Your Child's Hearing

If you are you a parent of a child who is hard of hearing or Deaf, the most important thing you need to know is YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I am sure when you first heard the news it was overwhelming for you.  I have to tell you in this world today we have such amazing technology. The best part about all this is you also have amazing support. There are tons of support groups. Support groups is something my parents NEVER HAD. They didn't know what to do for me because not one professional guided them the right way.


Thats why this post is important to me.

These two websites below will help you get a head start on your child's hearing loss.

My Baby's Hearing

Beginnings for parents of children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

There are support groups you can join. You can talk with other parents. There are a lot more support groups out there. I also know on face book there are many groups.  The three support groups below are very well known. I know alot of people who are on them and find them to be helpful.

CIcircle


CIhear


learn2hear


If anyone knows of another support group please let me know and I will add it to this list. Thanks :)

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

American Girl Doll has hearing aids for their dolls

American Girl now has hearing aids for their dolls.  Isn't this awesome? We have to get them to make one for cochlear implant recipients.  

I love how American Girl not only has hearing aids for the dolls but other products such as no hair, wheelchairs etc. To bad we didn't have this stuff when we were younger. Oh how I wish I can be a kid all over again.

This is perfect if your child has hearing aids. She would love this!


Above click the link and it bring you right to the website. Scroll down and you will see hearing aids. Click on that and it will bring up a page.

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Hearing the Ocean

The other night I went with my friend to the beach. Since I couldn't exercise I decided to go down by the water to hear the ocean for the first time. My entire life I wore hearing aids up until I couldnt benefit from them anymore. It's amazing that I can hear the ocean with my processor. I didnt have the opportunity to hear water growing up.

Hearing the ocean with my processor for the very first time was overwhelming for me. I didn't get the chance to do this last summer with my first implant because the implant failed.

At first the waves seemed so loud because I was standing right in the water. After a few minutes the water became so peaceful to me. I wanted to sit there all night.

I had the perfect night for this moment. There was a clear sky and full moon.  I even took an eight minute video so I can listen to the waves over and over again. That night when I came home before bed I listened to the waves again.

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

X- Ray's

Today, I had to get some X rays done of my spine, legs and neck.  I was nervous to step foot into the X-Ray room with my processor on. I am aware that I can have x rays done just not MRI's.

The first thing I did was tell the technician I was deaf and without my implant I cannot hear. I also told her I cannot have MRI's. She even knew what a cochlear Implant was and new that I couldn't have MRI's. I was surprised.

For the first x-ray she told me to take off the processor. Then for the rest of the x rays I  left my put processor on. This was nice to communicate with such ease when she was around the bend by the computer. I even hear the machine talking slowly saying " Breath in" " Breath out".   I even heard a new sound today while she was moving the monitor I heard a beeping sound.   Totally awesome. I will probably brag forever once again being able to hear saved my life because its one LESS thing I have to worry about.

Then I had to get more blood work done today. I heard this new sound. I cant explain it but when the technician put the needle in my arm and put the tube in. Thats what i heard the Tube making a clicking noise. Last Friday when I had blood work done I didnt hear that!

On top of a very very busy month with Dr.'s the best thing hearing is a little princess saying
"Aunt D I love you with all my heart" or " Aunt D I love you so much" as she squeezes my leg so tight.


Priceless!



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Visit to my surgeons office

Yesterday I went into the city because I had an appointment with my surgeon. Remember the pain I was experiencing on my implant side as well as the other side of my head?  I now  have whats called TMJ syndrome. He also asked if I have trouble swallowing at night. Dr. A looked at my ear and asked if I had pain on the other side of my head too. The reason why I cannot sleep on my implant side is because of the TMJ. TMJ is flaring up. I have heard of TMJ years ago but I didn't know much about it until now.

Then Dr A. put his fingers in my mouth and it HURT!  He saids that I have to go to the dentist and get a " Night Guard". This is something I am not going to want to do. The night guard will help with the pain. He also thinks that I grind my teeth. I honestly dont know if I do.  To have some pain relief I have to take Advil every four hours.

I thought I was loosing my mind the last two months. My jaw  has been hurting me as well. I didn't think anything of it because I have to many health issues. So its official I am not loosing my mind.  Not yet at least.

He prescribed me some ear drops called Prednisolone because I told him my ears are so itchy. I also asked him about  Genetic testing because I really want to find out why I was born hearing impaired. This is something I always wanted to do. I just didn't think that was possible.
My surgeon doesn't do genetic testing so he refereed me to someone I called today and the earliest appointment is August 15th. I'm looking forward to this because I want to know the " Real Story".

I hope everyone is having a good summer so far.



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Summer Time & Travel Information

The last few weeks have been crazy because I am taking a summer class. The first day of summer was Wednesday and it was super hot 100 degrees here in New York.

Yesterday I went into the pool with my niece because it was another hot day. Hearing in the pool is amazing. I can understand what everyone is talking about. I am no longer isolated and confused. I even hear the music blasting.

