotic and both Howard and the audiologist Elaine Burke sounded the same," said Rachel, of Liversedge. "On our way out of the hospital, walking to the car, I suddenly started to look around to investigate these different sounds - people in their high heels - I could hear every tip tap of the heels!

"My husband was rustling through the leaves and I heard them too. The worst noise I ever heard was a crisp packet as they were rather loud!

"When I was typing to let people know about my switch-on, I could hear myself typing at the keyboard."

And as Rachel progresses she expects her hearing to get better and better.

"I went back for more programming to increase the volume as I had noticed it was getting quiet and I couldn't hear the television but time will tell and I have to be patient," she said.

"I am beginning to recognise the difference between women's voices and men's voices and the children, especially their laughter and squealing in the school playgrounds. Parents at James's school said Wow - it's amazing' as technology has moved on and they were pleased I could hear some sounds I have not heard before.

"I haven't heard the birds yet as it's the wrong time of year."

James and Conor are also thrilled with the technology which is enabling their mum to hear.
Conor said: "I think it's much better and I hope not to shout at my mum."

James said: "She is amazing because she can hear me better than she could."

Rachel added: "I'm really pleased with it and my thanks go to the staff at the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service for this. I could not have asked for better hearing and hopefully I will discover more new sounds that I have not heard before."

Extracted from Telegraph & Argus, Friday 23rd November 2007

Follow Up Since Switch On

Returned to YCIS today for my 3rd programming (I went last Friday and just had a little increase on the frequencies and outdone the speech therapist' work on "sh"!). Have been adjusted with frequencies to a little bit higher and it was less squeaky so that's a good sign as the squeak bleeps were too loud for me(!)

Saw the speech therapist again and we had worked on the sound "f" comparing those with "v" - you will notice the difference - "f" has a bit of vibrating where as "v" is smooth sound - you try it! Again outdone her work and my mum did some tests on me too and it was superb, everyone was please and so amazed how I've got to so far... okay I admit that I have heard some sounds before but I had to lipread it at the same time whereas today all my tests were done on my implant side without having to turn round to lip-read!!

This is my new Cochlear Implant with speech processor - the magnet is the size of a £2 coin, it may look that big but it is not! I have so many colours to go on the back of my ear - it could be red, blue, black, silver etc... not bad to match any tops of mine!

I have had more newspapers reporters coming in to see me since the switch on so I'll update it when I receive the papers this week! James says I'm famous!!!

Life Set To Sound Great For Rachel

Life set to sound great for Rachel

Being profoundly deaf has never held Rachel Fishwick back in life. In fact she doesn't call herself deaf - she just can't hear very well. But that could all be about to change as she becomes the latest patient to benefit from the team at the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Centre in Bradford.

After undergoing an operation to bury the internal part of the implant under the skin she is now looking forward to the big switch-on' next Wednesday. "I am hoping to get normal hearing," she said. "I have missed out on telephone calls and my friends can't wait to talk to me on the phone.
"I am afraid of group conversations - if it is more than four people I do not know where to look. With the cochlear implant I will hear much more and also hear my children shouting at me!
advertisement.

"I am also looking forward to employment. I want an administration job. "All the mums at my son's school say it is amazing and they cannot wait for me to be switched on. I feel confident that it is going to work and I am looking forward to next week." Rachel, who is now 40 and living in Liversedge with her two boys Conor, 11, James, seven, and husband Howard, was born deaf, a fact which was revealed at the age of two following an assessment at BRI with a spoon and cup.
"They wanted to see if she would react," said Rachel's mum Ann Heptonstall, 67, of Wyke. "Of course she could not care less."

The family concentrated on getting the best education possible for Rachel, who has relied on various hearing aids, many of which she hated, and lip reading. "As parents we did push her but it worked," said Mrs Heptonstall. "She learned how to speak and read books but without the hearing aids she could hear nothing."

