PATIENCE! Oh God, I'm going to need a lot of it.
My implant was activated today after five long weeks of silence after the surgery, and while it's been pretty exciting overall being able to hear things again, I'll be honest, it has not been as good as I had hoped. I had been trying to keeps my expectations low anyway, but this is going to take some work getting used too.
After Jennifer (the audiologist) hooked me up, she went through the series of initial beeps that they start off with. Then she "turned me on". While expecting things to sound different, I really couldn't hear anything at all at first, just a bunch of loud sounds with voices sounding very high pitched and mechanical, and yes, very much like Donald Duck as I had heard. In anticipation of this (and without telling me) my wife made some t-shirts with Donald Duck on the front saying "can you hear me now?"My daughter and her took their coats off to reveal them as I was listening to Jennifer talk. It was pretty funny.
Anyway, we then got to go throught the suitcase size box that contains all the extra stuff that I get to keep - all the back-up accessories, batteries, and assistive listening devices.
By the way, the processor and magnet has been pretty comfortable. I had worried that because it was bigger then the hearing aid plus the magnet attached to my head that it would be uncomfortable and take some getting used to, but it hasn't been a problem at all. The magnet slips on nice and easy and fits partially under a hat if I wear one.
After leaving Jennifer's office, I actually felt like crying - things sounded so strange, but I quickly gathered myself and repeated my patience mantra. When listening to someone face to face I can understand what they are saying, even though it sounds strange, but if I look away, I have trouble picking up what is being said. That's why it was kinda of neat for what happened in the car on the way home: I was listening to my daughter Danielle talk in the back seat and trying to repeat what she was saying. My mom was behind me and out of sight when she suddenly said, Dan, can you hear me? I repeated to her, yes, I can hear you. Everyone looked at me in amazement and then I suddenly realized, how did I do that? I guess it was my first CI moment!
It's now Wednesday evening as I write this. It's only been a few hours since I was activated, but I can tell a very slight improvement in the quality of peoples voices, not quiet so much like Donald Duck. Simple everyday environmental sounds are pretty normal, doors shutting, forks on a plate etc. Ironically, music, which I had heard was the hardest to pick up hasn't been that bad. I was able to follow along as Danielle played the piano. Maybe more complex music like at church or on the radio will be different.
So the journey has begun. Not quiet the flying start I secretly was hoping for, but as usual, with the fantastic support of my family and the patience and determination I have asked God to give me, things will improve. I am confidant my next blog will have better news on the speech comprehension front.