Day 29...Me 4.0
OK, the way I see it, when I had normal hearing, that was Jody at his first stage -- 1.0. Then it all started to go south, and about two years ago I got a hearing aid for the right side.
Jody 2.0.
In March, I went under the knife to nest electrodes in my ear parts. On April 16, audiologist Colleen Polite added the behind-the-ear processor and switched it all on.
Jody 3.0.
On Wednesday, I returned to UCSF to access my experience with the CI so far and to adjust the software. Now, because my own Harmony processor hadn't arrived at the 4/16 appt, and because I consequently used an older version of the Advanced Bionics hardware for the first week, I also had to use the older software, called Hi-Res. In hindsight (lemonade-lemonade-lemonade), I'm grateful for that one month with Hi-Res, because it gave me a chance to have a serious woo moment Wednesday when Colleen loaded the latest software, called Fidelity 120.
The rollout of 120 this year is one of the reasons I chose Advanced Bionics. After two days with it, to say I'm pleased with my choice ain't sayin' nearly enough. The goal of 120 is to more finely break down the stimulated locations along the cochlea. The result is a smoother, richer, more complete sound. When Colleen switched over the first program from Hi-Res, the difference was astounding. I could hear her much more clearly. And things like the electronic ring on her phone and the ambient air movement in her office were more apparent.
We even did a music test, using my new iPod Nano. Did it sound like music from the Jody 1.0 era? Heck, no. Certain pitches drop out, and the more layered the music is, the more difficult it is to pick it apart. But, to me, it was enjoyable. And it still is. Oop. I haven't mentioned to those not in the know that I can jack an iPod or CD player directly into the CI, using a connection post on a special earhook. Serious bionicness.
After setting up three new programs, we went to a sound booth for tests. Colleen put me through the same set we did last November for my CI candidacy evaluation. We wanted to see how my hearing now, with the implant, compared to then, with the hearing aid.
And I'm a star patient. Really. Without boring you with the numbers and percentages, my scores were far higher this time around, and Colleen said I'm already at a level that many other CI recipients take months, or more than a year, to reach. That said, I suggested, and she agreed, that that probably means my learning curve is already steep, and I probably won't improve as much as other patients. I'm just further along the curve at the get-go, thanks to being only recently deafened, and to still having a smidge of hearing on the right side.
Anyway, I listened to my Nano all the way home, with a few radio breaks. I found I could talk on the phone much more easily, and I'm more confident with conversations (I don't have to face-read to understand the speaker).
Colleen wants me to work with Programs 1 and 2 for two weeks to a month, and decide I like best for speech and for music. At that point, she said, I can start wearing the hearing aid, too.
I guess, when that happens, I'll be Jody 4.5.