In 1994 Rachel married Howard who is in the RAF and she moved all over the country, with a stay in Brussels from 2004 until last year. Her many interests include guiding and she has been a Guide leader for 20 years, most recently at the 10th Mirfield Guides. She met the Queen in 1987 to receive the Queen's Scout Award and also travelled to Malaysia with Raleigh International.
But in November last year she suffered from tinnitus.

"After having the tinnitus I was struggling with the hearing aids," she said. "I got digital hearing aids but I couldn't hear anything - it was terrible." It was suggested to Rachel a cochlear implant might be suitable. It wasn't the first time such a solution had been suggested although she had always held back as she could speak and was coping and it was difficult with the family moving around a lot. But with the family settled back in Liversedge Rachel began a journey which she hopes will lead to a life full of sound.

Her consultant referred her to the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service in Bradford and a first assessment was carried out in May this year. She carried on going to the unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary once a month and in August this year got a letter to say the operation could be carried out on October 18. This was a success and the next big date is next Wednesday when she is switched-on' and a hearing world could open up to her.

Rachel has been accompanied to many of the appointments by her mother as her husband has been on duty in Afghanistan but it is Howard who will be at her side on Wednesday.
To prepare, Rachel has been visiting a website where cochlear implant users can log on and share experiences.

Her children and husband have also been able to visit a cochlear implant user to understand the impact it will have on Rachel's life.

Rachel is also full of praise for the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service and she hopes to help the fundraising efforts by taking part in a sponsored 10km run in Manchester next year. "They are all fantastic and the unit they have is not big enough," she said.

This was taken from the local newspaper on 8th November.

The Big Switch On

Returned to YCIS this morning for my big switch on! We got to the hospital early and found ourselves waiting and waiting as there was someone in before me and caused a delay. Anyway, had the magnet replaced as the magnet was thin and my hair was thick! Heard the bleeps and then it was switched on... oh everything went robotic sound and echo/squeaky! I heard my husband and the audiologist voice but they were the same!

After a few more tuning - it may need to be increased on Friday as I have been told that it takes a while for my brain to adjust the hearing of the new sounds... I can hear the keys being punched on my keyboard!!

Later, as I was putting some boxes into my handbag and heard the crackling sound in it - the mars bars!! ooh that really was weird!

After a while, we went onto the speech therapist who has given me some homework on new sounds - I'm learning the "s" at the moment as this is one of the high frequency sounds, it was not too bad. I am also trying to learn any words that are said behind my back (meaning without looking at the face/lipreading etc).

Well, when we emerged out of the hospital this afternoon, I discovered some sounds - people in their high heels were clipping away on the pavements!! My silly husband rustling his feet through the leaves - really annoying me!

It has been a weird day but I'm glad it's been done and over with and have to face more appointments in the next couple of weeks - I am going again this Friday and next Wednesday.

Will be back on Friday.

Two Weeks On

Hi, can't believe that it was two weeks ago since I had that operation to have the implant in my left ear! Where has the time gone?

I have been tired out lately trying to get back to normal as Howie returned to work earlier on this week and the boys returned to school after their half term. Last week was a great week, the boys were spoilt by their nan or grandma and dad of course! They went to see the new Disney film called Rataouille, went to Fleetwood and Blackpool and visited Harewood House where they had been making scarecrows!

While they went to Fleetwood/Blackpool, I spent a day at my mum's to chill out and went to see sister-in-law and nephew before they went to London.

This week was a shock as last week I was able to have some lie-ins but this week I had to get up early to get into routine so it has been a tiring week. I am taking a month off Guides as I felt that I wasn't ready to see them with one hearing on my right ear and when I get switched on as I wanted to try the new gadget out first before I meet any noisy crowds!

The scar is healing much quicker and I've been able to wash my hair normal now as for the first time it was like dried blood pouring down from my hair - in fact it was the iodine!! Oh the water was so filthy! The hair where it was shaved off is growing too so it's looking good.

