5 Weeks Later

Sorry this is late due to Christmas and New Year!

I returned back to YCIS on 19th December on my own as Howard was at work and my mum was working too!

First I saw the Speech Language Therapist and went through some few questions on how was I getting on with the Cochlear Implant since I was 'switched on' on 14th November. I told her that it was amazing as I had to tell her that I had been using the PHONE! So the Therapist (Lynne) asked me if I would like to practise doing some telephone conversations with her so I agreed.

The first conversation was about Christmas then holidays and booking a doctor's appointment. Lynne was amazed to see the outcome of my hearing as it's only been 5 weeks since the switch on and I could hear on the phone!

After an hour of doing some exercises, I then went to see the audiologist Elaine who tested my implant and to see if there were any more that needed to be turned up. But I had my decibels test first back in May 2007, my decibels for both ears with hearing aids was over 120db, with the implant on my left and no hearing aid on the right (have not worn right hearing aid since the switch on) the result was between 30 and 45 decibels!! That is a big improvement there!

We then went to another room to do some lipreading and listening to the TV, us people on the yahoo group have nicknamed him "Mr Truly Boring" and the staff found out about this! Anyway, first test was to lipread Mr Boring and listen to him at the same time, in September 2007 my result was 56% on my left ear and with the new implant, the result rose to 97%! After this, it was without Mr Boring so I had to concentrate on listening to what he was saying. In September the left ear was 6% and on the 19th December it was 44%. Again, I was really pleased with it and so was the Audiologist.

I now go back on the 30th January for my second monthly programme and hearing tests too - am looking forward to hear the new results. I have started to use the cable from my implant to any music from MP3, CD Players, Laptop to listen to any music and my son's DS for any speaking games on the More Brain Training which he got for Christmas!