I want to write here about t-shirts because they've been very prevalent in my existence over the last few days. This is again about ironing to a certain extent because, in this house, although it doesn't get done very often, it does get done when the guilt takes over, or when I'm feeling in a particular mood. Can't quite pin-point it (so I could avoid it!) but something gets me up that stair and ironing, every now and again.
So I started on the never-ending pile of t-shirts that J has accumulated over the years. When I say years, I don't mean years of not being ironed, just years of buying. Although we'll be ignoring J's cries of 'I haven't seen this one in years!', because that's patent nonsense... ahem.
I try and circulate them, honestly. On the occasions I do a pile, I do try not to do those that just came out of the wash because, well, we've just seen that one. I'm now of the opinion that he goes up there every so often and mixes the buggers up because I do sort them, and roll them up (for later ironing) but there's always one he hasn't seen in ages and particularly wants.... after the fact... grrrrr.
There are so many it's getting ridiculous but he won't part with a one. Not. A. One. I can get him as far as piling up those he really-cannot-wear-but-can't-part-with. There are also those that are dated-but-definitely-can't-go, and those, like 'beer adverts' that do nobody any favours. So those types are piled (25 ironed t-shirts!) in a basket, taking up room on top of the dryer. There are the 40 or so that have been in the we-never-wear-this-shit-but-will-never-part-with-just-in-case-we-do cupboard for years already, and there's the 40 or so in a big box in his wardrobe (all football related I might add) but that still leaves... how many? I still need to count but the shelves are piled high, 2 piles deep. Neatly, but jeezo, hahaha!
There's the music related ones... loads of Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa of course. Loads of concerts we've been to of all sorts - those are always dated, which in turn dates the shirt, but that's fine... 'hey, we were there!' Loads of bands, favourite singers, individual musicians. Then there's the holiday type ones - places we've been, sights we've seen, (we've been around so there's loads of them). Arty ones... favourites like Van Gogh, Escher, Miro. Then there's the inevitable Che Guevara one which was bought only last year to finally replace the much regretted original one from the '70s which he gave away in the '80s to a kid that asked for it... it was at least 10 years old then, but it still hurts that he parted with it.
I get it, I do! I'm not saying he should dump 'em. I have suggested I cut up the older ones and make a patchwork quilt of his oldest and most favourite ones but... 'not yet'. Which is probably for the best as I'm not sure I can do patchwork, it's just an idea I have.
I myself am the world's worst (best?) at keeping old things we really don't need - the boxes behind the curtain under the eaves upstairs, filled with old Christmas cards (for instance) are witness to that - but we have been on a bit of a clear-out vendetta these last weeks so are doing well actually. Today even, there are 5, that's five! old hard drives being collected by special rubbish lorry - that and a huge bag of dud HA batteries. He's only just emptied a drawer where I've been stashing magazines (so many it'll make the paper wheely -bin too heavy) and they're all clubby type mags... we don't buy glossies but are members of this and that and they all have magazines. His room is currently an obstacle course of old computers and bits of computer, CDs and books, multiple mobile phones, cameras and.... just stuff! It's kinda shocking and actually quite the miracle that our house still looks fairly livable... considering.
So... t-shirts. They're kinda 'indicative' perhaps? Indicative of rampant consumerism that is bordering on the criminal. Well, not criminal but... not nice. If we tossed the old stuff as soon as new was bought, we'd be 'consuming' just as much but would look less like hoarders, which I dare say we are, to a lesser degree. We're really not like those total horrors you see on 'The Hoarder Next Door' or something, but we are quite bad and t-shirts are probably the least of it. We do try to give stuff away but rarely manage to please anyone - always nice when you do isn't it? We've never had much luck at selling anything, even for a pittance, and well, it's understandable, nobody wants other folks' junk - but to then just dump stuff? So we hang on to it 'just in case' and 30 years later we find it again and it still hurts to dump it.
But t-shirts? They each have their own story, memory, and ach, it's just a t-shirt eh? 'Do you remember where I bought this?' (I very often do!) and 'oh you can't toss that one!' In a way they tell a bit of a story. We were there, we did this or that, we saw them! The fact that some, while not exactly moth-eaten are not very presentable (in as presentable a state as a t-shirt can be) still doesn't take away from their little story.
So now they're all ironed, and if he wears a clean one every day for 8 weeks I still won't have to iron another one. That'll do me.
ADDENDUM: Counted! 133 T-shirts!!! One Hundred and Thirty Three!!
(oh, and 10 (TEN!) old hard drives, not 5, are still awaiting collection.)
Tuesday, May 05, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Itchy Ears
Haha, not really, I'm just giving this blog an ear-ish connection because although it does say above 'this may or may not descend...', I have until now kept it to all things CI. But I have been birling my brains about 'the washing' all this morning (guilt, no doubt) and it got me wondering... am I the only one with the problem?
I actually know the answer right off as (naming no names) I know for sure that it's something others fight to ignore and struggle to keep ahead of. I know there are others around with huge piles of clean laundry not yet folded, or worse, ironed... and put away! But I just don't remember it always having been such a nightmare. I swear the stuff breeds and multiplies when I'm not looking!
I have a little picture hanging above my usually redundant ironing-board. It reads ''Sort - today. Wash - tomorrow. Fold - sometime. Iron - HAHA' I printed it out specially when I saw it online somewhere and it makes me smile every time I see it (which after all isn't so regularly, it being above the ironing-board).
I know folks (again, no names ;) ) that don't even have an ironing-board and just plain refuse to do it. It's not like they immediately fold and/or hang either! And yet they (not saying, so don't ask) still look smashing and not at all crumpled. I just don't get it. I do still need to iron, even if I don't do it all that often (where to hang the bloody stuff is a nightmare as it is) and tend to belong to the school of when-I'm-going-somewhere-and-need-that-top.
The washing part is of course a doddle... although after 45 years of doing my own washing I still manage to dye everything pink at regular intervals. First: separate, Caroline! And I do, but then something red that has been washed five times already all of a sudden leeches out and we're wearing pink pants for the duration. But ok, separate, but ach, not enough whites this time around, I'll just shove these lightly coloured ones in... wrong again... pink pants again!
I don't hang the wash out any more... the washing machine is two flights up and lugging it all up and down every time... nawnaw, feck that. So we've used the dryer except for woollies for a long time now and it's getting so I use it for the woolies too now and then... ach well.
When first married, we lived near the same steamie my mum had gone to. It was a bit out of favour by then but still got a fair crowd of washer wummin... so me too. I loved it! I remember having been put in the nursery upstairs while mum washed, but no more than once (mum must have found some other solution for me). Such a great solution though! It's such a shame the steamies closed. Big deep sinks and scrubbing boards, loads of hot water, a boiler for doing your whites, giant clothes-horses you drew out of the wall and hung your wash - sheets and towels, the lot - to dry in the hot air blown through them (none of your tumbling) and big roller presses to get the sheets and duvet covers done in a jiffy. Plus lots of chatty women to help you fold and show you the ropes if you were new.
We moved house after a wee while and I then went regularly to one in Leith together with a pal, but it was 'modernised' and they had tumbler dryers. Just not the same. And by then we had a twin-tub... I did love my twin-tub but you had to do the work too and couldn't just leave it like we do now.
About this pile of clean laundry then. The three or four loads of fluffy, tumble-dried detritus of our wardrobes and shelves. The giant pile that deters all-comers that may or may not be looking for that particular t-shirt. I suppose I'm lucky in that I at least have somewhere for it all that's not immediately 'in yer face'. But the other side of that coin is... I can very easily and conveniently, and regularly do, 'forget' about it. I'm great at that!
I just don't remember it being like this when the kids were small... maybe I kept ahead of things better then? Dirty washing is easily hidden, just cram that hamper (and keep the lid on!) and you're golden. Of course it eventually needs to be tackled (sorted, yeahyeah), and shifted, but at a pinch, your bedroom can still look neat enough even with a load needing done. But this clean laundry pile... what do folks do with it?
Well that's also a bit of a rhetorical question because I know the answer to that one too. You're either just like me - lucky enough to have a hidey-hole/extra room for it - or you're just like the others I know (ahem) who have it in bags behind that cupboard or piled onto that bedroom chair or (also) scattered where they threw it on collecting it from the drier - usually the bedroom floor.
I've actually spoken with people who like folding and love ironing and cannot get my head around that at all. I personally find it mind-numbing and soul destroying. It should be banned. I propose an all-out EU-wide ban. You folding and ironing lovers out there need to be protected, it's for your own good. I might just start an on-line petition, see how many sigs it gets eh?
So anyway, enough blethers for today, I'm away to do my washing.
I actually know the answer right off as (naming no names) I know for sure that it's something others fight to ignore and struggle to keep ahead of. I know there are others around with huge piles of clean laundry not yet folded, or worse, ironed... and put away! But I just don't remember it always having been such a nightmare. I swear the stuff breeds and multiplies when I'm not looking!
I have a little picture hanging above my usually redundant ironing-board. It reads ''Sort - today. Wash - tomorrow. Fold - sometime. Iron - HAHA' I printed it out specially when I saw it online somewhere and it makes me smile every time I see it (which after all isn't so regularly, it being above the ironing-board).
I know folks (again, no names ;) ) that don't even have an ironing-board and just plain refuse to do it. It's not like they immediately fold and/or hang either! And yet they (not saying, so don't ask) still look smashing and not at all crumpled. I just don't get it. I do still need to iron, even if I don't do it all that often (where to hang the bloody stuff is a nightmare as it is) and tend to belong to the school of when-I'm-going-somewhere-and-need-that-top.
The washing part is of course a doddle... although after 45 years of doing my own washing I still manage to dye everything pink at regular intervals. First: separate, Caroline! And I do, but then something red that has been washed five times already all of a sudden leeches out and we're wearing pink pants for the duration. But ok, separate, but ach, not enough whites this time around, I'll just shove these lightly coloured ones in... wrong again... pink pants again!
I don't hang the wash out any more... the washing machine is two flights up and lugging it all up and down every time... nawnaw, feck that. So we've used the dryer except for woollies for a long time now and it's getting so I use it for the woolies too now and then... ach well.
We moved house after a wee while and I then went regularly to one in Leith together with a pal, but it was 'modernised' and they had tumbler dryers. Just not the same. And by then we had a twin-tub... I did love my twin-tub but you had to do the work too and couldn't just leave it like we do now.