Well, I have to wait for 13 days now and go back to YCIS for the switch on. I have chosen the model - MEDEL which is manufactured from Austria, I could only choose MEDEL or NUCLEUS FREEDOM (from Australia). There was no disadvantage or advantages between them and it was like 50-50 to choose so it was hard to decide!

News - the Bradford Lord Mayor has chosen "the Ear Listening Life Trust" as one of his charities this year/next year and they are hoping to raise £1.5m for this new centre. Here's the link:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/display.var.1803831.0.lets_hear_it_for_all_those_wholl_help.php

if that doesn't work then use this:

http://urlx.org/thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/d3493

Thank you for reading this... I'll be back soon.

Got a Date!

Hi, thought I tell you now that I have received a letter this morning to confirm that my switch on date will be Wednesday 14th November and again on Friday 16th November plus another programming/mapping on Wednesday 21st November! WOW!

I can't wait for it now!

So far I'm feeling fine and haven't really been tired out lately, have kept myself busy but not overdoing things. It's been a good week with the boys as it's their half term and they have been good as gold and of course my husband - he's been great and is pleased with what's been going on in the last week.

Will be back soon.

The next 24 hours

What a night! I slept on and off trying to find comfort but mainly slept on my right side through the night. Nurses woke me up at 6.45am to see if I was alright and asked me for any painkillers. More blood pressure tests were taken and it was back to normal! Had my breakfast and was a lot perkier.

Mr Strachan came to see me and took the bandage off and said the wound was good and clean. He was pleased with it and said that I would have to go for my x-ray in the next couple of hours and then go home all being well.

Salim, my audiologist from YCIS came and gave me a card to prove that I have the implant in my left ear. He was happy with the operation too as he told me that he attended the theatre and made sure that the implant was working. He then said "SEE YOU IN 4 WEEKS TIME"....

My hair was in a mess, it felt that I had wallpaper paste stuck at the back of my head and it took a while to brush the "iodine" out! Howard came at 12 noon and I was still waiting to go in for the x-ray.

At 12.45pm, as soon as my dinner was coming into my room, the porter came in with the wheelchair for me to go to the x-ray! And I was still hooked up with more antibiotics! Anyway I had to skip the lunch and was wheeled down to the x-ray department. Had x-rays and then was taken back to the ward and had sandwiches(!)

Went back on the antibiotics drip for another half an hour and then the sister said "the x-rays was fine and you can go home"... so we left Bradford Royal Infirmary at 3.30pm and got home an hour later due to traffic in Bradford!

Photo shows the scar 24 hours later.

That night, I slept on and off but really slept properly.

The Big Day!

I was admitted to Ward 18 at Bradford Royal Infirmary on Wednesday 17th October at 7pm and all was well. Didn't really sleep properly that night - should have taken some eye masks! Anyway, nurses woke me up at 6am for blood pressure and take any medication. Mr Strachan (my consultant) came to see me at 8am for a quick chat with the SHO and explained the routine. The anaesthetist came and explained a few words and then I was told to go down to the theatre. So off I went at 8.45am (walked to the theatre with one of the nurses) and was hooked up with wires as I lay down and I dozed off!

Possibly around 12.15pm I woke up in the recovery room and could lipread the nurses saying "Are you in pain?" Well, for a start off course I was! Was topped up with painkillers but that made it worse as I was nausea!

Come round 2.15pm.... I just flickered my eyes opened and thought what time is it? Oh I'm still in the recovery room and asked the nurse - how long had I been here? Her reply was 3 HOURS! I asked what was the problem.............. the blood pressure was sky high!

Mr Strachan came to see me in the recovery room and said the implant operation was a success and would see me in the morning.

Anyway, after a lot of doses of drugs to keep the blood pressure down, I was finally transferred to the ward around 3.15pm and found my husband, Howard waiting! He just laughed at my new hairstyle!

I was sleeping on and off so Howard left at 4.30pm to sort the boys out!

