Re: Re: hearing with CI

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone who gave me some valuable feedback. I had no idea about the

different mapping stategies, though I have seen 2 different audiologists in

repeated mapping sessions at House Ear Clinic. I will use all your words of

wisdom as I plan my next step in this journey.

-

________________________________

From: " nucleus24@... " <nucleus24@...>

Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 4:11 PM

Subject: Re: hearing with CI

 

Hi ,

Thanks for your input. Indeed, not everyone does well with a CI.

Some of us do well with the first, and not with the 2nd. I was one of

those.

I had my second CI, a Nucleus 5, done in September 2009. First

mapping took HOURS and finally was able to comprehend what was being

said, but it was all high pitched and chipmunky sounding. Figured it

would go away. It didn't. I found out that I was being mapped with ACE

strategy. I'd tried ACE on my older implant, and wasn't successful with

it. So I asked for the new one to be mapped with SPEAK, the strategy I

use so successfully on the older implant. Come to find out that ACE was

the ONLY programming strategy available on the N5 implant. I was ticked.

From " hearing as individualized as your fingerprint " to " one size fits

all " was a total about face as far as I was concerned. Fortunately,

SPEAK became available a while ago, and I went and had it put on my N5,

and heard, comprehended, and can talk on the phone from minutes one.

This after listening to hearing professionals tell me that " Slow ACE is

the same as SPEAK " It is not. 93 maps into the game, I finally got what

I wanted and can tell everyone, " I told you so " . I also had 2 of the

higher frequencies turned OFF to save from having to listen to those high

pitched sounds.

With my first mappings, I was hearing traffic 3 blocks away. I don't

NEED to hear that, and I don't want to hear it. So try going a lot lower

on the volume and sensititivy. I keep mine about 3 or 4 on all maps.

If you haven't had an audiologist from your implant company come out and

MAP you, request one.

If you are using a Nucleus 5 implant, have the audiologist try SPEAK

or even CIS for you. Because some of us do better with slower strategies

(SPEAK) and some do better with faster (CIS) strategies.

It is highly frustrating to have annoying noises in your ears, and

have everyone tell you that they've done all they can for you.

Good luck. I was more than 18 months post activation and not hearing

well with the N5. It's only because I had my other implant for so many

years that I KNEW how good it could be. Just needed to get the mapping

to do it.

Hello,

I've been hesitant to post any messages here, because the last thing I

want to

do is create any negativity relating to CIs. Obviously, from everyone's

posts,

the CI process is highly successful and has greatly improved the lives of

most

people. However, I am one of the few people that, after over a year of

having my

implant, am still hearing chipmunk voices and constant high-pitched

tones, even

after repeated mapping sessions. My comprehension is still poor too. The

device

has been tested, and CT scans have been conducted, yet everything looks

normal.

So audiologists are stumped. The last visit I had, my audiologist

confided that

even if my comprehension improves, if the sound quality is still poor

after all

this time, it's not likely to get much better. So I may be stuck hearing

this

high-pitched squawking forever, unless I decide to just stop wearing the

implant.

I do not want to discourage anyone from getting an implant, because I

know from

the stats, from all the posts here, and from everyone I personally know

that has

one, that the results are usually miraculous and wonderful. I fully

believe in

the process. But part of me also wishes that I had heard more of the less

successful stories when I was doing all my initial research. I may be

part of

the 1% or less who have had less than thrilling results, but I still

think

people should be aware of the possibilities.

-

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