Well the other day I was reading this magazine called "Choices" in interior design. And one of the articles in the magazine was about a hearing loss and all the things you do that makes your hearing worse and all the things you can do to prevent a hearing loss. In one part, it was trying to explain what a hearing loss is like and this is how American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) put it....
"It's like a dining room chandelier with bulbs that go out. Every day, it dims a little bit until one day you think, 'it's dark in here,' but then its too late to turn the light back on."
But anyways, I thought it was pretty funny how they relate deaf people as chandeliers!! : P So my friend and I were joking around with each other about this and teasing me about being a chandelier!! At first I laughed and I couldn't believe that they were saying that but once you think about it...in a way a hearing loss is like dying light bulbs!!
But in my case, I got high-tech, life-time guaranteed new light bulbs!! : )
I have my speech which will last a lifetime (thanks to AVC) and my new high-tech Cochlear Implant which will also last me forever!! hehe
So now, I am a very bright and shiny chandelier!!!! : )
December 6, 2006
November 29, 2006
When do Direct Connects come in handy??
Well today, I went on a field trip with my Photography class to the High Museum. That was interesting. But we all had to walk around with recorders and headphones that was talking about all the pictures. I couldn't hear a thing on the head phones so guess what...I pulled out my Direct connect from my purse, plugged it in...and ta-da! I can HEAR!!! YAY! YAY! YAY!
haha, who would ever have thought that that was going to come in handy?? I usually use it just to listen to my music on my MP3 player, I never thought I'd need it for something else.
So for all of you who have the implant....get the Direct Connect!!! You never know when you'll need it!!!
haha, who would ever have thought that that was going to come in handy?? I usually use it just to listen to my music on my MP3 player, I never thought I'd need it for something else.
So for all of you who have the implant....get the Direct Connect!!! You never know when you'll need it!!!
October 24, 2006
Update
Well things are going good with me and my Implant. I'm a Junior in High School and school is going great! I'm aceing all of my classes, which is really exciting! YAY! Last week was Homecoming, that was bunches of fun!! Friday night was our homecoming game, my brother and I stood up in the front cheering for the Lakeside Vikings. And believe it or not...we WON!!! YAY! YAY! YAY! That was really really really exciting to win our Homecoming Game!!! : ) Then saturday night, we had our Homecoming Dance. Jonathan (my brother) was my date so we danced and had alot of fun the whole night!!! It was pretty cool to be able to hear the beats and be able to follow along with the music.
Oh, the other day my brother and I spoke on a panel in front of a bunch of therapists, parents, and teachers at this Advanced Bionics Meeting. That was pretty interesting....apparently we were really good!! : ) They asked us questions about how we deal with the implant at school, the differences between the Hearing Aid and the Implant, Our favorite and least favorite things about the implant, etc. so I guess that went well. I was glad that we were there to help answer questions!
But other than that, everything seems to be going pretty good.
Oh, the other day my brother and I spoke on a panel in front of a bunch of therapists, parents, and teachers at this Advanced Bionics Meeting. That was pretty interesting....apparently we were really good!! : ) They asked us questions about how we deal with the implant at school, the differences between the Hearing Aid and the Implant, Our favorite and least favorite things about the implant, etc. so I guess that went well. I was glad that we were there to help answer questions!
But other than that, everything seems to be going pretty good.
August 9, 2006
Last day as a Volunteen!!
The other week I had my last day of being a volunteen at Egleston Children's Hospital. I have been working there in the Operating Room every tuesday this summer and it has definatly been the highlight of my summer! I got to help patients get ready for surgery, get the operating rooms ready for surgery and I also got to help nurses during surgery!! And whats so cool about it is that I got to get all dressed up in scrubs, a hat, and a mask! And I still was able to hear everyone!!
But there is one thing that my mentor, June Malcolm, and I will always remember! The story when she learned I was hearing impaired. Ok, on the first day of working there, June was giving me a tour around and telling me everything I've got to do, etc. And we come in front of the OR room where Dr. Todd does his implant surgerys. And June was getting ready to tell me this whole "speel" about what the cochelar implant is and what its for. And immediatly I bursted out "I GOT ONE!!". hahaha, I was so excited to be able to see them getting one that I just bursted that out! And the look on June's face will always stick with me! She was so suprised and couldn't believe that I was deaf and I was working in the Operating Room! So then from then on, she told all the nurses and advisers, etc. about my hearing and about our story! And everyone that she told was always shocked and so suprised that I was deaf!!