I was still feeling nausea that evening and tried to eat some toast but it didn't work! So I just slept and the nurses kept checking me up. As I was trying to doze off and was hooked up with antibiotics at 1am!!

Waiting Day

Well here I am waiting nervously for a message from my husband to see if there is a bed for me tonight! Howie rang at 8.10am but they advised him to ring back at lunchtime as they can't tell you the answer just yet!

So far I have been given lots of "good lucks" and "best wishes" from Guides, mums at infants school and close friends through the internet from various groups.

I am feeling calm but with butterflies at the moment, I was ever so calm all week as I had been busy organising for my son's birthday party, going to Big Gig in Manchester with my Guides (saw McFlys, Kate Nash, Calvin Harris, The Hoosiers, Robyn, Natasha Bedingfield, Amerie and Sophie Ellis-Baxter).

I'll be back later on this afternoon to see what's the score whether I'm off at 5pm or at 6.30am tomorrow morning!!

Cheers for now.

Rachel

Conor's Poem

This poem below was created by my son with a little help from his class teacher at Clinton Park School, Coningsby in 2003.

If I was unable to hear,
Chiming clocks,
Gas that hisses,
Wind whistling through the trees,
I would miss them.

If I was unable to hear,
A telephone ringing,
A quiet rumble of thunder,
Music playing,
I would miss them.

If I was unable to hear,
People behind me,
A fire engine,
Noises in the night,
I would be afraid.

If I was unable to hear,
Wind on my face,
Music through my fingers,
A baby monitor vibrate,
I would feel them.

If I was unable to hear,
People might laugh at me,
People might not understand me,
People might be unkind to me,
I would feel sad.

I can hear so I have learnt to sign,
I have learnt to look at people when I talk to them.
I have learnt to be understanding,
Today I am a better person.

Written by Conor Fishwick (age 7) 2003©

A Visit To See Sue

Saturday 6th October

My family (husband, two boys) went to meet Sue whom had a Cochlear Implant two years ago. It was my husband's idea to meet her and see what really had happened when she had the implant in and afterwards. And it was also a chance for the boys to see where the implant, speech processor was and the colours of the speech processor.

The boys were really amazed to see the size of it and where it was and laughed at the different colours as I know their favourite colour is red for Manchester Utd!! No way would I wear red but Sue said she wears it when she has different tops on! Now that's an idea there!

Howie asked her a couple of questions and Sue really gave us a lot of feedback and was very helpful. That really gave us confidence and know what to expect afterwards.

We also asked a few questions to Sue's children and they really helped us by answering the questions then they soon forgotten about us and started to play games with our boys and got on really well.

It was a good night to see her, especially..... that Sue was in my class at Odsal House School for the Deaf from 1970 onwards and I had left Odsal House in 1977 to Heaton Middle! Odsal House closed in 1977 and got transferred to a new school called Thorn Park at that time, I occasionally saw her when I was at Heaton Middle and Belle Vue. After 1984 I never saw Sue much and forgotten till we were in Belgium when I spotted an article in the Daily Express all about her Cochlear Implant!

And she appeared on the local news as well and I contacted the TV company and we got in touch again in 2005 till my computer crashed and lost most of the email addresses! Once I heard that I was being referred to have the CI, I "googled" her name as I knew there would be some articles about her and finally got in touch with her again and have promised not to loose email addresses again! I did see Sue in July when we both went to Thorn Park School Reunion as it recently celebrated 30 years... was it really 30 years since I left Odsal House?

Now I've had the pneumococcal immunisation and I was feeling under the weather for 48 hours and am ready for next week's operation.

I will be admitting at Bradford Royal on 17th October in the evening in preparation for the operation to take place the following morning.

Thank you for reading this and will be back soon.

Cochlear Implant Patients

Hi

I went to meet other Cochlear Implant patients last Friday (28th Sep) and it was truly amazing to meet them and hear all about their CI experience.

Wow, everyone is not the same but different, how they felt when they were switched on but most of them said "it was the best thing that CI has done for them".

