The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I am hearing so many new sounds now. I walk outside and hear the jays screaming a warning (and other, nicer bird sounds, too!). And the ticking in the stove when you light the gas. It is exciting! Voices are sounding better - less artificial, but I am still reading lips, I think.
[I've sent Priscilla a link to this entry, which accounts for why she may never stop lip reading, even if her implants work perfectly].
Showing posts with label priscilla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label priscilla. Show all posts
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #10
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
The sound is beginning to change now. Voices sound more like voices now (especially my own) with a much more realistic and individual sound to them. I have started listening to music. I bought a CD a while ago but never opened it - "Circle of Fire", sort of chanting/fusion. I really enjoyed it because I can hear it pretty well (though the vocals are harder to discern) and I love it and keep listening to it! What a difference this new cochlear implant (CI) makes!
I went to a bluegrass festival and could hear the music surprisingly clearly. The banjo had a very sharp clear tone that was very easy for my CI to translate. The Gibson brothers played really well, with nasal vocals and yodeling. All surrounded by Winnebagoes and tents, in a field of grass with a faint aroma of cow dung, and 6 inces of mud wherever you had to walk!
Continue to Report #11
The sound is beginning to change now. Voices sound more like voices now (especially my own) with a much more realistic and individual sound to them. I have started listening to music. I bought a CD a while ago but never opened it - "Circle of Fire", sort of chanting/fusion. I really enjoyed it because I can hear it pretty well (though the vocals are harder to discern) and I love it and keep listening to it! What a difference this new cochlear implant (CI) makes!
I went to a bluegrass festival and could hear the music surprisingly clearly. The banjo had a very sharp clear tone that was very easy for my CI to translate. The Gibson brothers played really well, with nasal vocals and yodeling. All surrounded by Winnebagoes and tents, in a field of grass with a faint aroma of cow dung, and 6 inces of mud wherever you had to walk!
Continue to Report #11
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #9
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I had a conversation with three of my yoga students this morning who were telling me that with the new CI hearing aid I am speaking differently, more clearly. That sounds really good, though I never knew that I was not clear!
I told a friend that I can hear myself putting blush on my face, and she was surprised at that, and said she would run a test to see if she could hear that..and sure enough, she could! There is so much sound that normal hearing people block out.. and now I am hearing everything (well, almost)! With all the extra noise, that's why I have to rip this thing off my head every once in a while.
Continue to Report #10
I had a conversation with three of my yoga students this morning who were telling me that with the new CI hearing aid I am speaking differently, more clearly. That sounds really good, though I never knew that I was not clear!
I told a friend that I can hear myself putting blush on my face, and she was surprised at that, and said she would run a test to see if she could hear that..and sure enough, she could! There is so much sound that normal hearing people block out.. and now I am hearing everything (well, almost)! With all the extra noise, that's why I have to rip this thing off my head every once in a while.
Continue to Report #10
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #8
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I am having a bad day with my new hearing apparatus. I hear loudly all the sounds I really don't want to hear like my flip flops flapping........what I want to hear I can't seem to make out. I can't even hear some speech because the external noisy sounds are so loud...I will just have to bear with it and keep using it although I do take it off a lot just to get a breather from all the noise.
Continue to Report #9
I am having a bad day with my new hearing apparatus. I hear loudly all the sounds I really don't want to hear like my flip flops flapping........what I want to hear I can't seem to make out. I can't even hear some speech because the external noisy sounds are so loud...I will just have to bear with it and keep using it although I do take it off a lot just to get a breather from all the noise.
Continue to Report #9
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #7
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
Today the audiologist "beefed up" the programs, so now I start at the first step again and work up to the third (each step brings more sonic variety). We also figured a way to keep the processor from falling off my head when I do yoga..a mold was made of my ear so we can attach the processor from inside, like a regular hearing aid. I have also been using a stretchy headband to keep it on. It looks kind of dorky look but it works.
Continue to Report #8
Today the audiologist "beefed up" the programs, so now I start at the first step again and work up to the third (each step brings more sonic variety). We also figured a way to keep the processor from falling off my head when I do yoga..a mold was made of my ear so we can attach the processor from inside, like a regular hearing aid. I have also been using a stretchy headband to keep it on. It looks kind of dorky look but it works.
Continue to Report #8
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #6
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I finally thought of the perfect description of how speech sounds: it's like Alvin and the chipmunks, only you can't quite make out what they are saying! It's a bit too fast for me to make out the individual sounds yet...but I think it will be spectacular when I finally catch up.