So yeah, I guess you can say....nothing will get in the way of getting what you want!! And I wanted to be a volunteen at Egleston and I got it!! And I had the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!!
This is a picture of June, Me, and Cynthia. Notice the scrubs - don't we look cute!! hehe : )
But there is one thing that my mentor, June Malcolm, and I will always remember! The story when she learned I was hearing impaired. Ok, on the first day of working there, June was giving me a tour around and telling me everything I've got to do, etc. And we come in front of the OR room where Dr. Todd does his implant surgerys. And June was getting ready to tell me this whole "speel" about what the cochelar implant is and what its for. And immediatly I bursted out "I GOT ONE!!". hahaha, I was so excited to be able to see them getting one that I just bursted that out! And the look on June's face will always stick with me! She was so suprised and couldn't believe that I was deaf and I was working in the Operating Room! So then from then on, she told all the nurses and advisers, etc. about my hearing and about our story! And everyone that she told was always shocked and so suprised that I was deaf!!
So yeah, I guess you can say....nothing will get in the way of getting what you want!! And I wanted to be a volunteen at Egleston and I got it!! And I had the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!!
This is a picture of June, Me, and Cynthia. Notice the scrubs - don't we look cute!! hehe : )
August 7, 2006
Swimming with friends....finally!
I just got back from going to a mountain house with a group of my friends for the weekend. I had an awesome time!! We got to hang out, go swimming, canoeing, hiking, listen to music, etc.
But the main thing I really wanted to share was about the swimming, I've never been much of a swimmer and I always tried to avoid swimming with a bunch of people as much as I could. And the reason being was my hearing. I was to embarresed and almost scared to swim with a bunch of people. I was always worried about missing what people would be saying. I don't lip read and I don't do sign so its kind of hard and wierd to swim with a bunch of people. And plus the fact, I always felt wierd just sitting there while everyone else was having a great time chatting and playing games. But for the first time, I actually swam with a whole group of people! It was alot easier than I thought it would be!
My best friend Zoe was there too, so she kind of stuck by my side to help with what people were saying and kind of guide me to where we were all going, etc. And when ever people would start talking to me while I'm in the water (which would be quite often) zoe would explain to them that I can't hear. And everything would be fine!
But then at one point I sat on the dock (with my aids on) while everyone else swam and I was listening to what everyone was saying. And at one point this guy was talking to us (me and zoe) and zoe was explaing to him about my hearing...and suprisingly he was realy accepting of it! All my life I have tried to keep my hearing as much of a secret as I could becuase I was too embarresed of what people would think of me. But this weekend I was so suprised and it felt so good to be able to tell people and they don't treat me differently! Everyone was really nice and treid to help me with whatever we were doing in the water.
I don't know what I was thinking on how poeple felt about my hearing! I wish I had expeirenced this earlier in my life. Becuase now I feel like I can come out of my "shell", you know? It felt sooo good to be able to swim and hang out with a bunch of friends and knowing that they all know about my hearing and they have no problem with it!
Gosh, this feels great!! : )
But the main thing I really wanted to share was about the swimming, I've never been much of a swimmer and I always tried to avoid swimming with a bunch of people as much as I could. And the reason being was my hearing. I was to embarresed and almost scared to swim with a bunch of people. I was always worried about missing what people would be saying. I don't lip read and I don't do sign so its kind of hard and wierd to swim with a bunch of people. And plus the fact, I always felt wierd just sitting there while everyone else was having a great time chatting and playing games. But for the first time, I actually swam with a whole group of people! It was alot easier than I thought it would be!
My best friend Zoe was there too, so she kind of stuck by my side to help with what people were saying and kind of guide me to where we were all going, etc. And when ever people would start talking to me while I'm in the water (which would be quite often) zoe would explain to them that I can't hear. And everything would be fine!