Not everyone was scary but they were looking forward to get back to their normal social life and hear the things that they have not heard before!

It was a mixture of young and old at the support group and there were two of us who haven't had the CI yet and one was a bit serious as she was not sure what to do but after hearing from other CI users she felt better and more confident so we'll hear soon whether she's decided to have it or not!

Please also support the Ear Trust as we need a lot of money for a brand new centre and hopefully this means more people can have the Cochlear Implant young or old.

Fourth Visit

Update 20 September 2007

I once again made another trip to YCIS this afternoon. First went to the ward and had few tests - think I must loose some weight (only joking!) and answered few questions. Next went to see the surgeon Mr Strachan and I asked him a few questions as I wanted to know which ear he was going to operate. That was a difficult one because at the last hearing test last week was 1% in my right ear and 3% in the left ear (that's to hear from the TV without any pictures!) so have a little discussion, its been decided to do on my left ear!At the SAME time, I was being FILMED.............. Hollywood here I come! Nah, the YCIS is trying to promote for other people and business/donators as YCIS is trying to build a new Ear Life Trust Centre and also another film for parents/patients what to expect with the Cochlear Implant.

My husband was being filmed too so it was a rather interesting afternoon. So I'll be admitting on the 17th October instead of 18th at 7.30am - too much for me to run around and sort the boys out on the day so I rather relax the night before (huh?) and Mr Strachan will do the op on the 18th - have been told it would be between 1½ and 3 hours. I will be staying overnight again till the 19th when I will have an xray to see if the implant is in the right place and if I'm all well especially after the anesthetic as I'm rather nausea with it I can go home in the afternoon!

All I have to do now is attend my local doc next Thurs for the pneumococcal immunisation (as part of the op) and then wait till 17th October!!

I'm not nervous yet but I'm aiming to get it done and over with as I've really wanted my hearing back to normal. Then I will go back sometime in November - that's when the hard work kicks in with new unfamiliar sounds and got to learn them again so I'll let you know when my "switch on" date is. Roll on 17th October and I'll promise to post some photos to this group after the op and you can have a laugh at my new turban!

Third Visit to YCIS

Went to see the audiologist yesterday thinking I'm just going for more hearing tests.... got there and she said "do you know what you're doing today?" I just thought "no?" why should I know? Anyway she said we are not doing any tests... phew! But to look and prepare what will happen with the operation.... eh?

I hadn't been told whether I would be going ahead or not. It was to get us prepared in the next couple of months. oh right we thought! Anyway, we watched on how it works - wow! So interesting to watch the presentation and she even showed us the speech processor and the implant.. gosh it's about the size of a 50 pence piece which will be inserted in my head (ouch) and they will be drilling some tiny holes through some bones into the cochlear (the shape is like a snail - that is cochlear) and will have an electrode auditory nerve inserted there plus another electrode into the nerve to the brains.

I have really been warned that after the op I will not have any hearing - what's the point - I can't hear! Really I only can hear with the aids of my hearing aids but if I have one in - I will not hear a thing! Wait for it. After a month I will go back to hospital and have the Speech processor and the transmitter coil on my ear and head (magnetic to the implant) and then they will be switched on. Also I have been warned that I will get frustrated because I will be learning new sounds which I may have never heard before - such as the birds etc and will probably be frightening for me, I will have several homework to do on getting used to speech and will be very tired etc. They were very good and am just waiting for the CT Scan date now - should have heard by now but nothing yet as they are keen to get me done asap. They also gave some books for my sons to read and why am I getting this CI and having an operation and how long I will be in hospital (2 or 3 days). So far I've had a few assessments and after the scan the team will have a meeting to decide which CI will be the best for me as they have several companies that makes them. They have assured me that they don't say NO to anyone who has got that far.

