Post-CI surgery: Turning the implant on

Journal entry from Jan. 18th, 2007


My first impressions of turning the CI on:

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My CI was turned on yesterday and boy do I regret not asking for a bodyworn processor. I knew it'd be big, but not this gigantic. Pictures to be updated later. Unfortuntely, I asked for both processors to be BTE. So I'm stuck with looking like Dumbo.

Right now, I can hear voices if I struggle and the TV accessory doesn't fit my tellie so my Dad will buy an adapter. I can also hear my blinker and other high pitches (water--but it sounds like a steady beep) but I cannot hear traffic noises, my horn, other loud noises**. Right now, trying to hear voices is overwhelming so I'm hardly complaining.

I can still listen to music with my earbuds, just not with the CI directly plugged into my ipod because it just sounds like ringing. I didn't lose my hearing, so that's good, if I never adjust to this awful thing, I can do away with it (I won't give up after one day).

I sure hope I adjust because I'm tempted to throw it against the wall. It's AWFUL.


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** Meaning I could not distinguish between the different sounds.


2013 update/impressions of turning the CI on

I believe the Youtube videos of deaf people hearing sound for the first time with their CIs are exaggerations. I don't doubt the patients heard sounds, but I'm not convinced hearing people are putting much thought into the videos. What are hearing people imagine the sounds to be like? Probably the way their own hearing currently functions: flawless, understandable, distinguishable sounds.

I could only hear high-pitch squealing noises for an entire month and I grew up with hearing aids and thus my brain was familiar with sounds, albeit a different pathway. That's why I had problems hearing people speak to me during my first month. The voices of my family members were competing against loud environmental noises going on. It took multiple MAPPing appointments and time to adjust to the processor. I could hear, but the problem was I heard too much that it all canceled each other out and become a giant clump of noise pounding my head. Sound isn't enjoyable when it's noise.