But then at one point I sat on the dock (with my aids on) while everyone else swam and I was listening to what everyone was saying. And at one point this guy was talking to us (me and zoe) and zoe was explaing to him about my hearing...and suprisingly he was realy accepting of it! All my life I have tried to keep my hearing as much of a secret as I could becuase I was too embarresed of what people would think of me. But this weekend I was so suprised and it felt so good to be able to tell people and they don't treat me differently! Everyone was really nice and treid to help me with whatever we were doing in the water.
I don't know what I was thinking on how poeple felt about my hearing! I wish I had expeirenced this earlier in my life. Becuase now I feel like I can come out of my "shell", you know? It felt sooo good to be able to swim and hang out with a bunch of friends and knowing that they all know about my hearing and they have no problem with it!
Gosh, this feels great!! : )
June 28, 2006
Remapping
The other day I got remapped!
I've been needing it for awhile but I've been dreading it because its usually a pain to do it! But I decided that it was time and I need to add some "tweaks" to it because I wasn't really hearing as good as I usually was. : (
So anyways...I went to a new audiologist and we did all the programming we needed. First I had to say weather or not the beeping I heard was comfortable or not. Then I had to compare between two different beeps to try to "levalize" them. That part was hard because sometimes you had to compare between a low pitch beep and a high pitch beep...And we all know the high pitch beep would seem louder!! But I had to try to levalize them, so my hearing would be all leveled and not all over the place. (???)
So after all that annoying and pain-in-the-butt beeps (no offense to those audiologists reading this)...I finally got it to where I like it!! Everything sounded really clear and it was comfortable and I was finally really really happy with what I was hearing!
Then after that, we added some settings to the other programs. Rene (my audiologist) said that since you have 3 programs to switch to, you should use them! So I thought, what the heck...I'll give it a try! I don't normally switch around to different programs because I like to just put it on in the morning and not have to worry about changing any programs...I've always been like that, even with my hearing aids! But anyways, we put the regular setting on the first program, we put a setting the turns down the background on the second program, and on the third program we put a setting that's really loud - that's apparently really good for music and trying to get everything like in a library.
My Programs:
P1 = 60 - normal
P2 = 50 - noisy places
P3 = 80 - try for music, libarys, etc.
Then we put me in a sound booth and tested to see what all I was actually hearing with my new settings. And it turns out that I was actually doing really well!!! I didn't think I was going to do all that great because I've been wearing my hearing aid, but I guess it really doesn't matter!
My Testing Results:
55 Quiet 94%
45/55 +10 Noise 77%
65 Quiet 100%
So now, I've been wearing only my implant a lot more. I've been more comfortable with it! I mean its still weird not getting any sounds out of my left ear but that'll take time to get used to for anyone! So yeah....I'm happy!! I can finally go without my hearing aid!!! YAY!
So I guess its a good thing to get remapped!! haha
I've been needing it for awhile but I've been dreading it because its usually a pain to do it! But I decided that it was time and I need to add some "tweaks" to it because I wasn't really hearing as good as I usually was. : (
So anyways...I went to a new audiologist and we did all the programming we needed. First I had to say weather or not the beeping I heard was comfortable or not. Then I had to compare between two different beeps to try to "levalize" them. That part was hard because sometimes you had to compare between a low pitch beep and a high pitch beep...And we all know the high pitch beep would seem louder!! But I had to try to levalize them, so my hearing would be all leveled and not all over the place. (???)
So after all that annoying and pain-in-the-butt beeps (no offense to those audiologists reading this)...I finally got it to where I like it!! Everything sounded really clear and it was comfortable and I was finally really really happy with what I was hearing!
Then after that, we added some settings to the other programs. Rene (my audiologist) said that since you have 3 programs to switch to, you should use them! So I thought, what the heck...I'll give it a try! I don't normally switch around to different programs because I like to just put it on in the morning and not have to worry about changing any programs...I've always been like that, even with my hearing aids! But anyways, we put the regular setting on the first program, we put a setting the turns down the background on the second program, and on the third program we put a setting that's really loud - that's apparently really good for music and trying to get everything like in a library.
My Programs:
P1 = 60 - normal
P2 = 50 - noisy places
P3 = 80 - try for music, libarys, etc.
