The week went well on B 4, no issues with feedback or noises being too loud (other than the hair dryer). I decided to skip B 5 and turned up the Esteem to C 1 on Saturday morning. It sounds so great! However it's starting to make me realize just how poor of a quality sound my hearing aids have given me! I still wear the hearing aid in my left ear and the sound and volume of sound is so inferior to the right ear now. And just think, I have more levels to increase the quality too!
My hubby and I went to a semi-pro hockey game last night and to a bar for a drink before and both environments were WAY to loud and confusing for my right ear. I ended up turning the Esteem down to B 1 and was surprised to find it filtered out much, if not most of the background noise! Seeing that I didn't spend much time in the B profile (6 days) I was pleased that B was able to make the evening tolerable. But there were still moments where I needed to plug my right ear during the hockey game because it was just too loud. I remember Michelle telling me that for sporting events and concerts I'd probably have to turn down the implant. She be right:) We rode to the game with another couple and we sat in the back seat. Sad to say I still have trouble hearing what they were saying if they were facing the front of the vehicle. Must be the road noise in the car is still just too much background noise.
I'm back to C 1 now, and am happy with it. I finished my course of antihistamine/decongestants and think the majority of the fluid is down for now. I'll take more again if I need to. I'm sure I'll have a few more "bad hearing" days.
I still have tinnitis too, I guess it isn't going to go away. Most days it doesn't bother me any more than usual though.
What is truly amazing to me, is that I have been turning the TV down to much lower volumes than I've ever been able to hear it! My usual volume setting was 40-50 and now I'm able to set it at around 25-30!! And I understand the majority of what's being said!
Having the Esteem has been the coolest thing. I'm so happy at the comfort and ease of it vs a hearing aid. I still have moments where I forget I don't have an aid in my ear and when I get in the shower I panic for a minute thinking I'm getting it wet or when I'm in bed, I reach to my right ear to take out my aid for sleep and it's not there:)
I'm liking this normal hearing thing!
How many letters are there? Is it A1-5 then B1-5, ect? Is it just louder or does it do something else? How do you find the remote? How big is it?
ReplyDeleteAdam
Hey Adam, yes, A 1-5, B 1-5, C 1-5 and that's it. Then the next step I'm told is another adjustment with my Envoy engineer to set programs specifically unique to me (how they determine this though I don't know). The sound of each profile (A, B, C) is different. Hard to explain but yes, somewhat louder, and I think B is meant for noisy situations and C maybe for everyday normal? C is definately louder and clearer. I think A is quite a lot like the hearing aid level but clearer and more natural.
ReplyDeleteI'll try to remember to post a picture of the remote on the blog, but it's not much bigger than a cell phone. However, the thing will cost $500 to replace if I break it or lose it!! So it has become a prized possession now:)