About this pile of clean laundry then. The three or four loads of fluffy, tumble-dried detritus of our wardrobes and shelves. The giant pile that deters all-comers that may or may not be looking for that particular t-shirt. I suppose I'm lucky in that I at least have somewhere for it all that's not immediately 'in yer face'. But the other side of that coin is... I can very easily and conveniently, and regularly do, 'forget' about it. I'm great at that!
I just don't remember it being like this when the kids were small... maybe I kept ahead of things better then? Dirty washing is easily hidden, just cram that hamper (and keep the lid on!) and you're golden. Of course it eventually needs to be tackled (sorted, yeahyeah), and shifted, but at a pinch, your bedroom can still look neat enough even with a load needing done. But this clean laundry pile... what do folks do with it?
Well that's also a bit of a rhetorical question because I know the answer to that one too. You're either just like me - lucky enough to have a hidey-hole/extra room for it - or you're just like the others I know (ahem) who have it in bags behind that cupboard or piled onto that bedroom chair or (also) scattered where they threw it on collecting it from the drier - usually the bedroom floor.
I've actually spoken with people who like folding and love ironing and cannot get my head around that at all. I personally find it mind-numbing and soul destroying. It should be banned. I propose an all-out EU-wide ban. You folding and ironing lovers out there need to be protected, it's for your own good. I might just start an on-line petition, see how many sigs it gets eh?
So anyway, enough blethers for today, I'm away to do my washing.
Tuesday, April 07, 2015
Med-El and Van Gogh
Not that those two are a proper pair, but I was recently at Med-El's Care Center in Nieuwegein (by Utrecht) and also at the (offices of) the Van Gogh Museum. Both were interesting so I'll write a bit about them.
In my mind's eye, I had thought that Med-El's Care Center (hate spelling it like that but it's how they do it) would just be a small shop, like a HA shop. Instead it comprised a number of offices and reception rooms on the ground floor of a large building, very accessible from the snel-tram stop. It was their 'open day' and there was to be a presentation by someone from Comfort Audio about 'solo apparatuur' and that seemed handy to me as I do already have wireless mics from them that I had been using at Tai Chi lessons (to great advantage) but couldn't seem to connect them to the computer. They're been around for years as I used them in the office a hundred years ago when I had an employer so really I just thought they are out of date but useful enough. I've been stuck with just the Oticon (HA) streamer on just one ear since I got the CI so had questions aplenty.
First we had the obligatory cuppa and a biscuit and chatting about things (and I finally met someone else wearing a Rondo!) then we ('bout 10-12 of us) were given the totally relaxed, no pressure, spiel about all things Comfort Audio. We were given the latest model to try out during the presentation but I couldn't hear anything via the one I had so that was a bit worrisome. I wouldn't want to (eventually) upgrade if I'm not going to be able to hear via it. As per, upon return home, it transpired that the volume just needed adjusting :)
So that was embarrassing! AND it turns out I had the necessary cable for my 'Stratego' to laptop all along! In the pile I took with me too :) So, while it IS still a bit of a rigmarol as I now have two things around my neck when using Skype or listening to music, whatever, via the laptop... the streamer for the HA, the Comfort Contego for the CI... the sound is so much improved I can live with it :) It's not exactly spontaneous but that too, I can live with. For now anyway.
Thanks to Mel-El staff for the lovely reception. One girl I met turned out to be the very one I'd emailed back and forth about the WaterWear so we were like old pals already. Nice friendly folks, as was the gentleman from Comfort, whom I think I'd met before too. It gets all very incestuous among CI clubs and you do end up meeting the same folks (of course) and seeing the same faces. My biggest problem is, I'm totally useless at names, and to be honest, faces aren't great either. I'm usually inwardly saying 'I KNOW this person... don't I... or do I?' Caroline from Med-El, believe me when I say that it was mostly due to our similar names that I remembered you hahaha.
Anyway, all worth the 'effort' to pay a visit.
The thing with the van Gogh (vG) was, an email posting around - 'looking for folks to take part' in a survey, especially formulated for the museum in Amsterdam to better accommodate HoH and deaf visitors. Having been a fan of Vincent since my late teens, I signed up immediately and was given a date and time to come and take part. It was held in their offices on the Stadhouderskade in Amsterdam, so not actually at the museum. I never knew there was such a place. Really lovely offices, with modern furniture upholstered in material covered in van Gogh's paintings. So cool! And display cabinets full of stuff probably to be found in the museum's shop, so all things vG :)
There were only three of us, one of four groups 'interviewed' on different dates and times. I was showing off my Rondo with my vG stickers, which of course went down well, given the situation. The interviewer was a lovely (deaf) person hired by the vG to do a scientific survey of the needs of the deaf and HoH visitors to their museum. Very commendable, no?
We all know about ramps and disabled access, but being deaf is also a (hidden) disability that would be much less of a hindrance if public buildings (at the LEAST) took a bit of notice and provided cover. Much like the cover being given during the interview as there was a sign interpreter and a subtitle typing interpreter with a big and small screen (for just us three! amazing!). No real idea any more of what I said, or whether I contributed anything of any use to anyone, but we were richly rewarded for our 'trouble'. Fares refunded, two free entrance tickets to the vG and a gift coupon for €15! Above and beyond really, but I didn't say no :)
Public places are supposed to provide (in NL at least) audio loops when required. These are more often than not, inoperable, when requested IF they're even present. Batteries dead, not switched on, or switched on but not loud enough). I found out that it's not just me that is disappointed by the lack of provision (it's LAW after all) and that it's too often the case that we (the deaf and HoH) are not thought of at all. The fact that the vG is actively pursuing said problem is pretty damned cool IMO. Audio loops are of course no use to the deaf so the theater here using computer tablets with simultaneous sub-titles is also to be hugely commended. There are loads of little things that needn't even be expensive to implement that would have us deafies attending more museums and theatres (at least, potentially). Even just a normal film! I'm lucky in that I automatically have (Dutch) subtitles to English films in the cinema here. But the normal Dutch film is no use to me (or your bonafide Dutch person) as it's not sub-titled. Logical enough I suppose - but they could maybe have separate cinemas for that, like they do (here) with 'original English version' and 'Dutch speaking version'. There are ways and means.
I did discover, from the subtitling interpreter, although I did kinda know it already, that we (HoH/deaf) are covered to hire in one of their ilk for any occasion... office conference, school situations, even a party if that's what you want, and it includes museum visits too! Bloomin' fantastic really. Personally I'd be a bit reluctant unless it was a really big occasion and I didn't want to miss anything said, but the interpreter assured us that we should just ignore their presence. Easier said than done but they're even working on a mobile bit of apparatus so they can lug their keyboard around too. Sort of like what the cigarette girl at the cinema used to have in front of her :) Having just placed that link I now know they're called STTR's in English :) formally known as court reporters. Aha!
One of these days I might just call upon one of them. It's a cool thing to see actually and because of course not everyone (including me) reads sign language, they are a terrific service. I would never be able to follow things in larger groups without one of them, despite my fabby CI and really appreciate them being arranged at all CI folks' gatherings. Funnily enough, the utility is not nearly widely enough used and they always look for ways to promote their hiring. They should perhaps be careful what they wish for because if word really does get out, there will be a run on them and a corresponding lack of qualified individuals :)
So once more, my CI got me out and about and doin' my bit too.
In my mind's eye, I had thought that Med-El's Care Center (hate spelling it like that but it's how they do it) would just be a small shop, like a HA shop. Instead it comprised a number of offices and reception rooms on the ground floor of a large building, very accessible from the snel-tram stop. It was their 'open day' and there was to be a presentation by someone from Comfort Audio about 'solo apparatuur' and that seemed handy to me as I do already have wireless mics from them that I had been using at Tai Chi lessons (to great advantage) but couldn't seem to connect them to the computer. They're been around for years as I used them in the office a hundred years ago when I had an employer so really I just thought they are out of date but useful enough. I've been stuck with just the Oticon (HA) streamer on just one ear since I got the CI so had questions aplenty.
First we had the obligatory cuppa and a biscuit and chatting about things (and I finally met someone else wearing a Rondo!) then we ('bout 10-12 of us) were given the totally relaxed, no pressure, spiel about all things Comfort Audio. We were given the latest model to try out during the presentation but I couldn't hear anything via the one I had so that was a bit worrisome. I wouldn't want to (eventually) upgrade if I'm not going to be able to hear via it. As per, upon return home, it transpired that the volume just needed adjusting :)
So that was embarrassing! AND it turns out I had the necessary cable for my 'Stratego' to laptop all along! In the pile I took with me too :) So, while it IS still a bit of a rigmarol as I now have two things around my neck when using Skype or listening to music, whatever, via the laptop... the streamer for the HA, the Comfort Contego for the CI... the sound is so much improved I can live with it :) It's not exactly spontaneous but that too, I can live with. For now anyway.
Thanks to Mel-El staff for the lovely reception. One girl I met turned out to be the very one I'd emailed back and forth about the WaterWear so we were like old pals already. Nice friendly folks, as was the gentleman from Comfort, whom I think I'd met before too. It gets all very incestuous among CI clubs and you do end up meeting the same folks (of course) and seeing the same faces. My biggest problem is, I'm totally useless at names, and to be honest, faces aren't great either. I'm usually inwardly saying 'I KNOW this person... don't I... or do I?' Caroline from Med-El, believe me when I say that it was mostly due to our similar names that I remembered you hahaha.
Anyway, all worth the 'effort' to pay a visit.
The thing with the van Gogh (vG) was, an email posting around - 'looking for folks to take part' in a survey, especially formulated for the museum in Amsterdam to better accommodate HoH and deaf visitors. Having been a fan of Vincent since my late teens, I signed up immediately and was given a date and time to come and take part. It was held in their offices on the Stadhouderskade in Amsterdam, so not actually at the museum. I never knew there was such a place. Really lovely offices, with modern furniture upholstered in material covered in van Gogh's paintings. So cool! And display cabinets full of stuff probably to be found in the museum's shop, so all things vG :)
There were only three of us, one of four groups 'interviewed' on different dates and times. I was showing off my Rondo with my vG stickers, which of course went down well, given the situation. The interviewer was a lovely (deaf) person hired by the vG to do a scientific survey of the needs of the deaf and HoH visitors to their museum. Very commendable, no?