Then we put me in a sound booth and tested to see what all I was actually hearing with my new settings. And it turns out that I was actually doing really well!!! I didn't think I was going to do all that great because I've been wearing my hearing aid, but I guess it really doesn't matter!
My Testing Results:
55 Quiet 94%
45/55 +10 Noise 77%
65 Quiet 100%
So now, I've been wearing only my implant a lot more. I've been more comfortable with it! I mean its still weird not getting any sounds out of my left ear but that'll take time to get used to for anyone! So yeah....I'm happy!! I can finally go without my hearing aid!!! YAY!
So I guess its a good thing to get remapped!! haha
June 19, 2006
Troop Cruise
I got back from a cruise with my Girl Scout Troop!! It was alot of fun! I did a bunch of things I've never done before! : ) To me, the highlight of the cruise was the Deck Party, Snorkling, and the Theater!!!
Well first of all....one of the nights, they have a deck party and for the first time....I actually danced to "fast" music. I'm not much of a dancer to start with but since I could here it and I could alctually hear the rythem...I got to dance!! YAY! I danced till 1 in the morning (non stop) YAY ME!! 
Then I went snorkling...now, going in the water in public was never a big thing for me becuase I was too afraid that I wouldn't hear anyone or I'd miss something someone said. But I actually went snorkling with my troop leader, and I gotta say it was AWESOME!! I was sooo glad I went!! 
Then after dinner, we would all go to the theater...we had comedians for 2 of the nights and I heard everything they said!! Gosh, they were hilarious!! haha, I don't think I've ever enjoyed a show like I did there!! And on the other nights...we had musicals. And I heard everything they were saying!!! : D But yeah...those were the highlights of the cruise!! But in case if you were wondering, we went on a 5 day cruise down to the bahamas to see Grand Turk, Nassau, and Half Moon Key (my favorite island!!)
May 9, 2006
Questions and Answers...
I’ve had some questions about the last post on my hair and the implant, so I thought it might be best if I answered them on here…
Question: Do you wear your implant on top of your hair or underneath it??
Answer: Me personally wear it underneath. When I wear my hair up I try to put it underneath but there have been times, where I would have to put it on top due to the hairstyle (ex. Pigtails or a Ponytail). But when I wear my hair down…its always underneath. I have seen people wear both ways, so I guess it really depends on your preference and your hair!
Question: Do people see it more easily than a hearing aid?
Answer: On me…no, if anything they notice the hearing aid more than the implant! I think a lot of people think that your implant is probably some new technology for listening to music or one of those “blue tooth” things that you see people wearing for their cell phones. And I say this because I know that almost every time we get in an elevator somebody asks Jonathan what he’s listening to…because they see the implant and assume that its like an MP3 player or something. But then that’s when we tell them what it is and what its for and they think its pretty cool and amazing that we can hear and talk even though we are deaf!! : )
I hope that helps a little bit...and if you have any other questions - ASK ME! I love answering questions that anyone has!! : )
Question: Do you wear your implant on top of your hair or underneath it??
Answer: Me personally wear it underneath. When I wear my hair up I try to put it underneath but there have been times, where I would have to put it on top due to the hairstyle (ex. Pigtails or a Ponytail). But when I wear my hair down…its always underneath. I have seen people wear both ways, so I guess it really depends on your preference and your hair!
Question: Do people see it more easily than a hearing aid?
Answer: On me…no, if anything they notice the hearing aid more than the implant! I think a lot of people think that your implant is probably some new technology for listening to music or one of those “blue tooth” things that you see people wearing for their cell phones. And I say this because I know that almost every time we get in an elevator somebody asks Jonathan what he’s listening to…because they see the implant and assume that its like an MP3 player or something. But then that’s when we tell them what it is and what its for and they think its pretty cool and amazing that we can hear and talk even though we are deaf!! : )
I hope that helps a little bit...and if you have any other questions - ASK ME! I love answering questions that anyone has!! : )
April 18, 2006
Wearing My Hair Up....FINALLY!!! hehe : )
Well today was the first day I wore my hair up to school since I got the implant!! I never did, becuase I was too afraid of what people would say. And plus, I wasn't sure what was going to happen for when my battery dies...beacuse when it dies, I take the implant off and change the battery. But if my hair is up...then I was afraid I was going to mess up me hair when I take it off!! : / But since the school is re-doing their air conditioning systems....its like "boiling" in the school!!! : ) So I wore my hair up to keep me cool! YAY!
