Life as a bilateral cochlear implant recipient. If the topic is new to you, check out this background information on cochlear implants; while the article is somewhat dated (1998), it does cover a fair amount of history.
My opinions are my own, unless they would get me into trouble; in that case I don't know whose they are.
Went in today for a remapping for the new implant, and my audiologist also did a new mapping for the older implant. Surprisingly, even almost two years after the receiving the first one, my T-levels are still going down. T-levels --where T is for "threshold" measure the amount of electrical stimulation required to hear softest sounds at each electrode.
We were out dancing for the first time since getting the second implant. Hearing in stereo gave a new dimension to the music! I could tell how each side picked up the sound differently. Every now and then, the streams would deliciously meld together in my head, sending me into orbit. I've always loved to jump and spin with the beat, and it's definitely easier now. Occasionally I would test turning one or the other side off, and I'd be struck with how much flatter the music seemed.
One downside was the cables are twice as easy to accidently knock off. I could tell that freaked out some people; they could deal with remembering to leave the right side of my head alone, but now they have to keep their hands lower than my face.
This afternoon at a garden party, I chatted with many hearing friends. Despite the background chatter, I had no problems following conversations. Bilateral definitely helps with screening out unwanted sounds. I'm please that 2.5 weeks after activation, I'm already noticing a clear benefit. I'm already using the highest program and wanting more input, so I've made an appointment for a new mapping ahead of schedule.
In Spiderman-2 movie, Doc Ock uses 4 snake-like protheses as extra arms, and these are directed with an artificial intelligence (AI) chip. In the course of an experience gone haywire, the arms fuse permanently to his body, and the AI takes over his brain, changing his relationship with the prostheis to one of slave/servant. I can't help but draw parallels.
The dividing line between human and machine is still clear with the cochlear implants, but for how long? It was still a struggle for me to go ahead with getting them, knowing that I would -- for all practical purposes -- be integrated with and dependent on the devices for the rest of my life.
My second implant was activated today! After surgery on my left side a month ago, and the slow (much slower this time around) healing process, I was "turned on." I was pleasantly surprised that as bad as everything sounds with the new implant, it's not been disruptive. After the mapping, Becky turned on all circuits, and did a few simple tests. I could recognize the difference between number of syllables ("Hello", "How are you" and "Let's go eat dinner"), but attempting to understand even the simplest sentences was beyond me. We agreed to stick with the BTE (G3) and skip the BWP (body worn processor), using sensitivity with one program louder than the other. Within minutes of setting up the programs, I wanted more umph, so Becky replaced both programs with new ones with more volume.
On the drive home, it seems listening to talk radio KCBS and KGO was easier. The new ear really picks up on high pitched sounds, and glosses over lower frequency ones, which is not surprising, since it took a couple days with the first implant before I got the full spectrum of sound.
So far, I'm pleased; I was expecting to get the "Minnie Mouse on speed" effect and to be bewildered by the difference in input, but I only notice the effect when I turn off my left (older) implant. With both on, the squeakiness is masked, and I'm just more aware of high pitched sounds. Boy, some sounds like keyboard clicking and rustling paper, are just eeeeeech!
I go in for the second mapping in two days.