The Brick Trick - A True Story From A Deaf-Blind Camper

January 23, 2011

Hi everyone,

I'm back from camp, arriving Friday and had to work Saturday. At camp I used my

3G Speech Processor with my left ear as that's the only processor model I have

for my Nucleus 24. With my right ear I have Nucleus Freedom Cochlear Implant,

I use the Freedom Bodyworn because of the AAA rechargeable batteries (the BTE

rechargeable were not yet in the market when I received my Nucleus Freedom).

However, here I am using the Freedom 3 675 battery BTE with my Nucleus Freedom

using the SnugFit it's great having no Bodyworn Controller with cable on my

arm. I also use the Bodyworn because it's more secure on the ear because the

battery pack I wear on my arm - the controls are easier to use - the Freedom

3 cell BTE is bottom heavy for my ear and I'm scared it'll fall off and hit the

floor and break so that's another reason vor using the Bodyworn. I recenly

received the SnugFit and it works great keeping the Freedom Processor on my ear

using either the Bodyworn Controller or 3 675 BTE Controller. This week at camp

it was the first time since I received my Nucleus Freedom CI 4 years ago that I

felt comfortable to use the 675 BTE Controller - since I now have the SnufFit

donated. I I started to use it at camp once the Body Worn Controller's

batteries died and we started to go to the beach and on boat trips. cannooing as

you will read below my eperiences at camp below - the experiences and activities

I remember. I struggled to hear at camp, the buildings echoed and everyone spoke

at the same time even if it's a few people it sounded like more because of the

echo. Luckily my friend who is the director of the Organization that arrange the

camps for blind and visually impaired knows sign langauge and another friend who

works for the organization that owns the venue, knows some sign lanauge. My

blind friend who attended camp with me knows fingerspelling, so it was great

that I had this backup when my ears were off when either doing water activities

or at night time.

Regards

Ilana

==========

What a wonderful time at camp. I experienced so much fun and laughter doing

activities never imagined possible. Cannoo, swimming in the lagoon, swimming in

the ocean for the first time in 12 years (since I lost my hearing), boat trip,

Archery and beloved horseriding - although a bit off balance it was heartwarming

to be on horseback again. Chatting with friends, trying to hear and understand

and then I feel my friends' hands signing to me whatever I missed to hear or

understand. The first morning was a difficult one because of headpressure

headaches but then came friends with the idea of the 'brick trick' - placing to

bricks underneath the feet of the bed where my head will rest at night - what a

wonderful experience to wake up in the mornings with only a few minutes of

headpressure headache and clearer hearing for the first time in years. The

'brick trick' will for sure be my compaion for years to come and I thank those

who have made it possible. Also thank those who made camp such an exciting and

wonderful experience.

I hope my memory didn't miss to mention some of the other fun activities.

January 23, 2011

HI, Thanks for shearing your experience with us and especially me. I was moved

and felt so dearly for you that your life was made better with hearing implants.

I' m sched for implants Feb 21,almost a year with no hearing understanding, but

I just turned 70.

And raising the foot of your bed,with bricks,or any means does help your brain

to function better thus improve better hearing understanding.Our Med People

cannot make such statements because??

;

From: Ilana2@...

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:29:14 +0200

Subject: The Brick Trick - A True Story From A Deaf-Blind Camper