I am back to wearing two hearing aids

I wore my hearing aid on the left side for a month while the implant insertion healed in the right ear. Earlier this week, as I was contemplating my eldest performing a lead role in an upcoming school play, I moped in the idea I would only hear on the aided side and miss more of her special moments. I decided to try the hearing aid in the implanted ear. I played a CD that I was very familar with and became enchanted that I could enjoy it like I used to many years ago. I watched some t.v. and noticed the words did not appear to be running together and that there was more pitch and variety in the sounds. I have not spent another waking moment without both aids ever since. I am sure I am hearing almost as well as I was 10 years ago. The 's' sounds have returned. There is no monotone in my hearing. There is no question IF I couldnt wear the CI, I can go back to the hearing aids. These couple of days I have talked on the phone to three people I am closest to and have had no trouble understanding. My special phone is designed to benefit me - I have a dual headset with a special amplifier and the volume is L-O-U-D. My confidence on the phone has returned - at least with familiar voices for now.

I think I am doing myself a benefit wearing the aid in the implanted side, as the nerve is once again active and I hope I adjust quickly to the activation moment on Monday. My biggest question is: WILL I understand WITHOUT lipreading? As I watched Lauren's performance, I did not understand anything but I could hear it. I began to comprehend that the sound traveling through my forever-damaged ears are what keeps me from deciphering words properly. The miracle of the cochlear implant is its ability to bypass the damaged part of the ear and process information directly with the auditory nerve. Apparently I might be able to distinguish voice from noise. It takes time and practice.

Yesterday morning my mother had hip replacement surgery. It was also her 76th birthday and she had quite a party - before her operation commenced, the O.R. team gathered around her and sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday! The doctor then gave her a '2 and a half pound weight' as a gift. This morning I picked up the phone and gave a call to her hospital room. I was delighted to connect with her voice, although very soft, and it was a miracle to be able to understand her in her groggy state! I heard her inform someone (in a sideways tone) that she was talking to her daughter in canada and would soon be saying goodbye. A soft and joyful tear ran down my cheek as it has been a long time since I had confidence to hear using the phone, especially to engage with my mom who is many miles away on a hospital bed.

Three more days to go and when I am ready for switch on, the hearing aids need to be put away. I must ask the girls to hide them from me - my audiologist tells me the brain needs T-I-M-E to learn the sounds off the processor. He suggested I give one or two months using the CI processor alone. This enables the brain a chance to switch-over and submit to the improved quality sound that the CI provides. In a month, when I try the hearing aid in the unimplanted ear, I may discover that the hearing aid sounds junky compared to the CI and decide to go without it. Every CI recipient has a different experience with a hearing aid in addition to the CI. Sometimes it supports their CI, enabling more directional support, sometimes it doesnt.

Wish me luck. I am more than excited although trying to be prepared for what could sound awful on Monday.