A tweak here and there

Yesterday 25th April 2019, I went back to UMC Utrecht as the audiologist had been in contact with Med-El about the 'dodgy wire in the implant' and they have suggested to turn it off entirely and compensate with others. Now, while I'm perfectly happy with how things currently sound, if things can be improved, which I doubt, I'm happy to play along and now the audiologist had the time to mess with it.

The fact that the wonky wiring... bit of an exaggeration but let's call it that... could, in the future, prove problematic, was an incentive to at least attempt a workaround.
The audiologist as per usual explained it all to me. This was all very plain and perfectly understandable but I find that now have to reproduce said explanation here... not happening! So, just trust me, it was clear to me what the plan was.

She 'fiddled about, fiddled about' and I got beeps fired at me. I'd to indicate if too loud or not loud enough. It was strange to see how she was pressing the key to give a sound and I didn't hear anything until maybe key-stroke number 5 so I asked about that. I was worried that I should be hearing it come through sooner. But no, they start way too quiet to see just where you hear it come in. Made sense.

'So, how does this sound?'... well let me tell you kind lady, hysterical. Hughy, Dewy and Louie had entered the room! Nooo, can't have that! So a bit more fiddling, more adjustments, more beeps and I'd now to indicate if things were going in the right direction. They were indeed. It's fascinating stuff really!

Still sounded different so she kept my 'previous' mapping on the remote so I can switch back and forth. Wasn't crazy about this new sound at first but when I then switched to original... woah! Voice so deep?! How can that be? Well, my brain apparently does still work and had already kicked in to accept how this new sound is! Back again to the new one... much better! How strange!

So after nigh on an hour of all this, fixing, measuring, adjusting and trying-out, I leave for home. But oh! I'm not out of the building yet and the sound cuts out every few minutes? So back I go. Shame to waste the chance of a quick fix. I catch her just as she's taking in a new 'patient' so have to wait. I sit there for half an hour, nothing, no change, no cutting out. So I tell the receptionist to let her know I've left and not to worry. I walk the length of the corridor, cuts out twice! So I go back, it's a movement thing obviously? Then I realise, the processor is sitting on the hair tether! Sorted haha. I've not been using a tether with the old Rondo for about a year so had forgotten to make sure it's out of the way. Duh.

I wore my processor with the new settings all the way home. It's an improvement, definitely. Some voices (in the train) are still a little bit weird, so I was curious to know how J would sound when I got home. By the time I get off the train though, those voices don't sound silly any more! And neither did J. I kept switching things back to the old settings and the difference is pretty great actually and I'm definitely in favour of the new one.

I was told it wouldn't sound different on audio loop (tv) but there really is a difference - maybe she meant 'not different to not on the loop'. I'm not eloquent enough to explain though. How can familiar voices, that already sounded 'normal', suddenly sound different at first, but then shortly after, normal again, yet different to the first way you heard them when you check with the old settings? And yet, still good, better in fact? Confuses the hell out of me if I'm honest but just taking it as a given.
So, I'm down one wire but am improved! Now no chance of a problem with the wire because it's already switched off and compensated for. I bloody love what they can do!!

I've to let the audiologist know but we were already laughing at how amazing it was and it has only improved since then so, doubt I will need anything else done.

While hanging about there, I was approached by a man asking how satisfied I am with my CI. He had never met anyone wearing one and wondered could I tell him. Well, did I! I'm sure I made him really enthusiastic for one now! He was to be assessed and was still dubious but I did my usual blethers all about my Rondo(2). I should have taken his details, or given him mine, but I didn't. I hope he at least remembers the link I gave him (OPCI) to look up more info. and that he is accepted for getting an implant. For all I know it's not for him, but it won't be because I put him off :)

Latest news... I have been approached, don't know how actually, by Med-El here in NL, if I'd be amenable to taking part in an interview of some sort, about wearing a CI. So, of course, I'm up for that. Watch this space.