Also there are a few dos and don'ts.... heck I can't go on big dippers with this implant because the implant in my head will get knocled about and the electrode nerve will probably move out of its position! So no big dippers next year!!! A good excuse! And if I go to airport, I cannot go through the security scanners as the CI is treated as Heart Pacemakers and will have to have a ID card. Also sometimes it does trigger off in shops that have security banners so again I have to carry the ID card at all times. I may get some buzzing sounds when I go near pylons as I live near the pylons! And it has to be switched off when we have thunderstorms - can you imagine that I'll get shocked when the lightening comes! Zap Rach!

So it does look very promising with these things that's going on and I just want to get my confidence back and enjoy my new lifestyle once again and be more of a social person instead of making excuses of not going out to meet anyone. he speech therapist asked me "Do you mention that you are deaf to anyone?" That is true - as I don't - why should I? I just want to be treated like a normal person but I have started to say that I'm partially hearing because I have lost a lot of hearing since November and it never regained. We did ask the surgeon if my hearing could get worse if I didn't have the CI and his answer was YES so that is frightening.Anyway hopefully I should get a date soon and fingers crossed for the funding and then I will let you know when I'll have the op. Hubby's quite pleased with it as I talked to him via MSN last night and is glad that something is happening. I know I will have 100% support from my husband and my mum who has been trailing around with me to various hospital appointments in the absence of husband.

First/Second Appointment at YCIS

Was so excited when I got my first letter and said 3.00pm for hearing test then 4.00pm for Speech/Language tests…. Gosh I thought - but it was rather interesting. For the hearing tests, I had to listen for the usual bleeps and then sat in front of a TV and watched the lip reader with no sound on and see if I could lip-read what he said. My score for this was around 58% which is good as I was taught to lip-read and speak but never sign - mind you I still don't know the sign language and I've no intention to do any!

After that, I had to lip-read the man with sound but use my left ear and again for the right ear and boy it was good… my husband couldn't get any of them! For my Speech tests I had to listen what the therapist had to say - Ch, Sh, Th, etc and it wasn't too bad as I thought as you listen to your voice and say For, Four, Fore - they all sound the same don't they?? Both therapists said "more likely to be suitable"…. I thought great something is happening but was told…. I've yet more to come!

So last Thursday, I went to meet the Surgeon, Mr Strachan (no not from Holby City!) and wanted to know more about me and my hearing - luckily my mum came to this meeting as hubby is now in Afghanistan and hubby told them that anything to do with appointments must go ahead without him as I have mum as my sidekick! We asked him if the hearing can get worse even if they don't have the implant and his answer was yes so that is rather scary. We also asked him which ear would it be implanted? His answer was on the worse ear as what they will do is cut the hearing out and then drills some bones and inserts the electrode wires into the auditory nerves.

I have to have the CT scan to find out which ear they will put the implant on. BUT…It is not up to me… it's up to the Adult Team at YCIS to make the decision whether I'm suitable for this or not but I have had some hints from the surgeon that I'm more likely to be suitable and it also depends on the funding from the primary care trust. Gosh with all these things happening the more I get to know about it.

Now I have another hearing and speech tests on 18th July so I'll have to do my third blog for this.If I get to be suitable for this then I'm going to fundraise for them and they are fundraising for a new building for the Cochlear Implant. If interested please visit: http://www.ycis.org.uk/ - it does tell you what's is done.Thank you for reading this.

How it Happened.

Further to my Blog one on Cochlear/Deafness. I had tinnitus whilst in Belgium in 2005 and it only lasted three weeks so we forgot all about it till November 2006 when it happened again! I went to the military centre in Germany and finally nagged at the consultant for better hearing aid and he agreed as long the military would fund it - to be honest, back in January 2004, they nearly cancelled our overseas tour because of this but it was one of the airmen who said that not his senior boss - the senior boss was furious and should not have sent my husband the fax!

