Current Events > My cochlear implant was turned on today.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Every possible noise from every possible source no matter what it is sounds like R2D2. Could be two weeks until I hear English again, could be two months.

I despise this. Knew it was coming and was really hoping I would be one of the chosen that could at least understand and hear English immediately but I am not chosen. Im terrified, I go back to work on Tuesday.

So does your brain have to learn how to interpret the signals or something? And once you do, will it sound normal or will it always sound weird?

Damn, that's wild. Good luck?

How amazing, and terrifying. Keep us updated on your progress!

Embrace your time as a droid.

I really hope this all works out well for you TC. As I have posted here before, I am an attorney with a non-profit that provides free legal services for individuals with disabilities. I know a lot of folks personally who have had their lives very positively changed by this technology, and I have arranged presentations about cochlear implants for our state and national conferences back when it was newer technology.

I know it will take some time, but I have high hopes that you will be one of the many, many people who gets lots of benefit from this. My warmest regards and best wishes to you.

Fascinating read for anyone who wants to learn more.

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/cochlear-implants

boomgetchopped3 posted...

So does your brain have to learn how to interpret the signals or something? And once you do, will it sound normal or will it always sound weird?

Yes I gave to relearn the English language. Its been described as a kid who grows up in a foreign language household but lives in America. So they listen to their parents speaking their home language and then always respond in English.

FolkenRawr posted...

Damn, that's wild. Good luck?

ItsNotA2Mer posted...

How amazing, and terrifying. Keep us updated on your progress!

Thanks.
divot1338 posted...

Embrace your time as a droid.

Not funny bro.
Westernwolf4 posted...

I really hope this all works out well for you TC. As I have posted here before, I am an attorney with a non-profit that provides free legal services for individuals with disabilities. I know a lot of folks personally who have had their lives very positively changed by this technology, and I have arranged presentations about cochlear implants for our state and national conferences back when it was newer technology.

I know it will take some time, but I have high hopes that you will be one of the many, many people who gets lots of benefit from this. My warmest regards and best wishes to you.

Thanks.

the idea you have to relearn how to understand your language from the sounds you hear is crazy to me.

good luck, man.

Im starting to hear words. Finally. Still high pitched AS fuck but in English.

when from r2d2 speak to Mickey Mouse and chipmunks on a lethal amount of nitrogen gas so its the highest pitch Ive ever heard but at least its English. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life but its improved so much in a day.

for those that wanted an update.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Im starting to hear words. Finally. Still high pitched AS fuck but in English.

when from r2d2 speak to Mickey Mouse and chipmunks on a lethal amount of nitrogen gas so its the highest pitch Ive ever heard but at least its English. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life but its improved so much in a day.

for those that wanted an update.

That's great. Hope it continues to improve for you!

Makeveli_lives posted...

Im starting to hear words. Finally. Still high pitched AS fuck but in English.

when from r2d2 speak to Mickey Mouse and chipmunks on a lethal amount of nitrogen gas so its the highest pitch Ive ever heard but at least its English. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life but its improved so much in a day.

for those that wanted an update.

Does it help if you listen to a podcast or something?

Just immerse yourself in spoken word as much as you can manage.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Im starting to hear words. Finally. Still high pitched AS fuck but in English.

when from r2d2 speak to Mickey Mouse and chipmunks on a lethal amount of nitrogen gas so its the highest pitch Ive ever heard but at least its English. Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life but its improved so much in a day.

for those that wanted an update.

I know it sucks, but it's fascinating to see how people adapt and "relearn" their neural inputs and what it "sounds" like to them. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I'm glad for the perspective and to learn about it. It'll help me understand my patients more if I ever come across someone with cochlear implants what they must've gone through.

I'm glad you're starting to hear english. Hopefully the pitch gets adjusted in your head again.

badjay posted...

I know it sucks, but it's fascinating to see how people adapt and "relearn" their neural inputs and what it "sounds" like to them. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I'm glad for the perspective and to learn about it. It'll help me understand my patients more if I ever come across someone with cochlear implants what they must've gone through.

I'm glad you're starting to hear english. Hopefully the pitch gets adjusted in your head again.

I can feel it going better. I love Tupac so I played my favorite song Smile three times in a row before moving on.

First verse was terrible, Scarface was fine, third verse Pac sounded normal. On replay pac fixed himself in the middle of the first and the rest improved. Third time it was normalish. Cant tell if Im playing it in my head and thats taking over or Im actually understanding it better.

Deep voices is definitely the move. Toni Braxton is the first song I understood completely from beginning to end despite it being high pitched the entire time.

Did you always have hearing problems or is this acquired hearing loss? Hope you get better TC

I hope it keeps getting better and better <3

Ballads sung by an artist with a deep voice, like Toni Braxton who you mentioned, might be best right now?

Incredible posted...

Did you always have hearing problems or is this acquired hearing loss? Hope you get better TC

Born this way supposedly.

BalanceLost posted...

I hope it keeps getting better and better <3

Ballads sung by an artist with a deep voice, like Toni Braxton who you mentioned, might be best right now?

Shes the deepest voice I had in my playlist where I listened to it a bunch before the surgery so for me yes.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Born this way supposedly.

so there were always problems, but they just went undetected until later on?

Incredible posted...

so you just never had implants until now? did your hearing seem fine before and then it just turned out there were always problems later on

I had hearing aids since I was 4.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I had hearing aids since I was 4.

oh i see, sorry for misunderstanding.

This topic made me realize that I never actually knew how cochlear implants work. Hope it continues to get better for you too.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Shes the deepest voice I had in my playlist where I listened to it a bunch before the surgery so for me yes.

I dunno if her voice is deep enough but maybe

https://youtu.be/F4I3TpSq5_k?si=F8sGftx1hXuPDy7q

Makeveli_lives posted...

I can feel it going better. I love Tupac so I played my favorite song Smile three times in a row before moving on.

First verse was terrible, Scarface was fine, third verse Pac sounded normal. On replay pac fixed himself in the middle of the first and the rest improved. Third time it was normalish. Cant tell if Im playing it in my head and thats taking over or Im actually understanding it better.

Deep voices is definitely the move. