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I had my Choclear brand implant activated six weeks ago. I’m noticing improvement in that I can now listen to an audiobook with using only my implant and understand enough to follow the story, and it’s the same on the car radio. I do get loud hissing and screeching sounds from actions like silverware being placed in or out of a drawer, or most words beginning or ending in “S”. I have my second mapping session next week and I’m hopeful that that issue will be corrected All in all, I think I’m progressing pretty well

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Very nice and I am hoping that I can get the same outcome. I am fortunate enough to have the time and resources to dedicate most of my day working on this. How much time per day do you dedicate and which did you get?

Congratulations on the activation! I experienced a variation of sounds in the beginning as well. As my brain adjusted to the new sounds, it was just a matter of time when the sounds started to become clearer.

Just give it some time, and you will more than likely be good. And that’s the purpose of initial mappings :blush: All in all, you are definitely progressing!

Edited
@Roberto2 said:

activated six weeks ago. I’m noticing improvement in that I can now listen to an audiobook with using only my implant and understand enough to follow the story, and it’s the same on the car radio

You are doing great. At 6 weeks all I was hearing was screeches and scratches but that started changing pretty quick about that time.

Be prepared for all the sounds of the kitchen and bathroom to be sometimes painfully loud. I could have sworn my wife was throwing dishes around the kitchen sometimes. It gets better as your brain gets things sorted out.

Every mapping in the beginning is usually very helpful. Taking notes about your hearing to share with your audiologist can also be very helpful.

Are you wearing the N8 or K3? What hearing aid are you wearing? Are you considering going bilateral?

@Roberto2 said:

. I’m noticing improvement in that I can now listen to an audiobook with using only my implant and understand enough to follow the story, and it’s the same on the car radio

At 6 weeks post activation this is fantastic. Congratulations! What environmental sounds are you hearing?

In reply to @smeltjr

Using the Cochlear Nexus 8 and I spend at least an hour a day practicing. At night I often listen to an audiobook and read along with the text, or I discard my aid and attempt to listen without reading the words. Actually I can do that with around 80-85 percent compression. (That’s my estimate, not a certified test). With TV or car radio I try to listen without my aid, but I’m not as successful with that yet.

In reply to @Raudrive

Also, I qualify for bilateral but I want to wait at least a year to understand how well I’m doing with . At this time I’m using a seven year old Resound aid in my left ear; however, next week I will be fitted with a Resound Nexus, as the Vivía isn’t compatibility with the Cochlear Implant at this time…so I’m told.

@Roberto2 said:

do you recall how long it took for the implant sound to blend into a more normal sound

There is a good chance the Donald Duck sound will go away at your next mapping. Fingers crossed.

In reply to @Roberto2

@Roberto2 said:

Also, I qualify for bilateral but I want to wait at least a year to understand how well I’m doing with bimodal.

I am curious. What is your word understanding score for your non implanted ear?

For me I wanted bilateral from the beginning. My surgeon talked me out of get both done at once. At three months I could have a conversation on a phone with my implant alone. That’s when I knew it was a success and it was time to go bilateral. It was a great decision for me.

My left ear is 23%. S

An aside, I recently applied to the for disability compensation since I’ve always thought that my hearing was damaged from copying Morse Code daily for four years in the Air force in the 60’s. Much to my surprise,

They granted 60% disability, and my new Resound will come via the VA. I have a feeling that others who had the same job as I did must have experienced similar hearing loss and applied through the years, because there was no push back. They granted disability within two weeks.

In reply to @Roberto2

@Roberto2 said:

Raudrive, do you recall how long it took for the implant sound to blend into a more normal sound ?

This is a hard one to answer, simply because everyone is on their own journey. I heard “Popeye the sailor man” chirping at me all day. It drove me up the wall, (all I could imagine was bulging arm muscles) I hoped if I did more rehab it would go quicker. Sadly it didn’t. I noticed the change started around 6 months for me. Then at 9 months I couldn’t pick the difference. I tried turning the volume up a tad on my ear hoping that would help. Whether it did or didn’t I don’t know.

sadly it will even out in its own good time. But mappings do help bring clarity to speech.

Thanks Sheryl. Time will tell. At least I can look forward to normal sound …sometime.

Yes, I served during the communication stone age, before satellites, cell phones, simultaneous translation and drones. Listening Post: Jurassic Shack.

MilStar AF terminals office was a neighboring program office to my program office, a terrestrial surveillance program. The capabilities they claimed seemed bizarre.

WH

Congrats! You are definitely further along than I was at this stage! Keep up the good work.

Below the recommendation of the tv streamer - I personally found that to be a big contributor to my brain learning. I didn’t hook it up until month 3 I think - but I typically have the tv sound off and stream thru my side only (so my better ear isn’t able to help). I of course always have captions on the tv. Initially I definitely needed the captions to help understand - but now in a lot of situations I can walk out of the room and follow the show/news thru my CI only.

@nicmger said:

the recommendation of the tv streamer - I personally found that to be a big contributor to my brain learning.

Good to hear this. Congratulations

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