I eventually got some new digital hearing aids last August 2006 and it was brilliant - it certainly changes the technology and it improved until November 2006…..So I had to see the doctor (military) and got referred to a specialist at St Rafael's Hospital in Leuven and had hearing tests…. Sadly my left hearing had deteriorated (that left hearing was my good ear!) and it was a shock as I couldn't hear a thing - not a bleep! Unfortunately we couldn't make the next appointment as we were packing up to move back to UK. Anyway, mum was with us for a week and the phone rang one Thursday and mum answered it as I couldn't answer it as I had no hearing on the left ear if I spoke on the phone! It was so difficult as I used to hear on the phone no matter where I was ringing from! The Professor wanted to see us….. So after numerous calls to get hold of hubby who was busy at work and his boss said he would find him! Eventually hubby rang back and said go ahead and hubby will speak to my military doctor who rang that afternoon which was super.

We waited and waited to see the professor and he said something about Cochlear Implant - I thought "hang on wait a minute…" I've only just arrived here and I'm about to go back to UK! Professor understood and said that I should have Cortisone Injections so I said ok. He also suggested that I have blood tests to see if there was any infection in it? Okay so I went to have the blood tests and the junior doctor went to speak to my mum and said "After that test, you two go up to the ward on the next floor for 5 days?" Mum queried "why and what for?" Doctor said "for further tests". Mum alarmed him to say "no she's got two kids to be collect from school and is very busy for the next 5 days"…. Doctor said "okay go to the other hospital"… so we drove to Gasthuisberg and waited and waited. It got rather frustrated and time was clocking away as I needed to get the children from schools and couldn't get hold of hubby as mobile phones weren't allowed! I paced up and down the corridors and mum was getting angry…. Oh! I kept looking out for the doctors and said "yes, one on its way"… but couldn't tell me when!

Arrgh!I then looked at the clock and warned them that I'm going at 3.00pm as I have to pick my youngest up at 3.30pm. So they chased it up and eventually found someone to administer the prescriptions - that what we were waiting for!!!! They next said "can you stay for 4 hours?" I said "NO" due to kids… okay they said and managed to get some cortisone and saline drips and inserted in my arms and I had to have the drip kept in for 5 days meaning that it was bandaged up daily and popping back to the hospital every morning! Collected the youngest kid then went to collect eldest kid from another school and found my husband there - he was worried as he hadn't heard from me and doh I forgotten to put my mobile back on!

So that was for 5 days of cortisone injection followed by MRI Scan and results and said that my scan was normal. The cortisone injection didn't improve and we got talking to my mother-in-law who used to work at the audiology department, she mentioned it to one of the nurses (who is our friend too) and she mentioned to her consultant and quickly replied "when they return to UK - they must see us"..

So it was fro-ing and to-ing with mum along and shame I couldn't take her anywhere as it was her last visit to Brussels with us…. Never mind but she understood what was happening and learnt a lot in the hospital! On my return, we saw the consultant and had another hearing test - still the same as in December and was rather concerned. He then suggested that he refer me to seek further information about Cochlear Implant. So after paperwork in February we waited and waited for the appointment - nothing happened until my husband rang - I still couldn't use the phone - only text on mobile.

The YCIS (Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Services) finally contacted us and apologised for the delay due to funding as they had to seek some fund from our primary care trust in our area.

Put the Light On I Can't Hear You?

The title of my talk is "Put the light on, I can't hear you". If this sounds silly – just think about it!

Deafness to me is where I cannot hear a sound, even a loud disco music without help of a hearing aid.

Deafness can be caused by a mother contracting German measles this resulting in Rubella. Other causes may be meningitis, or deafness may be hereditary.

I'm going to talk a little about myself. I was born deaf. When I reached my second birthday, my parents found out that I was not communicating like any other toddlers for example shouting for mum and dad, the doctors could not find out what was wrong with me, but later found out that it's the hearing nerves or loss of them that caused my deafness.

At the age of 3, I attended Odsal House School for the Deaf in Bradford, West Yorkshire. When I started school, I wore body worn hearing aids. These aids were not good, all I could hear was the paper as the aids worn on my body picked up and magnified even the slightest sound and I could hear paper crackling like thunder! For several years I had hearing tests to see if my hearing had improved. I stayed at that special school for six years and by then I had made some progression and could speak a little. So after these six years I was transferred to Heaton Middle School in the mainstream education, where there was a small partially hearing unit.

