Hello World. Daniel Borg reporting, version 6.0.

At long last my insurance‘s mandatory 5 year period between processor upgrades was up. My new Kanso 2 devices were activated, and oh joy, I’m loving the new features including Bluetooth connectivity, the ability to fine tune my listening experience thanks to the  Nucleus Smart iOS app, along with the ( Read more... )

[LaterPost]

Early July Aetna granted (finally) authorization for upgrades to my processors. Thank goodness for having a supportive benefits manager at work who directed the insurance company to allow processor upgrades every 5 years.

This time around I opted for the Kanso model, a fully self-contained processor the roughly size of a very, very ( Read more... )

It's Spring in San Francisco. That means sunshine and open windows! I'm working from home today, and for for the first time in many weeks, the office windows are wide open to the back yard. I'm able to hear the voices carrying over from folks gardening in their back yard, and in fact can even make out words here and there. I'm also watching a few ( Read more... )

The Nucleus 5 is advertised as being the most water resistant sound processors on the market, and Cochlear shows pictures on their website with the processors with water being splashed on them. Part of my wanting to upgrade was to have fewer issues with water. Though the Freedom were quite reliable in that regard, I never wore them while in water, ( Read more... )

Come with me for a quick stroll down memory lane of the Collective:
 Version 1.0 = hearing aids
 Version 2.0 = 1st CI processor (3G) in 2002
 Version 3.0 = 2nd CI processor (Freedom) in 2005

After six weeks of battling with dolts at Aetna, I finally got pre-approval to replace my Freedom processors with Nucleus 5 sound processors that are newly ( Read more... )

I've posted in the past about attending live theater and using the assistive listening devices (ALD). Without ALDs, results were not satisfying, I had tried using on the processor:
1) Everyday program: sound is "mushy" and I understand very little of the dialog, though music sounds nice
2) Noise reduction program: dialog is easier though my ( Read more... )

Avid readers will remember my previous posting about listening to music using both CIs. I never did like the reception with the Music Link t-coil headset because it sounded tinny, and plus the coils were not optimally situated for the induction receivers on the CI processors. Using regular headsets required placing headset precariously perched ( Read more... )

Even after 7 years I continue to notice hearing improvements. Last weekend we joined in with a group of friends to rent a house with pool at the Russian River. While lounging in our pool, high up on a hill, I heard music coming from the a resort a 1/4 mile away. I could filter out the wind and road noises around me. I could easily follow the beat, ( Read more... )

Since the Smart Sounds 2 programming three months ago, I've noticed both powerful and subtle changes:

• Telephone: conversations are easier, much easier. I surprise myself at how well I can understand heavy accents; I work in high tech and many of my colleagues are from India, and before now I didn't even dare to call them up without using a relay ( Read more... )

On Monday, June 3, I went in for the Smart Sounds 2 upgrade for my cochlear implants. The new programs:
P1: Everyday - ADRO
P2: Noise -  ADRO + ASC
P3: Music -  ADRO + Whisper  (10 Maxima)
P4: Phone and iPod Radio: Same as P1 but sensitivity = 0, and T-Coil on

Some things I noticed over the last week:

1. Office conversations sound crisper and louder, but ( Read more... )