We all know about ramps and disabled access, but being deaf is also a (hidden) disability that would be much less of a hindrance if public buildings (at the LEAST) took a bit of notice and provided cover. Much like the cover being given during the interview as there was a sign interpreter and a subtitle typing interpreter with a big and small screen (for just us three! amazing!). No real idea any more of what I said, or whether I contributed anything of any use to anyone, but we were richly rewarded for our 'trouble'. Fares refunded, two free entrance tickets to the vG and a gift coupon for €15! Above and beyond really, but I didn't say no :)
Public places are supposed to provide (in NL at least) audio loops when required. These are more often than not, inoperable, when requested IF they're even present. Batteries dead, not switched on, or switched on but not loud enough). I found out that it's not just me that is disappointed by the lack of provision (it's LAW after all) and that it's too often the case that we (the deaf and HoH) are not thought of at all. The fact that the vG is actively pursuing said problem is pretty damned cool IMO. Audio loops are of course no use to the deaf so the theater here using computer tablets with simultaneous sub-titles is also to be hugely commended. There are loads of little things that needn't even be expensive to implement that would have us deafies attending more museums and theatres (at least, potentially). Even just a normal film! I'm lucky in that I automatically have (Dutch) subtitles to English films in the cinema here. But the normal Dutch film is no use to me (or your bonafide Dutch person) as it's not sub-titled. Logical enough I suppose - but they could maybe have separate cinemas for that, like they do (here) with 'original English version' and 'Dutch speaking version'. There are ways and means.
I did discover, from the subtitling interpreter, although I did kinda know it already, that we (HoH/deaf) are covered to hire in one of their ilk for any occasion... office conference, school situations, even a party if that's what you want, and it includes museum visits too! Bloomin' fantastic really. Personally I'd be a bit reluctant unless it was a really big occasion and I didn't want to miss anything said, but the interpreter assured us that we should just ignore their presence. Easier said than done but they're even working on a mobile bit of apparatus so they can lug their keyboard around too. Sort of like what the cigarette girl at the cinema used to have in front of her :) Having just placed that link I now know they're called STTR's in English :) formally known as court reporters. Aha!
One of these days I might just call upon one of them. It's a cool thing to see actually and because of course not everyone (including me) reads sign language, they are a terrific service. I would never be able to follow things in larger groups without one of them, despite my fabby CI and really appreciate them being arranged at all CI folks' gatherings. Funnily enough, the utility is not nearly widely enough used and they always look for ways to promote their hiring. They should perhaps be careful what they wish for because if word really does get out, there will be a run on them and a corresponding lack of qualified individuals :)
So once more, my CI got me out and about and doin' my bit too.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Music and my CI
Long story short... it's not great. The end.
Short story long... I do rather miss the sounds I liked to listen to, even via my hearing aids... before. I know I missed loads even then but now, with the CI, I'm not only missing things, what I do hear is (can be) distorted. And yet you read of folks that really enjoy music with their CI... so...
I attended a 'day' organised by OPCI. This is the 'Independent Platform CI' in The Netherlands, for various organisations working together to inform those of us with a CI, without speaking for any one group in particular.
They advertised an afternoon of workshops designed to inform and instruct on how best to enjoy music on your CI so that seemed like just something I really shouldn't miss. I wasn't wrong, it was a fun and informative afternoon, a wee bit on the silly side with the usual embarrassment thrown in, but all in all, well organised and nicely done.
It was a good two hours travel for me to get there and meant an early start but that's ok now and then, 'heb ik voor over'. HAH! I missed my planned train by the proverbial hair (don't ask). This meant a quick rethink of the best way to get there...hmmmm... not my forte, but I got the following train which meant a changeover, then oh, right, another change over. Sorted! This got me half way and only going to be ten minutes late woohoo, how cool am I? But that was then snookered by 'works on the line' and having to get a bus. Ok, I can do that... but that waited ages, then took ages, then I still had to get another train. Nothing ventured eh? I f inally arrive at my destination (according to the route given by the organisers!) and 'we're right opposite the station, 2 minutes walk'. Aye right! Not when your name is Mackie it ain't. Turns out Ede has another station, Ede-Wageningen... and although still not entirely obvious (!!!) I found the place after a not unpleasant walk to this next station. Four hours, door to door... I could have been in Scotland by then!
I'd missed the morning's proceedings, but lunch and all the workshops were still to come.
What I really like about going to things dedicated to us HoH folks is that you just cannot miss what is being said to you, what with typing interpreters and always a properly working audio loop. Signers too when more deaf folks are involved, love it! So anyway...
After lunch, and meeting up once more with quite a few familiar faces, and chatting to not a few new ones. It's so cool, all in the same boat eh? So you don't feel you have to explain why you didn't quite hear what was just said hahaha. The 150 or so attendees were split into four groups, one for each workshop, each lasting about half an hour.
Wee pauses to chat between each one, before moving into the next room of wonders, during which I was severally asked as to what I had on my head... 'is that a BAHA?' (Bone Achored Hearing Aid). Once again, no-one recognised my Rondo as a CI! Not even other Med-El CI wearers. I told the girl at the Med-El stand that they really do need to advertise it more because everyone is surprised by, and I'm sure, jealous of, the 'all-in-one -nothing-behind-the-ear' affair that is the Rondo! Even the stand they had, and the information booklets... all very vague about the Rondo... sort of 'mentioned in the passing'. I just don't get it!
There are folks of all ages at this sort of thing, male and female, and I met a lovely wee boy with perfect speech, eight years old 'but I've had my CI for seven years'. Amazing. It is definitely also more and more prevalent to see double-sided CI wearers... and I also actually met a very nice baha wearer - those are weird, with like a popper on your head to clip it on to hehe - not that the implant lump on my now magnetised skull isn't weird to some folks.
Our first workshop was singing. Hysterical. La-la la-la la-la la-la laaaaaa! As you do. But we actually did not bad, ending up with some 'playing' recorders and the rest of us singing a rondelay to accompany a wee dance. Won't be selling any records soon (or dancing in public for that matter) but it was fun, if kinda embarrassing hahaha.
We moved on to playing percussion instruments. What a racket! We learned to follow the 'music' from the page, missing beats and doubling up the beats... '4, 3, 2, 2, 5... and repeat!' An enormous cacophony of drums (me!) triangles, (cow) bells, tambourines and all sorts of maracas and 'if you can bang it, it's fine'... totally hysterical.
Next up was 'listening'. This was actually quite the eye-opener. We were shown how Beethoven's 5th 'sounded' with the use of this thing (click 'this'). I can't find the actual one we listened to but you get the picture I'm sure. By the 3rd time of watching this through, over the half hour, I could actually hear much more of it because the blocks show you that something (whichever instrument) is playing and suddenly they kick in, so next time you notice it more and the time after that you hear it better... and so on. Now this would take quite some effort on my part to achieve a good level of enjoying whichever music I want to hear better, and I'd of course need this programme with the blocks to help. So I'm not sure if I will actually make that effort - nor if it would even be possible - but it was great to find out that there is definitely a layer of improvement that can be achieved if you go the whole hog. The person giving the workshop is a music/piano teacher wearing a CI so, pretty inspiring really.
Last but not least, we were given a wee singing recital by a guy and his wife. He wears a CI and plays guitar, she did the singing. He told us (all up on screen so easily followed) about the hows and whys of his deafness, how he still had lots of trouble but manages better now... all the usual... and we got four wee songs accompanied to his guitar playing (we were not to be afflicted by his singing we were told). One by Clapton (Tears in Heaven, so ok, I heard the title), three in Dutch. Two of those I caught the odd word (no text on screen) but the third was 'subtitled' and was really lovely, I liked that a lot. Bram Vermeulen 'heb een steen verlegd'. The other two perhaps had equally nice words but I of course missed them. Still, was nice. The point of it all being, despite setbacks, this CI wearer was still enjoying music to the full. He'd had things adjusted in his CI (one side) and HA (the other) to enable him to choose a 'music programme', for when he is listening, or playing, music. So it can be done!
We all finished up in the auditorium to hear the thanks and see the flowers handed out as per, and we were able to listen to the pianist playing rather nicely before being treated to a percussion concert on drums and bongos... infinitely better than our effort but then, we only had half an hour eh?
Everyone then 'took their leave'. Me to a reasonable two hour run home, 'moe maar voldaan', marginally wiser about 'music and the CI' but in any case glad to have been there. Thanks to all at OPCI for the very well organised affair.
Short story long... I do rather miss the sounds I liked to listen to, even via my hearing aids... before. I know I missed loads even then but now, with the CI, I'm not only missing things, what I do hear is (can be) distorted. And yet you read of folks that really enjoy music with their CI... so...
I attended a 'day' organised by OPCI. This is the 'Independent Platform CI' in The Netherlands, for various organisations working together to inform those of us with a CI, without speaking for any one group in particular.
They advertised an afternoon of workshops designed to inform and instruct on how best to enjoy music on your CI so that seemed like just something I really shouldn't miss. I wasn't wrong, it was a fun and informative afternoon, a wee bit on the silly side with the usual embarrassment thrown in, but all in all, well organised and nicely done.
It was a good two hours travel for me to get there and meant an early start but that's ok now and then, 'heb ik voor over'. HAH! I missed my planned train by the proverbial hair (don't ask). This meant a quick rethink of the best way to get there...hmmmm... not my forte, but I got the following train which meant a changeover, then oh, right, another change over. Sorted! This got me half way and only going to be ten minutes late woohoo, how cool am I? But that was then snookered by 'works on the line' and having to get a bus. Ok, I can do that... but that waited ages, then took ages, then I still had to get another train. Nothing ventured eh? I f inally arrive at my destination (according to the route given by the organisers!) and 'we're right opposite the station, 2 minutes walk'. Aye right! Not when your name is Mackie it ain't. Turns out Ede has another station, Ede-Wageningen... and although still not entirely obvious (!!!) I found the place after a not unpleasant walk to this next station. Four hours, door to door... I could have been in Scotland by then!
I'd missed the morning's proceedings, but lunch and all the workshops were still to come.
What I really like about going to things dedicated to us HoH folks is that you just cannot miss what is being said to you, what with typing interpreters and always a properly working audio loop. Signers too when more deaf folks are involved, love it! So anyway...
After lunch, and meeting up once more with quite a few familiar faces, and chatting to not a few new ones. It's so cool, all in the same boat eh? So you don't feel you have to explain why you didn't quite hear what was just said hahaha. The 150 or so attendees were split into four groups, one for each workshop, each lasting about half an hour.
Wee pauses to chat between each one, before moving into the next room of wonders, during which I was severally asked as to what I had on my head... 'is that a BAHA?' (Bone Achored Hearing Aid). Once again, no-one recognised my Rondo as a CI! Not even other Med-El CI wearers. I told the girl at the Med-El stand that they really do need to advertise it more because everyone is surprised by, and I'm sure, jealous of, the 'all-in-one -nothing-behind-the-ear' affair that is the Rondo! Even the stand they had, and the information booklets... all very vague about the Rondo... sort of 'mentioned in the passing'. I just don't get it!
There are folks of all ages at this sort of thing, male and female, and I met a lovely wee boy with perfect speech, eight years old 'but I've had my CI for seven years'. Amazing. It is definitely also more and more prevalent to see double-sided CI wearers... and I also actually met a very nice baha wearer - those are weird, with like a popper on your head to clip it on to hehe - not that the implant lump on my now magnetised skull isn't weird to some folks.
Our first workshop was singing. Hysterical. La-la la-la la-la la-la laaaaaa! As you do. But we actually did not bad, ending up with some 'playing' recorders and the rest of us singing a rondelay to accompany a wee dance. Won't be selling any records soon (or dancing in public for that matter) but it was fun, if kinda embarrassing hahaha.
We moved on to playing percussion instruments. What a racket! We learned to follow the 'music' from the page, missing beats and doubling up the beats... '4, 3, 2, 2, 5... and repeat!' An enormous cacophony of drums (me!) triangles, (cow) bells, tambourines and all sorts of maracas and 'if you can bang it, it's fine'... totally hysterical.
Next up was 'listening'. This was actually quite the eye-opener. We were shown how Beethoven's 5th 'sounded' with the use of this thing (click 'this'). I can't find the actual one we listened to but you get the picture I'm sure. By the 3rd time of watching this through, over the half hour, I could actually hear much more of it because the blocks show you that something (whichever instrument) is playing and suddenly they kick in, so next time you notice it more and the time after that you hear it better... and so on. Now this would take quite some effort on my part to achieve a good level of enjoying whichever music I want to hear better, and I'd of course need this programme with the blocks to help. So I'm not sure if I will actually make that effort - nor if it would even be possible - but it was great to find out that there is definitely a layer of improvement that can be achieved if you go the whole hog. The person giving the workshop is a music/piano teacher wearing a CI so, pretty inspiring really.
Last but not least, we were given a wee singing recital by a guy and his wife. He wears a CI and plays guitar, she did the singing. He told us (all up on screen so easily followed) about the hows and whys of his deafness, how he still had lots of trouble but manages better now... all the usual... and we got four wee songs accompanied to his guitar playing (we were not to be afflicted by his singing we were told). One by Clapton (Tears in Heaven, so ok, I heard the title), three in Dutch. Two of those I caught the odd word (no text on screen) but the third was 'subtitled' and was really lovely, I liked that a lot. Bram Vermeulen 'heb een steen verlegd'. The other two perhaps had equally nice words but I of course missed them. Still, was nice. The point of it all being, despite setbacks, this CI wearer was still enjoying music to the full. He'd had things adjusted in his CI (one side) and HA (the other) to enable him to choose a 'music programme', for when he is listening, or playing, music. So it can be done!
We all finished up in the auditorium to hear the thanks and see the flowers handed out as per, and we were able to listen to the pianist playing rather nicely before being treated to a percussion concert on drums and bongos... infinitely better than our effort but then, we only had half an hour eh?
Everyone then 'took their leave'. Me to a reasonable two hour run home, 'moe maar voldaan', marginally wiser about 'music and the CI' but in any case glad to have been there. Thanks to all at OPCI for the very well organised affair.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
A year to the day since SOday... so fast!
How's it possible eh? Already a full year since implanted and now today, one year ago, I was 'switched on'.
I've been for my annual check of the CI (necessary for insurance purposes but otherwise handy anyway) and all is well.
The check included a good long session with tests from the speech therapist which proved that I do not after all have to start 'practicing listening' again. We (me and immediate family) did think it might be necessary as I do seem to keep missing things and am not so obviously hearing it all as I seemed to right at the start. The therapist tells me that I'm picking up more or less the same results with my CI, so it's not at all down to 'not listening properly' (or not deciphering things sufficiently) with the CI but could be partly down to hearing less with the remaining hearing aid. So, doing exercises to improve my listening skills would not really be helpful. She explained it with the huge difference from 'before' to 'after' being more noticeable right at the start... maybe?... and that I've settled into it more now. Also, your average person doesn't hear everything anyway! it's just perhaps more noticeable when I say 'what did you say?' because everyone expects me not to miss things now I have the CI. But I was 98% listening with the CI last time, and 98% this time too, so... bugger the lot of you... talk clearer for this CI wearer!
What may or may not help would be to have my hearing aid adjusted but I suspect that is no longer an option as it is actually overdue for being replaced and probably old-fashioned by now. They do tend to have come on in leaps and bounds every time I've needed new ones... so I'm curious to know what they have on offer now. I will only need one of course. I don't know if there is even an improved version available but I am being scheduled in for a new audiologist appointment soon so... we''ll see. I was hoping to manage with this HA for at least another year, not least as I have two (so a spare one). But I may need to just bite the bullet ... assuming they can recommend one for me that will work better. I'll meanwhile hope for a bit of adjustment to tide me over for a while yet. I'm mostly covered by insurance for new aids but still, could do without any expense thanks.
And too... it always takes me months of to-ing and fro-ing, and trying and testing, to get the things set to my liking, and of actual use to me. Really hate the process as it's kind of disheartening although of course you eventually get there. What's the betting they suggest X brand as 'best for your hearing according to the results' that I doggedly try... again... and totally fail to hear comfortably with... again, then resort to my tried and trusted make... again! We'll see.
Anyway, my test results were really good on the CI, and the check-up by the surgeon who poked around in both ears and checked my implant bump in all of 3 minutes was nice too. Nice bloke, hadn't met him before, I had him in kinks at the story of the HA battery being held on with the processor on top and he regaled me with one about someone going around with the spring from a pen hanging from their head all day. You have to laugh.
I'm not a babe magnet, just a plain old magnet!
My daughter's partner sent me a link for a book review that was about hearing, looked interesting (on the wish list now, thanks). I was really struck upon reading the following...
>>>
A healthy cochlea can distinguish thousands of tones, but modern cochlear implants have just twenty-two channels. What’s astounding is that these devices, which reduce the complexity and plurality of our acoustic world to just twenty-two stimuli, are so successful in making speech comprehension possible.
<<<
It's not just astounding, it's feckin' miraculous! Stupendous! Incredible and all things superlative! You guys that hear normally, you have 1000's... thou.sands! of 'channels'. I have 22... twenty.two!! So excuse me if I don't hear everything at all times!
Without my HA or my CI in... I'm effectively Deaf. With the one HA alone... this old one at least, as good as deaf to be fair. With my 22 channel CI... well, the 98% goes for 'optimum listening conditions and articulated speech' but still...pretty damned good, and the additional HA does help marginally more too.
So... watch this space for news on the right ear. A 2nd CI is not on the cards at all but have to say... I'd probably go for it if it was.
I've been for my annual check of the CI (necessary for insurance purposes but otherwise handy anyway) and all is well.
The check included a good long session with tests from the speech therapist which proved that I do not after all have to start 'practicing listening' again. We (me and immediate family) did think it might be necessary as I do seem to keep missing things and am not so obviously hearing it all as I seemed to right at the start. The therapist tells me that I'm picking up more or less the same results with my CI, so it's not at all down to 'not listening properly' (or not deciphering things sufficiently) with the CI but could be partly down to hearing less with the remaining hearing aid. So, doing exercises to improve my listening skills would not really be helpful. She explained it with the huge difference from 'before' to 'after' being more noticeable right at the start... maybe?... and that I've settled into it more now. Also, your average person doesn't hear everything anyway! it's just perhaps more noticeable when I say 'what did you say?' because everyone expects me not to miss things now I have the CI. But I was 98% listening with the CI last time, and 98% this time too, so... bugger the lot of you... talk clearer for this CI wearer!
What may or may not help would be to have my hearing aid adjusted but I suspect that is no longer an option as it is actually overdue for being replaced and probably old-fashioned by now. They do tend to have come on in leaps and bounds every time I've needed new ones... so I'm curious to know what they have on offer now. I will only need one of course. I don't know if there is even an improved version available but I am being scheduled in for a new audiologist appointment soon so... we''ll see. I was hoping to manage with this HA for at least another year, not least as I have two (so a spare one). But I may need to just bite the bullet ... assuming they can recommend one for me that will work better. I'll meanwhile hope for a bit of adjustment to tide me over for a while yet. I'm mostly covered by insurance for new aids but still, could do without any expense thanks.
And too... it always takes me months of to-ing and fro-ing, and trying and testing, to get the things set to my liking, and of actual use to me. Really hate the process as it's kind of disheartening although of course you eventually get there. What's the betting they suggest X brand as 'best for your hearing according to the results' that I doggedly try... again... and totally fail to hear comfortably with... again, then resort to my tried and trusted make... again! We'll see.
Anyway, my test results were really good on the CI, and the check-up by the surgeon who poked around in both ears and checked my implant bump in all of 3 minutes was nice too. Nice bloke, hadn't met him before, I had him in kinks at the story of the HA battery being held on with the processor on top and he regaled me with one about someone going around with the spring from a pen hanging from their head all day. You have to laugh.
I'm not a babe magnet, just a plain old magnet!
My daughter's partner sent me a link for a book review that was about hearing, looked interesting (on the wish list now, thanks). I was really struck upon reading the following...
>>>
A healthy cochlea can distinguish thousands of tones, but modern cochlear implants have just twenty-two channels. What’s astounding is that these devices, which reduce the complexity and plurality of our acoustic world to just twenty-two stimuli, are so successful in making speech comprehension possible.
<<<
It's not just astounding, it's feckin' miraculous! Stupendous! Incredible and all things superlative! You guys that hear normally, you have 1000's... thou.sands! of 'channels'. I have 22... twenty.two!! So excuse me if I don't hear everything at all times!
Without my HA or my CI in... I'm effectively Deaf. With the one HA alone... this old one at least, as good as deaf to be fair. With my 22 channel CI... well, the 98% goes for 'optimum listening conditions and articulated speech' but still...pretty damned good, and the additional HA does help marginally more too.
So... watch this space for news on the right ear. A 2nd CI is not on the cards at all but have to say... I'd probably go for it if it was.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The Dent in the Head Episode
At the site of my implant, there is a definite... lump, I suppose you'd call it. It's not huge and not noticeable but sometimes I do have the idea that I can feel it... feels a bit sensitive... not really sure how to describe it as it's certainly not painful, just... there. I know that in the beginning I was sure it was moving... but I've been checking and it really isn't. I could wish it was a bit flatter against the skull but honestly, not a hindrance really.
However, just the other night it suddenly really hurt. Ow! What the...!
Felt like I'd been stabbed, right on my implant site!
So I grabbed my CI and took it off, rubbing my head where it was sore. I was surprised to feel a definite dent, right in the middle of the implant. 'Oh no, something's not right, it's 'rejecting' or something'... in a bit of a flap, you can imagine.
So I rush up to where J is sitting and get him to feel... 'can you feel that? it's a dent eh? What the hell...?' J felt it too and did a sort of 'ermmm...' noise as of course NO idea... So I'm holding on to the CI in my hand and explaining to him about the sudden shooting pain and I turn the CI over in my hand... and there is inexplicably, one of my hearing aid batteries attached via the magnet, right in the middle of the side normally attached to my head.
A wee light starts to shine... oooooh!
THIS was obviously the cause of the dent.
When I put the batteries into the CI this morning, I 'lost' the one I need for my hearing aid and had taken a new one out of the pack as I couldn't be bothered searching the floor for it.
Found it!
It had obviously been whisked up by the CI magnet just in the passing and I (again, obviously) never noticed. The strength of the magnet is patently sufficient to grab completely around the small HA battery so it all just got pressed into my scalp atop my implant. How bloody bizarre can you get? There was such a dent, completely round and right in the middle where it was hahaha. I'm so glad the battery didn't just fall off when I removed the CI as I'd have been phoning the hospital and had them examining things and trying to figure out the cause. No-one would have thought of that I'm pretty damned sure!
As it is, it has taken a couple of days to go back to 'normal'. To be honest I'm not sure if it has finished inflating yet and it still feels... well... a bit weird. But I'm not really worried, should be fine.
Bloody eejit.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
I'm given the 'all-clear' kinda sorta
I attended the UMC again the day before yesterday. Just a check here and a tweak there to the CI. No great changes made, but I left with the settings picking up just a bit more of the higher tones. Spoke with the speech therapist but didn't even practice anything as it just wasn't necessary. Telephone use is still not great but that just seems like a 'luxury problem' really and doesn't worry me. I don't need it for work and I haven't used the phone for a 'blether' for years so while I can use it still with my hearing aid (not great, but serviceable) I'm not making too much a point of it all.
I'm still not set up satisfactorily for using my streamer on the computer (for listening to anything on there... say Skype, or a film) but I also don't feel any urgency there as I manage reasonably via my HA.
I need not show my face at UMC again until the 12 month check, which will then be followed by annual checks... a requirement for the insurance side of things. Unless of course I myself feel the need or something goes wrong with the CI, whatever. So that's me until February 2015... or thereabouts.
My HA is actually due to be replaced but the longer I manage with it, the better really. Like any washing machine, HAs have a designated life-span really, and if they last longer, it's good but you could probably be doing with an update eh? And with HAs, it's best not to wait until it breaks before replacement. Your washing can pile up, but you don't want to be without your ears! Of course I have a 2nd one to 'use up' if this one conks out so I'm hoping I can put it off for another couple of years because it's always such a bloody rigmarol and it *always* takes me up to 18 months to have the chosen model 'fitted' to my satisfaction. The idea of starting that all up again! All the more glad that the CI didn't take so long :) Of course I will only be getting one new HA, not two.
So 'that's me 'til Tuesday'!
It's as good as it gets and unless I was to get a 2nd CI (not going to happen) I am at the best level of hearing I can get. Oh unless of course a new hearing aid was to improve things... always a (slight) possibility. I am eternally grateful for being given one and do realise how lucky I am. I have read loads of blogs from people in similar situations and have yet to come across one where things went quite so swimmingly if I'm honest. I also speak and email with other CI users and every story is different, every road travelled varies from person to person. There is no, one, 'end result'. It has all made me feel kind of a fraud. I'm not! But I have to keep telling myself, reminding myself every morning before I 'plug in'... 'I AM STILL (almost completely) DEAF' and I genuinely needed this help because with my CI on I'm so much more in tune with the hearing world.
Fun factoid... I still watch TV via my audio loop, but with the television's sound OFF instead of ON :)
Having that chatter at a distance is sooooo bloody irritating! I haven't even *tried* using it regularly like a 'normal' tv viewer because it's so much more pleasant just tuning in to my CI/HA. I should perhaps practice without subtitles as I do hear TV a lot better than before but I still feel the need of them.
I doubt I have much more to tell about my journey so if I blog again, it may well just be for the sake of blogging - getting something off my chest perhaps. Might be best not to get me started on Scottish Independence though!
I actually quite like having a place I can blether without being interrupted ;)
I'm still not set up satisfactorily for using my streamer on the computer (for listening to anything on there... say Skype, or a film) but I also don't feel any urgency there as I manage reasonably via my HA.
I need not show my face at UMC again until the 12 month check, which will then be followed by annual checks... a requirement for the insurance side of things. Unless of course I myself feel the need or something goes wrong with the CI, whatever. So that's me until February 2015... or thereabouts.
My HA is actually due to be replaced but the longer I manage with it, the better really. Like any washing machine, HAs have a designated life-span really, and if they last longer, it's good but you could probably be doing with an update eh? And with HAs, it's best not to wait until it breaks before replacement. Your washing can pile up, but you don't want to be without your ears! Of course I have a 2nd one to 'use up' if this one conks out so I'm hoping I can put it off for another couple of years because it's always such a bloody rigmarol and it *always* takes me up to 18 months to have the chosen model 'fitted' to my satisfaction. The idea of starting that all up again! All the more glad that the CI didn't take so long :) Of course I will only be getting one new HA, not two.
So 'that's me 'til Tuesday'!
It's as good as it gets and unless I was to get a 2nd CI (not going to happen) I am at the best level of hearing I can get. Oh unless of course a new hearing aid was to improve things... always a (slight) possibility. I am eternally grateful for being given one and do realise how lucky I am. I have read loads of blogs from people in similar situations and have yet to come across one where things went quite so swimmingly if I'm honest. I also speak and email with other CI users and every story is different, every road travelled varies from person to person. There is no, one, 'end result'. It has all made me feel kind of a fraud. I'm not! But I have to keep telling myself, reminding myself every morning before I 'plug in'... 'I AM STILL (almost completely) DEAF' and I genuinely needed this help because with my CI on I'm so much more in tune with the hearing world.
Fun factoid... I still watch TV via my audio loop, but with the television's sound OFF instead of ON :)
Having that chatter at a distance is sooooo bloody irritating! I haven't even *tried* using it regularly like a 'normal' tv viewer because it's so much more pleasant just tuning in to my CI/HA. I should perhaps practice without subtitles as I do hear TV a lot better than before but I still feel the need of them.
I doubt I have much more to tell about my journey so if I blog again, it may well just be for the sake of blogging - getting something off my chest perhaps. Might be best not to get me started on Scottish Independence though!
I actually quite like having a place I can blether without being interrupted ;)
Wednesday, August 06, 2014
My First Rock Concert with CI
VERY impressive!
Not really a lot to say about it other than that. But allow me to blether a bit more.
J and I took the train from Almere in NL to Dortmund in Germany. Roughly three hours to get there (4 back, no express). We had tickets for a small venue in the suburbs there. We were off to see a particular favourite of J's... the headliners not even being the one he wanted to see.
Steve Kimock, playing with one Billy Goodman, were the support act for Moe... all familiars, but Kimock was who we'd only just missed seeing in San Francisco years ago when he played with Zero and his guitar playing is legendary so he was the man J really wanted to see. I just go along for the ride although I generally love it all... when I can hear it reasonably enough.
I honestly didn't think I'd hear too great as the house stereo, which is a good one, doesn't come over all that well. So imagine the surprise when I realised I was hearing things fabulously! And things improved too. All these years of numerous concerts... ach, I heard not bad, but as things are very loud, I normally switched my HAs off to start with, then I'd keep trying them switched on to see if I could actually hear a particular instrument. Usually... not so much!
But what I was hearing now via my CI... wow! Yes, loud, but not uncomfortably so. When it did get too loud, I used my remote and turned reception down a couple of taps and lost the buzz sound that was occurring... then the implant seemed to 'learn'... or my brain did?... and it sounded just fine and I could turn it up again.
I took my CI off my head for a few moments to try what I could hear with my one hearing aid... HAH! virtually nothing useful! Rondo quickly back on my head... this was just GREAT.
Billy and Steve were just, well... fantasmagorical, so good. Moe were pretty darned fabby too actually but we left before the very end to avoid the rush for taxis being ordered back to our hotel (no other way for us to get there really). There were maybe 75 folks in the crowd, so a nice intimate atmosphere and J got to speak to both Billy and Steve... and Steve's wife and kids for that matter as 'stage-door Jimmy' hung about to get his new CDs signed and they were really nice about it.
So I'm well pleased with my Rondo's functioning, believe me. Never expected it to be quite so good as this and can't wait for further gigs - although we have nothing in the pipeline at the moment.
I'm now wondering just all what I've missed over the years!
Not really a lot to say about it other than that. But allow me to blether a bit more.
J and I took the train from Almere in NL to Dortmund in Germany. Roughly three hours to get there (4 back, no express). We had tickets for a small venue in the suburbs there. We were off to see a particular favourite of J's... the headliners not even being the one he wanted to see.
Steve Kimock, playing with one Billy Goodman, were the support act for Moe... all familiars, but Kimock was who we'd only just missed seeing in San Francisco years ago when he played with Zero and his guitar playing is legendary so he was the man J really wanted to see. I just go along for the ride although I generally love it all... when I can hear it reasonably enough.
I honestly didn't think I'd hear too great as the house stereo, which is a good one, doesn't come over all that well. So imagine the surprise when I realised I was hearing things fabulously! And things improved too. All these years of numerous concerts... ach, I heard not bad, but as things are very loud, I normally switched my HAs off to start with, then I'd keep trying them switched on to see if I could actually hear a particular instrument. Usually... not so much!
But what I was hearing now via my CI... wow! Yes, loud, but not uncomfortably so. When it did get too loud, I used my remote and turned reception down a couple of taps and lost the buzz sound that was occurring... then the implant seemed to 'learn'... or my brain did?... and it sounded just fine and I could turn it up again.
I took my CI off my head for a few moments to try what I could hear with my one hearing aid... HAH! virtually nothing useful! Rondo quickly back on my head... this was just GREAT.
Billy and Steve were just, well... fantasmagorical, so good. Moe were pretty darned fabby too actually but we left before the very end to avoid the rush for taxis being ordered back to our hotel (no other way for us to get there really). There were maybe 75 folks in the crowd, so a nice intimate atmosphere and J got to speak to both Billy and Steve... and Steve's wife and kids for that matter as 'stage-door Jimmy' hung about to get his new CDs signed and they were really nice about it.
 |
| Steve and Billy |
 |
| I feel I can really judge now... such a full sound for just two guys with guitars! |
 |
| Moe |
I'm now wondering just all what I've missed over the years!
Monday, July 21, 2014
'Promoting' my RONDO (in Dutch)
I was at a lovely 'get-together' just last Saturday and although it was a group of folks (about 75 present) all deaf/HoH, many with a CI... not ONE I spoke to, or who approached me to ask, knew that my CI actually was a CI... most thought it was a BAHA (Bone Achored Hearing Aid). I was asked to therefore write a wee review for all to see. I'm doing it in (my version of) Dutch so any English speaker needs to use a translation programme if they want to read further. Seemed easiest to post it here.
Dat was me een hele leuke dag met de mensen van Stichting Plotsdoven! Ik heb ook fotos op Facebook hier als er nog interesse in is.
Het was vroeg uit de veren en de trein pakken naar Driebergen vanuit Almere. Zoeken naar het venue was een kwestie van je neus volgen naar de vlakbij het treinstation gelegen zaal... perfekt.
'S morgens was aan het uitleggen van de begroting en jaarverslag geleend... niet boeiend maar noodzaakelijk en redelijk interessant. Makkelijk te volgen ook, met de keuze uit tolken NmG, NBT, schrijftolk op de grote scherm, en horen via ringleiding of soloapparatuur. Altijd een verademing bij zulke gezelschaap want je weet dat er altijd aan gedacht is. Het is mij altijd een doorn in het oog dat het niet overal aanwezig is (minstens een ringleiding!) want 'ik kan niet de enige slechthorende in dit zaal zijn momenteel!' (Dat ben ik - aan het zeuren bij waardanook waar de ringleiding 'wel aanstaat' mevrouw!' maar niet te horen is!!
Hoedanook, we gingen verder met een wel heel lekkere lunch (waar ik ook vragen kreeg over mijn CI), gevolgd door 'workshops' gegeven door een best grappige clown die de meerderheid wel op de voetjes kreeg. Lachen? Ik dacht dat ik een beroerte kreeg, zo grappig. Niet dat een beroerte grappig is... maar ja, als je keurige volwassenen gek zien doen, nou... was wel komisch :)
Ik had al een paar vragen over 'die mooi rondje op je hoofd' tijdens de lunch. Even uitgelegd van 'nee, dit is geen baha, dit is ook een CI'. Verbazing alom. Nog later, nadat alle gekkigheid over was en we zaten te babbelen onder het avondbuffet, werd ik meerdere keren ook gevraagd... 'wat is dat bij jou?'. Er was niemand die het van tevoren herkende... hooguit 'oh, daar heb ik van gehoord'.
Dit vind ik jammer, en ben blij om de gelegenheid te hebben om een beetje over te vertellen (als je al mijn eerder geschreven 'blogs' hier niet gelezen heb (in het Engels).
Dus... zonder dat ik eigenlijk reclame wil maken, kan ik alleen maar goeds zeggen over de Med-El Rondo. Ik wil niet zeggen dat het een betere geluid geeft... daar niet van... want ik heb OOK de Med-El Opus2 (achter het oor model) gekregen en daar hoor ik even goed mee. Maar met de Rondo, zit alles in het 'dopje'. Er hangt niets achter je oor. Het plakt fijn aan de magneet in je implantaat. Er is ook een haast onzichtbare draadje met een heel klein krokodilgespje om in je haar te klippen voor als het om wat voor reden ook van je hoofd valt. Je krijgt ook een langere om aan je kraag te klippen als je dat liever heb (of als je kaal ben :) ).
Het dopje, en je afstandsbediening, komt in maar drie kleuren, antraciet, licht grijs en wit. Ik heb de mijne wel met precies passende stickers geplakt... net zoals je bij je mobiletelefoon doet. Die krijg je hier - Skins - en trouwens voor andere modellen GT ook. Als je langere haren heb kan je alles gewoon verstoppen en omdat er niets achter je oor hangt wordt het echt niet opgemerkt... maar ik vind het zo leuk, en ben er trots op ook, dus, al kan ik het toch niet verstoppen met mijn kort haar, ik vind het zo'n aanwinst dat het een mooie sticker erop verdient.
Je moet het wel natuurlijk droog houden, maar er is een silicone dingetje eromheen tegen (kleine) botsingen, als je het toch laat vallen... weer, net zoals om je mobiel, het helpt maar een beetje... maar helpt ook tegen vocht dus je kan hem wel meteen op handdoekdroog haar doen bijvoorbeeld, zonder het te missen omdat je haar nog nat is. En een petje dragen is ook handig en niet belemmerd door je CI (en, belemmert je CI niet).
De Rondo gebruikt 3 vervangbare batterijen. Van Med-El kreeg ik een lijstje om in te vullen (en na drie maanden op te sturen) met de dagen en tijden van wisselen. Opdat ze het weten zeker :) Maar dan kom jij ook achter net hoelang je batterijen meegaan. Met een hele dag dragen (zeg maar minstens 16 uur) moet ik om de drie dagen (heel soms 4) van batterij wisselen. Je krijgt een piepsignaal als ze aflopen (ook gaat er een lichtje op je hoofd flitsen, wat best grappig is) en die word om de paar minuten een keer of tien herhaald, dan zijn ze echt op. Het wisselen is simpel en zo gebeurd. Je krijgt ook 3 verschillende sterktes van magneten. Ik denk dat die zijn vooral voor als het een beetje gevoelig is na je operatie... maar ik heb niet eens de sterkste op en het plakt mooi.
Omdat andere modellen met een accu werken ipv batterijen, en die wordt geleverd in je koffer, krijgen Rondo gebruikers gratis batterijen regelmatig toegestuurd, 2 jaar lang. De kosten van 2 jaar batterijen komt ongeveer overeen met de kosten van een accu, die na ongeveer 2 jaar toch op eigen kosten vervangen moet worden. Een mooie en eerlijke oplossing vind ik.
Ik had er geen voorkeur van welke CI dan ook. Ik had van alle drie fabrikanten voor en nadelen gelezen en het was eigenlijk mijn chirurg (Topsakal van UMC Utrecht) die Med-El voorstelde. Je zou zijn criteria voor zijn voorstel moeten vragen want ik weet dat hij ook bij anderen, andere toestellen voorstelt. Voor mij was het om het even en dan zou het de OPUS2 zijn. Prima, was er blij mee! Maar net toen ik mijn operatie kreeg (22 januari 2014) was er een actie gaande... 'neem je de OPUS2, krijg je de RONDO gratis erbij!'... Dat kon ik niet afslaan, zeker niet nadat ik erover las. Niets in je oor, niets achter je oor, alles op de magneet. Superduper!
Ik heb dus een reserve, de achter het oor model... best handig! Ik ben er eeuwig dankbaar want mijn Rondo (en in het verlengde, want, even precies ingesteld, de OPUS2) heeft me heel snel geholpen. Je moet wel kiezen welke toestel onder de verzekering valt en ik koos gelijk de Rondo. Je mag ook die tweede model weer inleveren als je liever niet twee wil hebben maar een reserve is nooit slecht.
Ik ben dus nu vijf maanden 'aangesloten' en elke andere CI drager weet hoe het eerst was en hoe het nu is. Iedereen heeft een andere 'traject' natuurlijk, en het ontvangen geluid is voor iedereen uniek en hoe de individu ermee alles ervaart en omgaat, en ermee oefent, is ook bij iedereen anders. Maar resultaten zijn zeker een indicatie van hoeveel beter je hoort, en die van mij waren een openbaring. Ik zal ze hier herhalen (ook in een eerdere blog opgenoemd).
Dat was me een hele leuke dag met de mensen van Stichting Plotsdoven! Ik heb ook fotos op Facebook hier als er nog interesse in is.
Het was vroeg uit de veren en de trein pakken naar Driebergen vanuit Almere. Zoeken naar het venue was een kwestie van je neus volgen naar de vlakbij het treinstation gelegen zaal... perfekt.
'S morgens was aan het uitleggen van de begroting en jaarverslag geleend... niet boeiend maar noodzaakelijk en redelijk interessant. Makkelijk te volgen ook, met de keuze uit tolken NmG, NBT, schrijftolk op de grote scherm, en horen via ringleiding of soloapparatuur. Altijd een verademing bij zulke gezelschaap want je weet dat er altijd aan gedacht is. Het is mij altijd een doorn in het oog dat het niet overal aanwezig is (minstens een ringleiding!) want 'ik kan niet de enige slechthorende in dit zaal zijn momenteel!' (Dat ben ik - aan het zeuren bij waardanook waar de ringleiding 'wel aanstaat' mevrouw!' maar niet te horen is!!
Hoedanook, we gingen verder met een wel heel lekkere lunch (waar ik ook vragen kreeg over mijn CI), gevolgd door 'workshops' gegeven door een best grappige clown die de meerderheid wel op de voetjes kreeg. Lachen? Ik dacht dat ik een beroerte kreeg, zo grappig. Niet dat een beroerte grappig is... maar ja, als je keurige volwassenen gek zien doen, nou... was wel komisch :)
Ik had al een paar vragen over 'die mooi rondje op je hoofd' tijdens de lunch. Even uitgelegd van 'nee, dit is geen baha, dit is ook een CI'. Verbazing alom. Nog later, nadat alle gekkigheid over was en we zaten te babbelen onder het avondbuffet, werd ik meerdere keren ook gevraagd... 'wat is dat bij jou?'. Er was niemand die het van tevoren herkende... hooguit 'oh, daar heb ik van gehoord'.
Dit vind ik jammer, en ben blij om de gelegenheid te hebben om een beetje over te vertellen (als je al mijn eerder geschreven 'blogs' hier niet gelezen heb (in het Engels).
Dus... zonder dat ik eigenlijk reclame wil maken, kan ik alleen maar goeds zeggen over de Med-El Rondo. Ik wil niet zeggen dat het een betere geluid geeft... daar niet van... want ik heb OOK de Med-El Opus2 (achter het oor model) gekregen en daar hoor ik even goed mee. Maar met de Rondo, zit alles in het 'dopje'. Er hangt niets achter je oor. Het plakt fijn aan de magneet in je implantaat. Er is ook een haast onzichtbare draadje met een heel klein krokodilgespje om in je haar te klippen voor als het om wat voor reden ook van je hoofd valt. Je krijgt ook een langere om aan je kraag te klippen als je dat liever heb (of als je kaal ben :) ).
