So now *this* is real

Jun 16, 2007 10:27

Been a while. Apologies.

I had an insight a few days ago, after I took off the CI and hearing aid (using both now) in preparation for bed. In barely a month and a half, the sound environment provided by the devices are my new "normal." It's what I expect during my waking hours. The stark mufflage of sound, when all the toys are put away, is now the "huh, weird" thing.

Not so long ago, before the CI surgery, the quiet bubble I lived inside was very much the "normal." The HA labored to open a small window, but I focused more on the screeching feedback it provided.

These adjustments, these shifts of personal paradigms, sneak up on me. It's like hiking a mountain and not realizing how far up you are until you stop and look back.

This is not to say that I slap on the CI/HA the moment I wake up. I usually don't, as I'm usually by myself for breakfast/prepping for the day and rather appreciate the built-in quiet. Each morning's first activation of the CI is jarring for a minute or so, with everything suddenly pouring in (my shoes on the faux-wood floor, my breathing, voices if anyone else is up). It doesn't help that I tend to fire up the CI just as I'm under the air conditioner's intake vent in the hallway. RRRRRUUMMMMMMMBBLLLE!

I started the new job with FresnoBee.com on Monday, and it provided a new set of challenges hearing-wise. First off, I took to colleagues A LOT. On the copy desk, I could sometimes get through an entire shift w/o saying boo to anyone. I had a handful of "please repeat" or "wait until I'm closer to you" moments this week. An acceptable ratio.

The second, and biggest, challenge is meetings. They tend to be at a long table, with people up and down its length giving reports to the managing editor. Some people have voices that project; many don't. Fortunately, I'm able to position myself where the folks I really need to hear are nearby. Jack, the ME, bless him, has a curious mind (read, "lots of questions") and a gentle voice, so I make sure I'm within a few feet of him.

So far, no hangups with meetings. I'm able to take my cues and come away with the information I need. But I've always enjoyed participating in these confabs, which raises the bar. Can I pick up enough of the give and take up and down the table to throw in my two cents? I've fiddled with the three programs, and have found that the two quieter progs (ie, not the one I use for 90% of regular conversation) are better for meetings. Even P3, the "busy restaurant" setting, is helpful in zeroing in on the people around me, but I lose folks farther down the table. In short, it's the first time I've found myself in a situation where I consistently fiddle/experiment with the program clicker and volume knob, searching for the best balance of strong voices and filtered background.

(The new job, by the by, rawks hard. Muchly enjoying the people and the work.)
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