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Activated Yesterday And Update

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My Cochlear Nucleus 8 Nexa Processor was activated yesterday. I am with a Sphere on my right ear for the time and on my left. She set up the N8 on ear processor and will wait to introduce the Kanso until my next follow-up in three weeks. iPhone connected and the initial observations.

  1. I have a difficult time getting the device on correctly. I am strongly right handed, had a TIA stroke 4 years ago that affects balance and fell while walking on my left hand and have troube making fist and finger coordination so this will take practice.
  2. Initial sound was a symbal-type noise that went to an echo dah-dah, dah-dah. sound. Call to my daughter and I could faintly make out some speaking words and noise. Hung up, put the Sphere on and called back.
  3. I spent some time reading to myself. my voice was more faint than speaking to myself in the Audi office. I watched some captioned soundbar TV and not much good. Sound and a couple of faint words maybe. I then did some of the Co-pilot level 1 exercises and could actually make out some of the repeat the sentences. fairly well. A couple of the single word exercises were limited. I consider this a win for day 1/2.
  4. My setup is as follows looking at the record uploadeed to my health carrier.

“A size 4i was determined as the appropriate magnet strength for the patient today.

Programming:

Patient was fit with the N8 processor today. Parameters included strategy ACE, mode MP1+2, 978 Hz rate, maxima 8 and 45.6 PW.

Utilized population mean to set master volume. “Loud but comfortable” master volume was set at 104. He reported that it sounded like “cymbals” and it was hard to discern speech from background noise. Inserted hearing aid and had to lower master volume to 102, as it was overpowering. Saved this as map #1.

The N8 processor was programmed as follows:

P1: Map 1 with SCAN

P2: Map 2 with SCAN (Cs up 5 CU globally)

P3: Map 3 with SCAN (Cs up 10 CU globally)

P4: Map 4 with SCAN (Cs down 5 CU globally from Map 1)

Estimated battery life: ~21 hours a day.

She said to stay at Scan 2 - level one until I needed more sound. Then level two, and give each a couple days. I put it on two and will check it out. All for now and I will keep updates. Thanks.

Congratulations on your hearing sound at activation. That alone is a huge thing.

That first mapping is a very ruff initial setting. I believe it is for getting your brain kick started to new sounds. For you to make out any words is a great start, much better than I did on my first CI.

I like your programs. They give you flexibility to push or lower volume as needed.

Do you have a TV streamer for your Cochlear processor? I would recommend using it over the sound bar. Try to isolate the CI from your other ear to rehab. The brain will always take the easy route to hear. Force your CI to learn.

Starting at a #4 magnet on your N8 is a good thing. Typically the K3 will need one size stronger magnet to hold and the #5 is the strongest magnet for your Nucleus processors. When you get the K3 put a lanyard on it so you will feel better about it not hitting the ground or getting lost. In time you will get comfortable with not losing it and remove the lanyard.

Congratulations on your successful activation.

Thanks Raudrive. I did get a TV streamer. It is in the backpack at the Audi office with the Kanso. Not sure why I didn’t get it. She did say to stream and gave me a lot of other sites to use for learning.

Gotcha on the lanyard - can you recommend one? From Cochlear or aftermarket. Also, will the streamer be obsolete shortly? .Our 1 year old OLED LG TV already has firmware with Bluetooth LE 5.3 Aurocast. I have not played with it yet to see if there is a possibility to connect without the Streamer. Would be cool but not sure Cochlear is there yet.

In the end I get 4 additional devices. 3 come with and Cochlear is giving a ticket for an addidtional.

I will do my 2-4 hrs exercises daily with no in right ear. Hope I am on a short path with some dedicated but relaxed effort.

@smeltjr said:

Gotcha on the lanyard - can you recommend one?

I used the one that came with the processor. It was about a foot long and I clipped it to my shirt collar. The black plastic clip failed pretty quick. From there I just made lanyards with 10-12 pound test fishing line and bought some clips that are used on employee badges. This turned out easier to use and didn’t break.

In reply to @smeltjr

@smeltjr said:

Aurocast. I have not played with it yet to see if there is a possibility to connect without the Streamer. Would be cool but not sure Cochlear is there yet.

You have the Nexa system, correct? I am a bit envious.

You are correct, Cochlear N8’s and K3’s are ready but need a firmware update to move forward is my understanding. The hands free phone calls is what I am looking for. I was spoiled with Phonak many years ago with the Marvels. My Pixel 9 pro is ready but Cochlear is not. I plan to move to K3’s when Cochlear makes this happen.

Congratulations on your activation day, you are off to a fantastic start.

@smeltjr said:

Initial sound was a symbal-type noise that went to an echo dah-dah, dah-dah. sound.

Your brain is working to lay down new neural sound pathways. This takes some time, everyone is very different in how long it takes. If your understanding some words now each mapping will bring speech clarity a lot clearer.

When doing rehab leave your out and block that ear as Raudrive said also. This makes your ear do all the work. Also helps your brain establish the sound pathways.

@smeltjr said:

I have a difficult time getting the device on correctly.

I also have a useless right arm. I can’t lift it at all. How I’ve managed to put my N8 on is to sit down. Lift your arm up onto the table, and work with both hands as best you can. I have a hug fit on my processor it’s a stretchy circle that goes around my ear and holds the N8 in position all day. This is the only way I can get mine on. I hope this suggestion might help you as well. I’ll put a pic of hug fit for you.

I’m jealous of your Nexa processor, I didn’t get anywhere near the info you got. All I got was scan 1, scan 2 etc. Then I got told they increase in volume as you work through the scans.

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