I experienced something really cool yesterday. Someone jumped into the pool and I heard a big SPLASH!!! Also when you go onto a float the float makes a noise as well. Splashing someone makes a noise too. I DID NOT* go under water with my N5 processor on. I am a bit nervous about that.  All I did was dunk my entire body up to my shoulders. My niece splashed me once and I was able to swim around with no problem at all! You can even hear a noise when you kick in the water.

Totally awesome!!!!!!

Below is an article I wanted to share with you all.

Beatin' the Summer Heat - Nucleus 5 & Nucleus Freedom IP Water Rating

Beatin' the Summer Heat - Nucleus® 5 & Nucleus Freedom™ IP Water Rating
As summer brings water activities, humidity and sweating, you or your child can enjoy the benefits of hearing while participating in summer activities with your Cochlear Nucleus® 5 or Nucleus Freedom™ Sound Processor.

Nucleus 5
The Nucleus 5 Sound Processor is a behind-the-ear sound processor certified to be IP57 water resistant* when using rechargeable batteries. This means that the sound processor is not only splash resistant, it can also be submerged into three feet of still water for up to 30 minutes. 

When using disposable batteries, the Nucleus 5 Sound Processor is certified to be IP44 splash resistant.

Nucleus Freedom
The Nucleus Freedom Sound Processor is certified to be IP44 splash resistant.** This means that recipients can enjoy playing in sprinklers and engaging in sports.

When Hearing Aids are No Longer Enough Webinar
Are hearing aids no longer working well enough for you? Please join the next webinar, "Because Life is Worth Hearing - Solutions for Hearing Loss" on Tuesday, June 26 at 11 AM. Register Today!

Here are some travel tips:

• Carry your patient ID card with you at all times.Download a printable PDF


• Cochlear implant recipients can go through the airport security metal detectors because they usually will NOT react to the metal in your Nucleus® Sound Processor. You can also walk through whole body scanners.


• Bring your own headphones or use a Mains Isolation Cable to listen to music or movies during a flight.


• Bring spare sound processors with you if you have them.


• Always pack your spare sound processors inside a carry-on bag. Never place your sound processor directly onto the conveyer belt.


• You can leave your sound processor on during takeoff and landing.


• Read the TSA guidelines for traveling as a cochlear implant recipient.

Have a safe and fun Summer!!!!!



© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog

Audiological 3 month post re-implantation Evaluation

Today I received my results from the evaluation.

History: In February 2011, Danielle was implanted with a Nucleus C1512 cochlear implant in her right ear. In January of 2012, her device was explanted ( due to reports of intermittency, poor sound quality and static) and she was re implanted with a Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant. Her primary mode of communication is through spoke language; she is also fluent in American Sign Language.

Impressions

  Hearing: Danielle's unaided hearing in her left (un-implanted) ear was assessed as part of this evaluation responses to pure tone stimuli were consistent and repeatable under inster earphones. Danielle demonstrated a moderate sloping to profound hearing loss in her left ear from 250-8000 Hz.

Technology: Danielle came to this evaluation using a MAP in her CP810- speech processor composed in the ACE processing strategy in her right cochlear implant. She was also tested with her own Oticon behind- the-ear  BTE hearing aid coupled to her left ear. She was tested by means of standard audiometry in the soundfield. Responses to narrow band noise were considered to be of good reliability, indicating threshold levels of 10-20 dBHL for the frequency range of 250-6000 Hz with her cochlear implant, and 20-50 dBHL for the frequency range of 250-4000 Hz with her hearing aid. Speech awareness threshold were obtained to low " ba", mid "sh" and high " s" frequency speech stimuli at 5, 5 and 20 dBHL respectively with her cochlear implant and 15, 30 and 30 dBHL respectively with her hearing aid. These findings indicted that Ms. N has full access to speech at normal and soft conversational levels when using her cochlear implant and partial access with her hearing aid.

Speech Perception: Speech discrimination testing was performed at this evaluation using her cochlear implant and hearing aid. 

Test:

CNC word list - Condition- 50dBHL , Right CI  scored 72%

AZ Bio Condition- 50dBHL,  Right CI scored   85%

-------

CNC Word List-  Right CI & Hearing aid- Score  28%

AZ Bio- Right CI & Hearing aid - Score 70%

Recorded- Right CI & Hearing aid- Score 30%

Danielle scores for word and sentence recognition in quiet were judged to be fairly good using the cochlear implant ALONE. Scores in this condition are essentially stable since her previous evaluation in August 2011 (6 months post initial cochlear implant). Score in the bimodal ( CI + HA) condition are significantly lower than scores using the cochlear implant alone. However, it is important to note that today was the first time Ms. N used her hearing aid in combination with her CI.

Recommendations:

1- Continue full time use of cochlear implant.

2- Try using hearing aid in combination with cochlear implant to see if bimodal benefit exists.

Isn't this a great evaluation? I hear very very well with my implant alone. I have to use my hearing aid as well. Which I havent done yet because that day was so overwhelming. To much sound. My audiologist really wants me to have surround sound though. I'll try it tomorrow.

I dont understand anything on the letter what dBHL and 250-6000 Hz means? I am so confused LOL.  

Hope you are having a great day!

© 2012 My personal Hearing Loss blog