I tried to listen to the radio in my car and the music sounded very electronic. The bass line sounded "normal", but there was a higher pitched "tinkling" over the top. It sounded quite weird, but, strangely, I liked listening to it.
Continue to Report #7
I finally thought of the perfect description of how speech sounds: it's like Alvin and the chipmunks, only you can't quite make out what they are saying! It's a bit too fast for me to make out the individual sounds yet...but I think it will be spectacular when I finally catch up.
I tried to listen to the radio in my car and the music sounded very electronic. The bass line sounded "normal", but there was a higher pitched "tinkling" over the top. It sounded quite weird, but, strangely, I liked listening to it.
Continue to Report #7
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #5
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I am happy about my ability to hear speech so much better even though it still sounds tinny and electronic. The other side of the coin is that I am being driven nuts by the constant warbles, bells, tings and other constant noises in my ear...even things like the ticking of a clock, but it's too slow to be a clock, and I don't know what it is! I don't have anyone here to identify the noises.. you can imagine. I am trying to keep wearing the implants so my brain will hopefully move on with all that.
Continue to Report #6
I am happy about my ability to hear speech so much better even though it still sounds tinny and electronic. The other side of the coin is that I am being driven nuts by the constant warbles, bells, tings and other constant noises in my ear...even things like the ticking of a clock, but it's too slow to be a clock, and I don't know what it is! I don't have anyone here to identify the noises.. you can imagine. I am trying to keep wearing the implants so my brain will hopefully move on with all that.
Continue to Report #6
Monday, July 28, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #4
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
I love my implants. It's only the fourth day, but I am able to hear people speak so much more easily now. I still read lips because my brain has not been able to decipher the sounds very well yet*, but there is such a beautiful clarity to it...even with the strange quacking sound there is a beautiful bell-like claity. I hear consonants so much better now, the soft sounds of 's' and 'sh'.
I have been enjoying it but it is still work for my brain and I am surprised at how tired I have been these past few days.
* - my bet is that Priscilla will continue to read lips, regardless of how much her hearing improves, for the exact same reason the Benny Lava lyrics seem to match the Hindi vocalizations even for Hindi-speakers (as I predicted in my Slog entry, and was confirmed by one of the commenters). The visual element is irresistible.
Continue to Report #5
I love my implants. It's only the fourth day, but I am able to hear people speak so much more easily now. I still read lips because my brain has not been able to decipher the sounds very well yet*, but there is such a beautiful clarity to it...even with the strange quacking sound there is a beautiful bell-like claity. I hear consonants so much better now, the soft sounds of 's' and 'sh'.
I have been enjoying it but it is still work for my brain and I am surprised at how tired I have been these past few days.
* - my bet is that Priscilla will continue to read lips, regardless of how much her hearing improves, for the exact same reason the Benny Lava lyrics seem to match the Hindi vocalizations even for Hindi-speakers (as I predicted in my Slog entry, and was confirmed by one of the commenters). The visual element is irresistible.
Continue to Report #5
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #3
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants (read all entries to date on this topic).
Many different sounds register the same. So tapping three different objects all result in the same ting, ting, ting. It's kind of a drag; after a while, you feel like you are in some strange cartoon reality. It's also very confusing to hear noises but have no idea what they are!
I think its the software; it's not very diverse yet because I'm still at program level #1.
I've just learned about another blog with the account of a cochlear implant patient - a young woman who lost her hearing at 17 and regained her hearing via cochlear implants.
Continue to Report #4
Many different sounds register the same. So tapping three different objects all result in the same ting, ting, ting. It's kind of a drag; after a while, you feel like you are in some strange cartoon reality. It's also very confusing to hear noises but have no idea what they are!
I think its the software; it's not very diverse yet because I'm still at program level #1.
I've just learned about another blog with the account of a cochlear implant patient - a young woman who lost her hearing at 17 and regained her hearing via cochlear implants.
Continue to Report #4
Friday, July 25, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #2
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants and has been reporting back, starting here.
The processor keeps falling off when I do yoga. Backbends make it fall off. Forward bends make it fall off. It only stays on when I'm upright or lying down. I guess I'll have to find a way to strap it on.
I wonder how children get away with it...it must fall off all the time...
Continue to Report #3
The processor keeps falling off when I do yoga. Backbends make it fall off. Forward bends make it fall off. It only stays on when I'm upright or lying down. I guess I'll have to find a way to strap it on.
