Last week, during my visit to Roberta, my audiologist, she decided to run a short hearing test to see how much sound my ears can pick up at this point in time, one month after activation. A few minutes in the booth listening to tones emitted from a speaker, and then we were back in her office and she showed me the results.
See for yourself:
Audiogram, August 2008
OK, I know it’s not very clear, so I’ll explain a little. The decibels (measurement of loudness) run down the Y axis and the frequencies (relating to pitch) run along the X axis. The lightly shaded area at the top, between -10dB and 20dB, is considered to be the “normal” range.
Which, in short, means that according to this audiogram my ears are detecting sounds at what Roberta described as “nearly normal/very mild hearing loss” levels!
She then showed me an audiogram from a hearing test conducted during my cochlear implant assessment, in August 2007. See the difference?!
Audiogram, August 2007
I previously had a moderate loss at the very lowest frequencies, which rapidly dropped away to nothing at all in higher frequencies, including most frequencies necessary to understand speech.
Now, my ears are detecting sounds between about 20dB and 30dB on the graph, around or just under the levels of a person with normal hearing. I asked if it would get better over time, but Roberta indicated the 40dB area and said that is where most cochlear implantees are and didn’t seem to think there would be further improvement there for me (though that won’t stop me from hoping. ;-) ) She seemed to think it quite unusual that I’m able to detect the sounds I am just one month after activation.
The reality
Of course, all this doesn’t mean a lot in practical terms right now. My brain is still undergoing re-education, and it will take a while for my speech (and music) discernment to catch up with my actual hearing levels. But Roberta seems quite sure they will.
I’m rapt!
That is just so wonderful to ‘hear.’ Can’t wait to read more of your progress.
Very cool to see the actual audiograms – the “technical” artifact that shows progress has occurred. Can’t wait to catch up!
Oh, and regarding this:
This sounds like something we could all use :)
Vicki,
wow – what a difference… and around the same as a person with normal hearing – now that is amazing! And all that in a month!
I do believe its your positive attitude that helped you get there! And the unusual case that you are – who knows what your lovely brain can still learn :-)
Thanks for the update – and all the very best!
Hi Vicki
Your diagrams and values are encouraging and promising.
But I know diagrams does just show values, not telling anything about the situation, the person, personal feelings or moods behind.
Right now talking with someone must often appear like spoken to in a different language?! You hear/see her or him talking with you, but there is no real communicating possible right now.
Now this will change! It is just a matter of time and the will to succeed.
I’m sure your WILL to learn and change it is endless … Go for it!
Mac :-)
@Fiona — thanks for the good wishes!
@Derek — it will be wonderful to catch up with you again — if not at WDS, then at EOTW. Either way, it’s gunna happen — it’s been too long!
@Prisca — you are the sweetest. Thanks for being my cheer squad — you’re pretty darned amazing yourself.
@Mac — you’re absolutely right. I remember saying when you visited us in Perth that hearing (or not) was for me like listening to someone speak in a foreign language where you just recognise a word here or there, and sometimes you get the gist and other times you don’t… But yes, it will change for the better, and that’s the really exciting thing about it. :-)
You rock!
good result Vapour Vicks – same result as mine at switch on – it will get better over time