I was kind of nervous and hesitent to wear it up, but I decided it was time to just let everyone see it and just accept what they say.
But as it comes to my shock...nobody said anything!! : D Well except when I was in the bathroom washing my hands...this girl was staring at my head. So I'm thinking she was looking at my hearing aid. hahaha. But I didn't say anything...I just kept on going! hehe : )
But yeah...Its a big differnce between the hearing aid and the cochlear implant!! And my golly...I gotta say, the implant is ALOT nicer looking than the hearing aid and plus the fact...you can color match!!!!! hehe : )
Hearing Aid (pic. 1) AB Cochlear Implant (pic. 2)
April 14, 2006
April 14, 2006
WOW....its been awhile!! Sorry about that!! I guess I aught to post, huh??
Well lets see, alots been going on...but first things first, my implant is doing great! I can hear everything with it and it sounds normal! And I absolutly love having the implant...and I gotta say that the main think that I like about it is the Direct Connect! I love listening to music now because I don't have to worry about it being too loud for every one else!! hehe.
Then not too long ago, I was in a photo Shoot for Advanced Bionics! That was fun! I wasn't looking forward to it in the beginning becuase I didn't know what to expect but it actually turned out to be quite interesting!! This photographer (Gill-spelling?) went camping with us over spring break to take pictures of us doing things like canoeing, talking on the cell phone, listening to music, making a fire, grilling, etc. so I hope he got some good pictures. I hope we can get coppies, that would be cool! And who knows...maybe you'll see me or my brother in an Advanced Bionics Flier. Coolies!!
Oh, and another thing....I got asked to my first Prom!! YAY! I was really shocked though, becuase I thought I was never going to get asked out or that I wasn't going to hear a guy asking me out becuase of my hearing!!! And I never thought a guy would want to date a deaf girl...but it turns out that I was wrong! haha And it makes me feel good becuase of all that time of worrying, it was really all for nothing! But yeah, the Prom is next weekend and I'm kind of nervous becuase I don't know how the music will sound to me. I went to a Homecoming dance and it was kind of like a bunch of noise....but I hope I'll be able to hear a little bit of the beats and the rythem this time. But I'll make sure I post to let you know. : )
So to all you girls waiting to be asked out...it will happen!! hehe And I guess this proves that the world really doesn't care about you being deaf!! They just think its cool that you can hear them!! : )
Well lets see, alots been going on...but first things first, my implant is doing great! I can hear everything with it and it sounds normal! And I absolutly love having the implant...and I gotta say that the main think that I like about it is the Direct Connect! I love listening to music now because I don't have to worry about it being too loud for every one else!! hehe.
Then not too long ago, I was in a photo Shoot for Advanced Bionics! That was fun! I wasn't looking forward to it in the beginning becuase I didn't know what to expect but it actually turned out to be quite interesting!! This photographer (Gill-spelling?) went camping with us over spring break to take pictures of us doing things like canoeing, talking on the cell phone, listening to music, making a fire, grilling, etc. so I hope he got some good pictures. I hope we can get coppies, that would be cool! And who knows...maybe you'll see me or my brother in an Advanced Bionics Flier. Coolies!!
Oh, and another thing....I got asked to my first Prom!! YAY! I was really shocked though, becuase I thought I was never going to get asked out or that I wasn't going to hear a guy asking me out becuase of my hearing!!! And I never thought a guy would want to date a deaf girl...but it turns out that I was wrong! haha And it makes me feel good becuase of all that time of worrying, it was really all for nothing! But yeah, the Prom is next weekend and I'm kind of nervous becuase I don't know how the music will sound to me. I went to a Homecoming dance and it was kind of like a bunch of noise....but I hope I'll be able to hear a little bit of the beats and the rythem this time. But I'll make sure I post to let you know. : )
So to all you girls waiting to be asked out...it will happen!! hehe And I guess this proves that the world really doesn't care about you being deaf!! They just think its cool that you can hear them!! : )
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