I wonder how children get away with it...it must fall off all the time...
Continue to Report #3
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears: Report #1
The following is by Priscilla Gilmore, who recently got cochlear implants (read all entries to date on this topic).
I am hearing all these little noises as I type on the computer; it's a little freaky. I listened to my car key alarm for the first time; of everything I'm hearing, that sounded the most like how it should sound, constant beeping but with a beautiful clear tone. The audiologist can talk to me now without typing on a computer screen; I am still reading her lips but now she can just talk in a normal voice and I am getting it.
It's very strange because the sounds I'm hearing via the processor do not sound like normal speech; nothing sounds quite like it should. It's all a bit tinny, with echo. But something is happening which is making it all easier.
I feel like a kid in a candy store, scuffing my feet and tapping on things just to hear the sound! I don't have the processor turned up to the richest setting yet (there are two more levels), but will pretty soon.
Its also slightly irritating; I miss my soundless world a little.
It's all very different, but I see the potential now. I had a lot of fear but now that is gone. I'm writing exactly how i feel about it all: jumbled and excited. I just "heard" the phone ring. It doesn't sound anything like how it did before with my old hearing aid, but somehow I am not worried.
Continue to Report #2
I am hearing all these little noises as I type on the computer; it's a little freaky. I listened to my car key alarm for the first time; of everything I'm hearing, that sounded the most like how it should sound, constant beeping but with a beautiful clear tone. The audiologist can talk to me now without typing on a computer screen; I am still reading her lips but now she can just talk in a normal voice and I am getting it.
It's very strange because the sounds I'm hearing via the processor do not sound like normal speech; nothing sounds quite like it should. It's all a bit tinny, with echo. But something is happening which is making it all easier.
I feel like a kid in a candy store, scuffing my feet and tapping on things just to hear the sound! I don't have the processor turned up to the richest setting yet (there are two more levels), but will pretty soon.
Its also slightly irritating; I miss my soundless world a little.
It's all very different, but I see the potential now. I had a lot of fear but now that is gone. I'm writing exactly how i feel about it all: jumbled and excited. I just "heard" the phone ring. It doesn't sound anything like how it did before with my old hearing aid, but somehow I am not worried.
Continue to Report #2
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Priscilla Gets Bionic Ears (Introduction)
I travel far out of my way (to Centerport, Long Island) to study with my terrific hatha yoga teacher, Priscilla. Priscilla uses keen powers of observation and intuition to uncover hidden physical issues and habits. And she happens to be deaf.
That's an ok thing for yoga classes, where sometimes things can get too talk-y and analytical. But it's of course been a real drag for Priscilla, a keen music lover who used to hear normally (she's got a degenerative disorder). She's been trying for a long while now to muster the courage to get cochlear implants, and a couple of weeks ago, she finally did it (this book helped convince her). And this week, the doctors will turn them on.
Most people do not realize that such implants do not offer a simple quick fix. One must learn to interpret the audio information coming in; it's not like regular, organic hearing. It's actually kind of weird.
Priscilla has agreed to send along a short note on her progress each day so we can all follow along, and I'll publish it as a running diary here in the Slog (in addition to my usual stuff).
By way of preparation, please read a classic 2005 Wired Magazine article on one individual's quest to overcome his deafness and finally hear Ravel's Bolero, and also read his follow-up piece from last year in Wired. There have been a bunch of fascinating Wired articles about new technologies for wiring the brain, generally (when Wired's good, it can be very very good).
Continue to Report #1
That's an ok thing for yoga classes, where sometimes things can get too talk-y and analytical. But it's of course been a real drag for Priscilla, a keen music lover who used to hear normally (she's got a degenerative disorder). She's been trying for a long while now to muster the courage to get cochlear implants, and a couple of weeks ago, she finally did it (this book helped convince her). And this week, the doctors will turn them on.
Most people do not realize that such implants do not offer a simple quick fix. One must learn to interpret the audio information coming in; it's not like regular, organic hearing. It's actually kind of weird.
Priscilla has agreed to send along a short note on her progress each day so we can all follow along, and I'll publish it as a running diary here in the Slog (in addition to my usual stuff).
By way of preparation, please read a classic 2005 Wired Magazine article on one individual's quest to overcome his deafness and finally hear Ravel's Bolero, and also read his follow-up piece from last year in Wired. There have been a bunch of fascinating Wired articles about new technologies for wiring the brain, generally (when Wired's good, it can be very very good).
Continue to Report #1
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