I have now been wearing my hearing aid along with my CI and have been surprised to find that I like it!  I was worried that it would feel like a step backwards and be distorted, but that was not the case.  I didn’t really notice much (if any) distortion when I added it.  What I did notice was that for the first time in several years, I was hearing in stereo!  Even before the worst of my hearing loss, I was only using one ear (the other was considered unaidable) and so I didn’t even notice that aspect of it when I began with my CI and again was only using one ear.  It was obvious immediately that I had input from both sides.   Things sounded a little bit echoey and slightly deeper than the CI alone.  If you remember, one of the things I noted early on with the CI was that things were higher pitched (in higher tones?  I’m not sure which applies here).  The hearing aid is giving me a little bit of input at a more normal pitch or tone.  I also noticed that things sounded much louder!  It really didn’t take much adjusting at all.  After a day or two, the volume seemed fine, I was no longer conscious of the “stereo” input and no longer noticed any echoing.  I knew it was going well when I left my hearing aid off for a while (to allow my ear canal to dry out thoroughly after swimming) and it was noticeable to me that I was only hearing on one side.  I didn’t like it and when my husband started talking to me, I had him wait until I got the hearing aid back on again!  I can hardly believe that I felt like that after only 4 days.  I can tell that wearing both is helping me hear more of the songs we sing in church.  It sounds close enough to normal for me that I nearly cried the first time.  I know it is still distorted because I am unable to figure out or follow a tune when the song is one I don’t know, but if it is one I am familiar with, it sounds pretty good!  I am so thankful for this, and I can sing, too!  I honestly didn’t know if I would ever be able to sing along again.  It is so wonderful!  I am still hopeful that I will qualify for the second implant when they test me in June.  I can only imagine how great it would be to have as much input in the left ear as I do in the right with the CI.  I imagine it would be pretty close to having my hearing back.  Compared to where I was, I already feel like I am almost there.  Not quite, but almost.  

I attended a meeting today with the Cochlear Implant Social Group.  The aural therapist I saw recommended that I give it a try, and I am glad I did.  There was a 2 hour meeting today and I went alone.  I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but there were about 15-20 people there (a guess) and we sat in a circle.  We went around the circle and had each person give their name and briefly tell their story about their hearing loss and implant.  Then we were supposed to tell what our “Aha” moment was when we were certain we wanted to have the CI surgery.  I really didn’t have an “Aha” moment, but it was really interesting to me to hear everyone’s story.  There were some who had been deaf since birth or a young age, and some who had sudden hearing loss similar to mine.  It was interesting to hear about specific experiences with using CIs and many people had tips about various aspects of them.  I was surprised to find that I recognized 4 or 5 faces there.  I had seen them or met them before at the HLAA meetings I attended in the past.  One of the women there had been a speaker at an HLAA meeting I went to and I had emailed her and she responded last year!  I enjoyed the time quite a bit and will try to attend again.  It was fun and interesting.  It was a group of people who really “get it.”  They’ve been down the road of losing or not having your hearing and all of the challenges you face and the obstacles to be overcome.  They’ve been through wearing hearing aids and the things that go along with that and they’ve been through the emotions and research that go into making the decision to have a cochlear implant, and then what it is actually like to adjust to it.  I found it interesting to hear about their experiences and people were also interested in hearing about mine.  It was a very friendly group and even though I went alone, I was comfortable with everyone fairly quickly.  One woman there had a story similar to mine with her hearing loss and was in the process of deciding whether to have the surgery.  I think she had pretty much made up her mind to do it already but I think hearing multiple people say that it was one of the best things they had ever done or that they wish they had done it earlier gave her a little more peace of mind about her decision.  The truth is that when you reach the level of hearing loss required to qualify for CIs you don’t have all that much (if anything) to lose.  

It was a good day and I am once again happy and thankful for the progress I am making with the new changes this week.  I also am happy to report that I am once again able to teach a Sunday morning Bible class!  That has really been a joy as well!

  Today I had an appointment at the audiology clinic.  We did my 3 month testing to see how much my ability to hear and understand has improved since surgery.  I am happy to report that I did very well on all of it!  The first test was one where I indicated when I heard beeps and static noises.  I scored in the “normal” range of hearing on that test.  My audiologist said the goal is to try to get CI users in the “mild hearing loss” range or better.  I did better!  Next test was a word test.  I repeated a list of words that were read to me on a recording.  Prior to surgery, I scored an 8% on that test.  Today, I scored 76%.  That is way above average for CI users (I believe she said on this test average is 50%).  She was very happy with that result.  The last test we did was a sentence test.  When you have more context, it is easier to “fill in the gaps” and figure out what is being said.  Again, this test is one where I am to repeat sentences that have been read to me on a recording.  Before surgery, my score on this test was 9% with the same ear.  Today it was 98%!!!  Wow!!!!  So exciting!  Pre-surgery, when I was tested with both ears together with hearing aids (the best possible situation for my hearing/understanding at that point) I scored a 32% on the sentence test.  Talk about a dramatic improvement!!!!  I am so thankful and happy with the results!  This surgery has made such a huge difference in my daily life!  

I spoke with the audiologist about how I almost forget that I have hearing problems sometimes, but I still do have difficulties in some specific situations.  She told me that is quite normal.  Even though I am doing extremely well and way above average in my progress, I still am a person who is hard of hearing and I will likely always have difficulty hearing and understanding in certain situations.  It is sooooooo much better than it was, though.  

I knew that today would be the day that she told me I needed to start wearing my hearing aid on the other side again and that is what she said.  I dread it, even though it isn’t really that big of a deal.  It just feels like a step backwards because it will require some adjusting again – if you recall, the time I tried to use it a few weeks ago the sound was very distorted.  I trust my audiologist, however, and I know that she is the one with the expertise. She assured me that most people find that after an initial time of adjustment, the hearing aid adds to a CI user’s ability to hear rather than taking away from it.  She told me that it is important for me to wear it now along with the CI as much as possible (I am allowed to “ease” into wearing it full-time, bu the goal is to wear it full-time).  My next appointment is in June, and at that time we will be doing testing on both ears with and without the hearing aid on the left and it is important that I wear it now to give the most accurate results possible.  Seeing how I do with it will give us more information to make the decision about whether to have the second implant surgery this summer or not.  Right now, I can’t imagine a scenario where I would choose not to have it if I still qualify, but I guess it is possible.  I am doing so well with input only in one ear right now, that I think it will surprise me how much having any use of my other ear will add to my perceptions of sound and ability to function as close to normally as possible.  

In the end, if I never have any more improvement from where I am right now, I am incredibly thankful for God’s guidance and His hand in my success.  My prayer now is that He will guide me again as I consider the second procedure.  I believe that if I still qualify in June, then that will be a “yes” and if I don’t, it will be a “no.”  The testing will make it obvious what the best course of action will be.  

Thanks for checking in on me and taking an interest in my progress!  I am still encouraged every time I think about all of the prayers and support you all have given me!