It's been just about 3 weeks since my first adjustment and I thought I'd update a little. I don't like any of my settings. I don't find B or C useful at all, and I've tried them in just about every setting. I like A well enough but can only tolerate A 2. Anything higher and sound is too sharp or scratchy sounding. I think I'll definately need another adjustment. I think I could get by with A 2 but I want more since I know it's there.
Getting the right sound adjusted is frustrating. I always disliked having to get used to the way a new pair of HA's sounded because every pair is different with tone and quality. The Esteem adjustment is a lot like that.
I had to leave a restaurant earlier than I wanted to the other night because a Red Wings game was on and the bar tender turned it way up. No matter what setting I put my Esteem on it felt like it was blasting in my ear. I ended up plugging my ear for a little bit before finally giving up. But then two nights later, at a different restaurant, I was able to follow conversation very easily within a large group of people I was eating with and there was a large group (very noisy) at the table next to us! No game on a TV though. One of my dinner mates has a very heavy Indian accent too, and I was able to articulate everything being spoken even with my Esteem side facing away from him! And the person next to me kept having to ask ME what was being said! That was a first;) So things are progressing and improving too.
I also seem to notice hearing on the phone is not always linear and easy since the adjustment. I'm constantly playing with the volume of the phone I'm on, whereas before I didn't need to. Sometimes voices are too loud and therefore sound a little muffled and other times I think it sounds too quiet like I'm hearing out of my HA side. Oh well! That's what adjustments are for!
I'm still loving the Esteem. I know it's a work in progress and it will be exactly what I want it to be with more tweaking:)
*On a side note, I'm currently trying to get approved for an MRI for my hip (if you're interested in why, you can read about it here
I contacted an Envoy rep and he checked into it for me and on Envoys end they are still dealing with the FDA trial/approval. So Envoy can't allow me to get the MRI. Next step is to see if Dr. Seidman will say it is medically necessary and give my ortho surgeon the thumbs up. I'll post what the results are either way. I'm curious to see if the Esteem can withstand MRI but I definately don't want to be the guinea pig!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
First Adjustment
It was another exciting day involving my right implanted ear! I met not one, but two fellow Esteem patients. Loreen and Lisa were both activated today and Loreen sat with me through my adjustment so she could get a feel for her adjustment. We found out we have nearly identicle hearing loss and Esteem programs, so it was good for Loreen to see what to expect.
One really positive thing to write about is my incision. Dr. Seidman looked at it and says it's looking great and nothing to worry about. More than likely it's a suture working it's way out. So I'm not going to stress over this too much more.
So, on to the adjustment itself. Michelle (the Envoy engineer) was there again today and was her wonderful self! She really took her time with me to make sure I got the best programming possible for now. Although I didn't really receive any "gain" in strength of sound today (I'm told that will come as I continue to heal and have another adjustment) I can say the quality of my new programs is definately an improvement!
My voice sounds less plugged and doesn't feel/sound like it's booming inside my head now. Other's voices are also clearer. Michelle was able to eliminate most of the sharp/distorted sounds from the end of a lot of words when spoken, especially higher pitched sounds. But I notice some distortion still with music and high pitched voices. It's really noticable in my new C setting, which is for music and TV watching. I don't think I'll be using this setting much. I tried it while driving home and the radio still sounded fuzzy on high tones. The B setting is for noisy settings, and eliminates most background noise yet still allows enough power to pick up and follow conversation with your partner. I do like this setting and I'm sure it's going to be used a fair amount. But my A setting is now my everyday setting and so far it's pretty good! My swallowing and breathing noises don't sound hardly loud at all (yay!) and eating chips (my lunch for the drive home) didn't sound like fireworks going off in my head. I don't mind hearing myself talk either (at least not yet) as my voice doesn't sound as loud and RIGHT IN MY EAR anymore. It's pretty tolerable.
Hopefully this will solve my problem with my voice being too quiet for others when I speak, especially with my husband. I was given steps 1-5 again and I'm on either A 2 or 3 right now. I'll probably bump it up tomorrow after work once I get a feel for how it sounds there.
Michelle also went over my audiogram with me from baseline to today. I gained anywhere from 10-15 decibels in the majority of the hertz tests and my hearing out of the implanted ear is at the lower range of normal now! I think that's what she meant when she was explaining it to me. I am pretty happy with that, especially knowing I may be able to improve a little more.
Another notable today....she said more and more insurances are starting to pay for the surgery, so there is hope that this will be much more attainable for others, and for myself to get the left side done. Fingers double crossed!
One really positive thing to write about is my incision. Dr. Seidman looked at it and says it's looking great and nothing to worry about. More than likely it's a suture working it's way out. So I'm not going to stress over this too much more.
So, on to the adjustment itself. Michelle (the Envoy engineer) was there again today and was her wonderful self! She really took her time with me to make sure I got the best programming possible for now. Although I didn't really receive any "gain" in strength of sound today (I'm told that will come as I continue to heal and have another adjustment) I can say the quality of my new programs is definately an improvement!
My voice sounds less plugged and doesn't feel/sound like it's booming inside my head now. Other's voices are also clearer. Michelle was able to eliminate most of the sharp/distorted sounds from the end of a lot of words when spoken, especially higher pitched sounds. But I notice some distortion still with music and high pitched voices. It's really noticable in my new C setting, which is for music and TV watching. I don't think I'll be using this setting much. I tried it while driving home and the radio still sounded fuzzy on high tones. The B setting is for noisy settings, and eliminates most background noise yet still allows enough power to pick up and follow conversation with your partner. I do like this setting and I'm sure it's going to be used a fair amount. But my A setting is now my everyday setting and so far it's pretty good! My swallowing and breathing noises don't sound hardly loud at all (yay!) and eating chips (my lunch for the drive home) didn't sound like fireworks going off in my head. I don't mind hearing myself talk either (at least not yet) as my voice doesn't sound as loud and RIGHT IN MY EAR anymore. It's pretty tolerable.
Hopefully this will solve my problem with my voice being too quiet for others when I speak, especially with my husband. I was given steps 1-5 again and I'm on either A 2 or 3 right now. I'll probably bump it up tomorrow after work once I get a feel for how it sounds there.
Michelle also went over my audiogram with me from baseline to today. I gained anywhere from 10-15 decibels in the majority of the hertz tests and my hearing out of the implanted ear is at the lower range of normal now! I think that's what she meant when she was explaining it to me. I am pretty happy with that, especially knowing I may be able to improve a little more.
Another notable today....she said more and more insurances are starting to pay for the surgery, so there is hope that this will be much more attainable for others, and for myself to get the left side done. Fingers double crossed!
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