Whilst at that school, I was given a 'phonic ear' where the teacher had the microphone and I had the receiver aid to listen. I did not enjoy using these aids but had to put up with it for another four years!

At the age of 12, I changed my hearing aids from 'body worn' to 'behind the ear' which you cannot really see. I found these aids a lot better physiologically than the body worn aids.

After Heaton Middle School, I then attended Belle Vue Girls Grammar School – again a partially hearing unit, and again wore a phonic ear. I did not want to wear this and the teachers had to make me wear them. It was terrible they were bulky but I used to hear the teacher's conversations when the teacher was out of the classroom! I often forgot to recharge the battery at night – sometimes on purpose!

I joined Brownies at the age of 7, then joined Guides and Venture Scouts, these organizations were pleased to have me and I found no problems when I joined them. They soon learned that they had to speak to my face and speak clearly but not loudly this latter has no effect whatsoever.

I do not wear these hearing aids when I retire to bed nor swimming, if you get your hearing aids damaged, it costs money and time to repair.

The hearing aids runs on batteries just like the quartz watch batteries and I get them free from Bradford Royal Infirmary if I return my old ones otherwise I will have to buy them at chemist shops.

A few years ago I was nominated for the Deaf Young Achievements Award because I had spent time helping others for example in Old People's home, Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts. In 1986, I gained the highest award in the Scouting Movement namely the 'Queen's Scout'. The Queen's Scout Award was a real challenge for me because I had to do many things from canoeing to walking the Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales, I also had to do community work. In 1986 I took part in the Venture Scout's Expedition to Pakistan and India for a month and was pleased to meet some deaf children. In 1987, I then travelled to Windsor for the Annual Queen's Scout Parade and was lucky enough to speak to the Queen!

I do not tend to mix with other deaf people because I don't want to be involved in sign language in fact I don't know it but I can do the manual alphabet.

Deafness has not stopped me from doing things that I really wanted to do – for example, canoeing, windsurfing, sailing, ski-ing and travelling to Australia on my own! I also took over a Guide Company where I have responsibility of controlling Guides and planning their programmes. I gained a Camper's Licence which enables me to take the Guides camping. Last year I was appointed onto the West Yorkshire North Girl Guides County Team as a Water and Boating Advisor.

I sometimes find it very difficult to hear people on the telephone but I can manage if I know who is on the other end of the line. I can visualise them speaking and imagine their lip movements.

At camps, I always carry either a torch or gas lantern at nights because when it is dark. I need a light so that I can see the person and hear what he or she is saying! So please bear in your mind that I need a light on your face when I'm listening.

To be accepted on this Operation Raleigh would therefore be an acceptance of deaf and partially hearing young people as I have always had to prove to myself and others that I could do exactly as others in spite of my handicap.

Please don't feel sorry for deaf people. We are very proud, at times our own worst enemies, but if you do meet deaf people, have patience, speak to them, not at them, face them, don't have a cup of coffee in front of your mouth or your hand. We do have minds. Because we can't hear doesn't mean we can't think.


Editor's Note:

This talk was read out in July 1991 when I did the Selection Weekend for Operation Raleigh and few days later I was successful and had to raise £1,800 for my expedition although it did cost £3,000 but my employers – Inland Revenue sponsored me! I carried on fundraising and got to £3,500 so that I could buy the equipment etc.

So I chose my expedition to Malaysia the following year in July 1992 for 3 months and really loved it – it was hard work but an enjoyable.

To date (June 2004) – I am now wearing Digital Analogue Programmed Hearing Aids (similar to Digital hearing aids). I love it now and wished they were invented years ago. I'm hearing a lot better than I used to when I was a kid. I can hear some quiet noises and glad to hear people better on the telephone and the mobile phone!