One Week after Switch On
By Gill Pickford
I went back for another mapping on 20th December. One week post op. I also had some tests. These were pre-op and post-op tests to compare.
I had to sit in front of a screen and listen to a man's voice while watching his face on the screen. Before the implant I scored 28%, post implant I scored 93%!
With no screen to look at and just sentences read aloud I scored 67% having only got 11% pre-implant.
My audiologist said I did very well considering it is only a week since switch on.
It is sounding less electronic now. I have given up using my hearing aid on my non-implanted side as I was still listening with this mostly and ignoring my implanted side.I have to retrain my brain to listen via the left side.
These are the things I have heard in the first week.
Match of the Day theme tune on the TV
My dishwasher and tumble dryer beeping when finished
My mobile phone ringing
Our landline phone when ringing
The car indicator clicking
I listened to a 1571 message on the phone from my Mum and I heard every word she said.
My children having been brought up in the area of North Manchester have a very broad accent I had not heard before.The way my youngest daughter says "Mummy" is so different.
I can hear the microwave ping.
The list goes on......!
Gill Pickford had normal hearing until about 10 to 12 years ago. It gradually declined until, four years ago, she became profoundly deaf. Gill has just had a cochlear implant and will be updating her diary as she makes progress
