After last week's snafu with the processor, the people at NYU Med and Cochlear jumped through hoops and got my processor shipped out and squeezed me into the schedule on Wednesday. So, bright and early Weds morning I headed to the train station to make the long trek into NYC and across town
to NYU. The audiologist went through all of the instructions for the baha, including how to get the thing snapped onto my head (easier said than done, my friends!) After arming me with as much knowlege as possible, she sent me on my way with a warning to remove the device if I felt that the sensory input was too much at any point. She reminded me several times that my brain has had 3 years to get used to NOT hearing on that side, so it would need longer than 15 minutes to acclimate to the BAHA.
I am happy to say that I walked across town (about a mile on the noisy streets of NYC) to the train station and took the 2-hour train ride home without incident. Then, I insisted that Willie take me out for dinner just so that I could take the BAHA for a test drive in a restaurant situation.
I must say that this device is exceeding my expectations! It is really amazing how well it works! I find myself plugging my "good" ear at odd times during the day just so that I can hear things through the BAHA. The sound is different, quite tinny. But the kind of amazing thing is that as soon as my good ear kicks in, I don't hear the tinniness of the BAHA anymore. Had lunch with a group of friends yesterday and kept surrepticiously reaching up and blocking my good ear just so that I could revel in the sensation of hearing everyone from my digital ear. Very, very cool!
On the down side, my hair doesn't hide it quite as well as I would have liked, but what the hell. I went around with a half paralyzed face for quite a few months, so walking around with a Borg-like device snapped to the side of my head isn't such a big deal. If anyone has school-aged kids, I am the ULTIMATE Show-and-Tell prop.
So here are some pictures, for those of you who aren't acquainted with the baha... First shows the processor through my hair (I pulled my hair aside for this, usually it wouldn't show), the next gives you and idea as the size, compared to a US quarter, and the last is just another close look at my nifty digital ear...
Very sci-fi. But what the heck, beats being half deaf!!! Plus, it's a great party piece, and a good way to scare the kids. I want one.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, it would be fun to join the AN Borgs...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Debbi!!! Thank you for posting this - I am even more excited now!
ReplyDeleteI am happy and excited for you.
Sort of off subject, but not really ... How was the tinnitus after the AN? Worse, better? And how is it will the BAHA? My tinnitus is really horrible. I won't have a surgery date set until 3/9 at the earliest.
This is so exciting! I am forwarding this to JP so that he can also see. I am also curious about the tinnitus, sometimes it almost drives him crazy.
ReplyDeleteJoey and Lorri, I can't help much with the tinnitis question since I managed to escape that particular bit of fun. The key is to find an audiologist who has experience (the more the better) fitting baha processors. They can evaluate you for the baha based on hearing in your "good" ear, tinnitis, etc. What is cool about the evaluation is that you also get a small (and I do mean small) taste of what life will sound like with the baha. I am going to post some additional pictures of the processor along with an update either later today or tomorrow.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to email me (dbifulco@gmail.com) if you have other questions - or just post here.