The Latest and Greatest

Friday I activated my new processor, the Advanced Bionics Naida. Well, the audiologist activated it. Actually, AB sent their clinical specialist to assist my audiologist since this product is new to the market.

The Naida shipped last week to my house. I've been looking at it and yearning to wear it for a week before I was actually scheduled to have it programmed. I've dreamed about amazing hearing. I've heard only positive comments about the "new, sleek design." I had very high expectations.

I am new to the cochlear implant community. I've only been activated for 7 weeks. In that time, I've been very fortunate. I have amazing hearing at this point. I have absolutely loved the processor I received at initial activation, the AB Neptune. The Neptune clips to clothing, hair, undergarments, etc..and there's a cable that goes to the magnet implanted in my head. I can't feel it when I wear it.

The activation began with switching the operating system (like upgrading an iPhone), which uses far less battery. This system is called Optima. It made sound a little sharper and crisper right off the bat. However, I'd been bothered by reverberating sounds. Here's the tricky part: people who are hearing something in their head have a hard time communicating what that sound is to someone who can't hear it in theirs. The sound I hear is kind of like talking into a cup or barrel. It doesn't interfere with comprehension, but it's annoying. So, we tried to figure out where it was coming from and eradicate it. It seemed as though nothing really made a lot of difference. "Is this better? What about this? This?" Ugh...was like the eye doctor, "A or B? B or A??" I wanted to scream, "Just fix it!!" But it's much more complicated than that. I had to remind myself (often) that hearing with a cochlear implant is going to sound different than "normal" hearing...and maybe the little buzz on the words was just part of it. Ever onward.

The Naida holds 5 programs. I had to decide what to add. My every day program is called "clear voice medium." It helps filter out background noise. As a teacher, I live in a world of background noise, so this program is great for me. I added a program for music, one for extra noisy background, and one that zooms in on the speaker (called UltraZoom). I have also have a program that works when the processor ear piece is disengaged.

So, I get all programmed and am ready to be in love with this new technology. Except I'm not. I'm stressed from the buzzing. I'm stressed from too much programming. I'm stressed from the new feel. Many people I know with CIs are not going from the Neptune to the Naida; they are moving from the Harmony--a large behind the ear processor. To them, the Naida is tiny and oh-so-much lighter. To me, it's weight on my ear. It's far larger than the hearing aid I wore prior to surgery.

Driving home, I am not a happy camper. I am not sure about the programs. I struggled to set up the blue tooth device for good sound quality. I'm sitting on 285 in Atlanta at 5 PM rush hour AND I'm hungry. So like any passenger who wants to disengage from the snarl of traffic, I check my email. Oh great..someone who I asked a simple question to says, "call me." I'm deaf: I hate phones. Oh wait...I have a CI now...I can use a phone (I keep forgetting). So I call her, using the Naida, which has a microphone by my ear and I hold the phone like a normal person and have a normal phone conversation with someone who didn't know I was deaf (and didn't know after the conversation, either). Hmmm.

But I'm still crabby. I get home and eat (at least that is solved easily). It's only 7 PM, but I collapse on the couch. I take off the processor. I am on noise overload. Leave.Me.Alone. I am soon asleep. Tomorrow is another day...I will start fresh with a better attitude.

I put the Naida on in the morning and go about my Saturday. I have a nice chat with my dad on the phone (without looking at the captions). I talk to my husband. I hear some obnoxious noise...no idea what it is...go outside..it's a crazy bird squawking in my tree. Wow. It's raining...I stand outside and enjoy the sound of that. This is good stuff!

I wrote a book last year. I love my co-author, but haven't seen her in months. We arranged to meet at Mimi's for lunch. She arrives and it's mobbed. She suggests we go someplace less crowded so we can chat...she knows how I struggle (and face it, it's exhausting for hearing people to repeat themselves 3X). I told her I had this new processor and we had to try it out in noise, so we should stay. Then I switched to UltraZoom. Perhaps I should call it "super, amazing UltraZoom."

Debbie and I at West Point for our book signing.

My friend and I sat and had a long chat over our leisurely lunch. I looked her in the eye the whole time (not the mouth as before to facilitate lip reading). She commented that she hadn't had to repeat herself once. How do you put into words the joy of casual conversation between two friends? This is what I've missed with my hearing loss...and this is what I've gotten back. What a gift!

So what is the point of the ridiculously long blog? (And thank you if you're still reading at this point). There are several:

• Even the most ardent CI fan is going to have an adjustment period to any programming.
• If you're going from the Neptune to the Naida, it's going to take some getting used to having anything on your ear.
• Many people who are considering CI are watching and listening to those of us who have them. We need to be "real," and share both our joys and struggles. 
• It's not just a bunch of hype: the Naida is an amazing processor.
• I don't want to start a brand war, but AB rocks!

Thanks for reading about my hearing journey! I'd love to hear from you--and am happy to supply any details, just in case this wasn't detailed enough for you! Please leave me a comment below...bloggers love comments!