Het dopje, en je afstandsbediening, komt in maar drie kleuren, antraciet, licht grijs en wit. Ik heb de mijne wel met precies passende stickers geplakt... net zoals je bij je mobiletelefoon doet. Die krijg je hier - Skins - en trouwens voor andere modellen GT ook. Als je langere haren heb kan je alles gewoon verstoppen en omdat er niets achter je oor hangt wordt het echt niet opgemerkt... maar ik vind het zo leuk, en ben er trots op ook, dus, al kan ik het toch niet verstoppen met mijn kort haar, ik vind het zo'n aanwinst dat het een mooie sticker erop verdient.
Je moet het wel natuurlijk droog houden, maar er is een silicone dingetje eromheen tegen (kleine) botsingen, als je het toch laat vallen... weer, net zoals om je mobiel, het helpt maar een beetje... maar helpt ook tegen vocht dus je kan hem wel meteen op handdoekdroog haar doen bijvoorbeeld, zonder het te missen omdat je haar nog nat is. En een petje dragen is ook handig en niet belemmerd door je CI (en, belemmert je CI niet).
De Rondo gebruikt 3 vervangbare batterijen. Van Med-El kreeg ik een lijstje om in te vullen (en na drie maanden op te sturen) met de dagen en tijden van wisselen. Opdat ze het weten zeker :) Maar dan kom jij ook achter net hoelang je batterijen meegaan. Met een hele dag dragen (zeg maar minstens 16 uur) moet ik om de drie dagen (heel soms 4) van batterij wisselen. Je krijgt een piepsignaal als ze aflopen (ook gaat er een lichtje op je hoofd flitsen, wat best grappig is) en die word om de paar minuten een keer of tien herhaald, dan zijn ze echt op. Het wisselen is simpel en zo gebeurd. Je krijgt ook 3 verschillende sterktes van magneten. Ik denk dat die zijn vooral voor als het een beetje gevoelig is na je operatie... maar ik heb niet eens de sterkste op en het plakt mooi.
Omdat andere modellen met een accu werken ipv batterijen, en die wordt geleverd in je koffer, krijgen Rondo gebruikers gratis batterijen regelmatig toegestuurd, 2 jaar lang. De kosten van 2 jaar batterijen komt ongeveer overeen met de kosten van een accu, die na ongeveer 2 jaar toch op eigen kosten vervangen moet worden. Een mooie en eerlijke oplossing vind ik.
Ik had er geen voorkeur van welke CI dan ook. Ik had van alle drie fabrikanten voor en nadelen gelezen en het was eigenlijk mijn chirurg (Topsakal van UMC Utrecht) die Med-El voorstelde. Je zou zijn criteria voor zijn voorstel moeten vragen want ik weet dat hij ook bij anderen, andere toestellen voorstelt. Voor mij was het om het even en dan zou het de OPUS2 zijn. Prima, was er blij mee! Maar net toen ik mijn operatie kreeg (22 januari 2014) was er een actie gaande... 'neem je de OPUS2, krijg je de RONDO gratis erbij!'... Dat kon ik niet afslaan, zeker niet nadat ik erover las. Niets in je oor, niets achter je oor, alles op de magneet. Superduper!
Ik heb dus een reserve, de achter het oor model... best handig! Ik ben er eeuwig dankbaar want mijn Rondo (en in het verlengde, want, even precies ingesteld, de OPUS2) heeft me heel snel geholpen. Je moet wel kiezen welke toestel onder de verzekering valt en ik koos gelijk de Rondo. Je mag ook die tweede model weer inleveren als je liever niet twee wil hebben maar een reserve is nooit slecht.
Ik ben dus nu vijf maanden 'aangesloten' en elke andere CI drager weet hoe het eerst was en hoe het nu is. Iedereen heeft een andere 'traject' natuurlijk, en het ontvangen geluid is voor iedereen uniek en hoe de individu ermee alles ervaart en omgaat, en ermee oefent, is ook bij iedereen anders. Maar resultaten zijn zeker een indicatie van hoeveel beter je hoort, en die van mij waren een openbaring. Ik zal ze hier herhalen (ook in een eerdere blog opgenoemd).
--------------------------------------------
CI = Cochleaire implantaat, GT = Gehoortoestel
Verhaal test
Ik kwam uit op 81 woorden per minuut herhalen (en goed ook!) Tijdens de test na een maand was dit maar 44 wpm en ik dacht dat het toen al fantasties was!
Zinnen test - (lettergrepen goed)
98% (!!) Na een maand was dit al 'nauwelijks te verbeteren' op 90%.
98% (!!) Na een maand was dit al 'nauwelijks te verbeteren' op 90%.
Word Test
CI+GT
Klanken - 92% (84% vorige keer)
woorden - 82% (61%)
CI alleen
klanken - 83% (74%
woorden - 64% (45%)
GT alleen
klanken - 73% (62%)
woorden - 42% (36%)
Pre-operatief waren mijn scores zo laag dat ik totaal geen idee heb hoe ik het redde! Toen werd alleen het woordtest afgenomen. Die kwam uit (met BEIDEN GTs)
klanken - 62% (geen GTs 47%)
woorden - 33% (geen GTs 12%)
--------------------------------------------
Ik ben met zulke resultaten heel blij mee. Het zijn de resultaten van na drie maanden aangesloten te zijn. Zoals we allen weten, het echte leven, echt in gehoorsituaties zitten, is niet hetzelfde als met een logopediste in een geluidsarme kamer zitten praten. Er is geen mens die zo gearticuleerd spreekt en niemand die zoveel geduld opbrengt. Maar het is een indicatie die wel bruikbaar is want we krijgen allemaal hetzelfde testen. Dus nee, ik hoor zeker niet altijd 100% onder normale omstandigheden... volgens mij hoort een horende ook niet altijd 100%... maar ik hoor wel wat mij op 3 millioen keer beter lijkt nu, en natuurlijk dank ik dat aan mijn CI.
Ik geloof niet dat die actie van Med-El nog loopt - mogelijk doen ze het weer een keer - maar als jij nu over nadenkt om een CI te nemen, of je komt nu pas in aanmerking ervoor of je bent aan een nieuwe toe, je zou kunnen overwegen om de Rondo te nemen. Straks wordt alles nog kleiner... goh, straks wordt alles onderhuids gedaan! Maar de Rondo is voorlopig een enorm vooruitgaan vind ik zelf... al ben ik bewust van mijn vooroordeelingen.
Het is natuurlijk ook goed met solo-apperatures te gebruiken - net zoals alle CIs - al ben ik zelf nog aan het zoeken en gebruik nog wat ik al had voor mijn GTs. Telefoneren kan best grappig zijn tot je de beste houding vind - het zit niet lekker met je arm in de lucht om bij de microfoon te komen, maar dan kan je de hele knoop gewoon draaien op je hoofd (duh, dacht ik niet eerst aan). Ik denk niet dat telefoneren ooit een favoriete bezigheid voor mij wordt maar met solo-apparatuur gaat het een stuk makkerlijker (al moet je die ding wel klaar om je nek hebben natuurlijk). Muziek is me nog een beetje een 'challenge' maar ik heb van anderen online gelezen dat het ze goed afgaat dus ik heb een goed gevoel daarover voor de toekomst.
Algemene geluiden zijn voor mij nu al gewoon en waren dat ook al best snel... eigenlijk heel snel. Natuurlijk mis ik nog steeds wat gezegd wordt, het hangt van het situatie af, maar wat ik hoor, klinkt mij goed en totaal niet 'vreemd'. Dat is waarschijnlijk niet aan de Rondo te wijten, meer aan mijn 'gehoorgeheugen', dus ik wil niet beweren dat het aan de Rondo zelf ligt dat alles zo vooruitgegaan is. Het is gewoon een combinatie van mijn CI en mijn hoorniveau, plus oefenen natuurlijk.
En, ik kom dit net tegen... om mijn Rondo te beschermen tegen nattigheid onder het zwemmen :) En hier is een mooie filmpje met hoe dat moet werken. Maar ik vind nog geen link naar waar dat te koop is.
Ik hoop dat anderen hiermee nu meer inzicht hebben over die rare knop op mijn hoofd en dat het nu meer (h)erkenning krijgt. Baha's zijn ook handige dingen, maar dat is mijn mooie Rondo niet!
Vraag maar raak als je meer wil weten.
Addendum: ik heb sinds het schrijven van deze blog wel die 'Waterwear' en Skinfit headband gekocht. Geweldig service van Med-El, moet ik wel erbij zeggen. Moet nog de rekening betalen dus echt gewaardeerd dat ze het via de post opstuur. Ik heb maar een opmerking want ik kwam pas later achter dat je ook hele dure speciaale batterijen nodig heb als je de Waterwear systeem gebruik. Gewone raken kennelijk meteen op (moet ik nog testen maar dat werd me gezegd). En die speciaale batterijen zijn duur, alsook maar per 30 stuks te koop van Med-El (dus ik moet ze elders zien te kopen). Ik zwem niet eens vaak! Dus al gaan de batterijen +5jaar mee, raak ik nooit 30 stuks op. Er is nergens melding van gemaakt dat ze nodig zijn maar daar gaan ze nu wel verandering in brengen... zeggen ze (na mijn klacht hehe) want je koopt nimmer een auto zonder motor he? Nogmaals, geweldig service van Med-El.
Ik geloof niet dat die actie van Med-El nog loopt - mogelijk doen ze het weer een keer - maar als jij nu over nadenkt om een CI te nemen, of je komt nu pas in aanmerking ervoor of je bent aan een nieuwe toe, je zou kunnen overwegen om de Rondo te nemen. Straks wordt alles nog kleiner... goh, straks wordt alles onderhuids gedaan! Maar de Rondo is voorlopig een enorm vooruitgaan vind ik zelf... al ben ik bewust van mijn vooroordeelingen.
Het is natuurlijk ook goed met solo-apperatures te gebruiken - net zoals alle CIs - al ben ik zelf nog aan het zoeken en gebruik nog wat ik al had voor mijn GTs. Telefoneren kan best grappig zijn tot je de beste houding vind - het zit niet lekker met je arm in de lucht om bij de microfoon te komen, maar dan kan je de hele knoop gewoon draaien op je hoofd (duh, dacht ik niet eerst aan). Ik denk niet dat telefoneren ooit een favoriete bezigheid voor mij wordt maar met solo-apparatuur gaat het een stuk makkerlijker (al moet je die ding wel klaar om je nek hebben natuurlijk). Muziek is me nog een beetje een 'challenge' maar ik heb van anderen online gelezen dat het ze goed afgaat dus ik heb een goed gevoel daarover voor de toekomst.
Algemene geluiden zijn voor mij nu al gewoon en waren dat ook al best snel... eigenlijk heel snel. Natuurlijk mis ik nog steeds wat gezegd wordt, het hangt van het situatie af, maar wat ik hoor, klinkt mij goed en totaal niet 'vreemd'. Dat is waarschijnlijk niet aan de Rondo te wijten, meer aan mijn 'gehoorgeheugen', dus ik wil niet beweren dat het aan de Rondo zelf ligt dat alles zo vooruitgegaan is. Het is gewoon een combinatie van mijn CI en mijn hoorniveau, plus oefenen natuurlijk.
En, ik kom dit net tegen... om mijn Rondo te beschermen tegen nattigheid onder het zwemmen :) En hier is een mooie filmpje met hoe dat moet werken. Maar ik vind nog geen link naar waar dat te koop is.
Ik hoop dat anderen hiermee nu meer inzicht hebben over die rare knop op mijn hoofd en dat het nu meer (h)erkenning krijgt. Baha's zijn ook handige dingen, maar dat is mijn mooie Rondo niet!
Vraag maar raak als je meer wil weten.
Addendum: ik heb sinds het schrijven van deze blog wel die 'Waterwear' en Skinfit headband gekocht. Geweldig service van Med-El, moet ik wel erbij zeggen. Moet nog de rekening betalen dus echt gewaardeerd dat ze het via de post opstuur. Ik heb maar een opmerking want ik kwam pas later achter dat je ook hele dure speciaale batterijen nodig heb als je de Waterwear systeem gebruik. Gewone raken kennelijk meteen op (moet ik nog testen maar dat werd me gezegd). En die speciaale batterijen zijn duur, alsook maar per 30 stuks te koop van Med-El (dus ik moet ze elders zien te kopen). Ik zwem niet eens vaak! Dus al gaan de batterijen +5jaar mee, raak ik nooit 30 stuks op. Er is nergens melding van gemaakt dat ze nodig zijn maar daar gaan ze nu wel verandering in brengen... zeggen ze (na mijn klacht hehe) want je koopt nimmer een auto zonder motor he? Nogmaals, geweldig service van Med-El.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
3 months and counting!
Hard to believe but I'm a week past three months since SO day! And it's all good.
I had a full assessment last week and tomorrow I get a (more or less) final adjustment to settings and my hearing aid(s) fixed for best use too. I'm still not fabulous on the phone and actually prefer using the HA (if I have to talk on the phone) so perhaps that just needs practice... and time. It's also kinda tiring holding the phone up to the CI so not really conducive to having a blether with anyone. I would like to try a CI programme that helps for listening to music but that always had to wait until 'normal' hearing was optimal. And I still need to find a double headed jack plug for the computer so I can use both my streamer to my hearing aid and another mic to the CI as listening and talking on there (Skype especially) with just one ear, is not great. I'm not crazy about all the wires but I can also use my 'reserve' CI that is behind the ear and that works wirelessly... it's just a bit of a rigmarol... not very spontaneous.
My assessment could not have gone better though. Wish I'd done as well in exams when I was a kid!
What they do is sit you in front of a speaker and fire words at you, CI only, then CI + HA. I have to repeat the words of course as well as possible, saying just part of what I hear rather than nothing if I'm not sure. Then I have to repeat sentences. Followed by a timed repeat of a whole story, sentence for sentence. So pleased with myself, I did really, really well. And it was all without reading lips, just hearing as the speaker wasn't visible. Of course it's all done in a soundproofed room and everything is well articulated but there has to be a bottom line to measure things. 'Real life' situations are of course skewed somewhat with noise around you and varying levels of articulation and pronunciation and that is always going to affect things.
Story test
I got to 81 words per minute being repeated (properly too!) At the one month assessment this was 44 words per minute and I thought I did great there!
Sentence test - (syllables correct)
98% (!!!) At the one month assessment this was practically not to be improved at already 90% :)
Word test
CI+HA
sounds - 92% (84% last time)
words - 82% (61%)
CI only
sounds - 83% (74%)
words - 64% (45%)
HA only
sounds - 73% (62%)
words - 42% (36%)
Pre-operative the scores were so low I don't know how I coped... I really cannot imagine any more! Only the word test was taken then and they were (with BOTH hearing aids):
sounds - 62% (NO HAs 47%)
words - 33% (NO HAs 12%)
So, a full improvement in all situations since two months ago and you can see that the HA is (next to) useless on it's own yet really does give the CI that extra little boost. And a three zillion percent improvement (ok, I know you can't get more than 100%) since only October 2013. Such a difference. I hope I'm reading all the results from the letter I just received, properly as I'm not sure how pre-op and post op HA results differ (although I suppose it can just vary and it is only very slightly despite being two versus one HA).
Anyway, it's all about what I can hear NOW not what I could hear THEN. And jeezo that's plenty.
Fecking birds would drive you potty! hahaha... oh I do still love them, honestly but they do go on when you're sitting in the garden of an evening. Music? well that really does need improving but at loud concerts I have always taken my HAs off anyway. Was just (am still) hoping that it will improve... it has already somewhat, just not what i was hoping on... yet. Oh and I can hear myself whistle now! I was always one of those annoying types that whistles all day long... tunelessly or otherwise, I'm no virtuoso whistler by any means. But I've missed it over the last years as can't hear myself do it... it's just air I know is passing. I remember a boss telling me that 'in the old days' it was forbidden to whistle in the office and I told him he'd have had to sack me then as I couldn't stop (yeah, that annoying whistler was always going to be me). I've never smoked but have the lines around the mouth with the same kind of pouting... whistling! hehehe. So I'm back up and running with the old 'whistle a happy tune' nonsense. Sadly out of practice... who can I annoy next?
After my last visit to UMC I paid a visit to Utrecht's Botanical Gardens (375 years old btw) which are very nearby the hospital (as I finally found out). Spent a lovely couple of hours wandering all around it, enjoying a different kind of quiet. Frogs are loud I know that now! And it was nice hearing the bees at work. And instead of seeing the gardener snipping the lawn edge, I could actually hear him doing it... and talking to his mate the while!
I'm not sure I will have much more to tell about my CI here in the blogosphere and it's not like I'm that regular. I may or may not continue in blethery vein, as mentioned at the top of the blog page. I only know that I will be hearing about things I might write about much more easily than I have done for years.
I had a full assessment last week and tomorrow I get a (more or less) final adjustment to settings and my hearing aid(s) fixed for best use too. I'm still not fabulous on the phone and actually prefer using the HA (if I have to talk on the phone) so perhaps that just needs practice... and time. It's also kinda tiring holding the phone up to the CI so not really conducive to having a blether with anyone. I would like to try a CI programme that helps for listening to music but that always had to wait until 'normal' hearing was optimal. And I still need to find a double headed jack plug for the computer so I can use both my streamer to my hearing aid and another mic to the CI as listening and talking on there (Skype especially) with just one ear, is not great. I'm not crazy about all the wires but I can also use my 'reserve' CI that is behind the ear and that works wirelessly... it's just a bit of a rigmarol... not very spontaneous.
My assessment could not have gone better though. Wish I'd done as well in exams when I was a kid!
What they do is sit you in front of a speaker and fire words at you, CI only, then CI + HA. I have to repeat the words of course as well as possible, saying just part of what I hear rather than nothing if I'm not sure. Then I have to repeat sentences. Followed by a timed repeat of a whole story, sentence for sentence. So pleased with myself, I did really, really well. And it was all without reading lips, just hearing as the speaker wasn't visible. Of course it's all done in a soundproofed room and everything is well articulated but there has to be a bottom line to measure things. 'Real life' situations are of course skewed somewhat with noise around you and varying levels of articulation and pronunciation and that is always going to affect things.
Story test
I got to 81 words per minute being repeated (properly too!) At the one month assessment this was 44 words per minute and I thought I did great there!
Sentence test - (syllables correct)
98% (!!!) At the one month assessment this was practically not to be improved at already 90% :)
Word test
CI+HA
sounds - 92% (84% last time)
words - 82% (61%)
CI only
sounds - 83% (74%)
words - 64% (45%)
HA only
sounds - 73% (62%)
words - 42% (36%)
Pre-operative the scores were so low I don't know how I coped... I really cannot imagine any more! Only the word test was taken then and they were (with BOTH hearing aids):
sounds - 62% (NO HAs 47%)
words - 33% (NO HAs 12%)
So, a full improvement in all situations since two months ago and you can see that the HA is (next to) useless on it's own yet really does give the CI that extra little boost. And a three zillion percent improvement (ok, I know you can't get more than 100%) since only October 2013. Such a difference. I hope I'm reading all the results from the letter I just received, properly as I'm not sure how pre-op and post op HA results differ (although I suppose it can just vary and it is only very slightly despite being two versus one HA).
Anyway, it's all about what I can hear NOW not what I could hear THEN. And jeezo that's plenty.
Fecking birds would drive you potty! hahaha... oh I do still love them, honestly but they do go on when you're sitting in the garden of an evening. Music? well that really does need improving but at loud concerts I have always taken my HAs off anyway. Was just (am still) hoping that it will improve... it has already somewhat, just not what i was hoping on... yet. Oh and I can hear myself whistle now! I was always one of those annoying types that whistles all day long... tunelessly or otherwise, I'm no virtuoso whistler by any means. But I've missed it over the last years as can't hear myself do it... it's just air I know is passing. I remember a boss telling me that 'in the old days' it was forbidden to whistle in the office and I told him he'd have had to sack me then as I couldn't stop (yeah, that annoying whistler was always going to be me). I've never smoked but have the lines around the mouth with the same kind of pouting... whistling! hehehe. So I'm back up and running with the old 'whistle a happy tune' nonsense. Sadly out of practice... who can I annoy next?
After my last visit to UMC I paid a visit to Utrecht's Botanical Gardens (375 years old btw) which are very nearby the hospital (as I finally found out). Spent a lovely couple of hours wandering all around it, enjoying a different kind of quiet. Frogs are loud I know that now! And it was nice hearing the bees at work. And instead of seeing the gardener snipping the lawn edge, I could actually hear him doing it... and talking to his mate the while!
 |
| Frogs are LOUD! |
 |
| I could hear the bees in the hive. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)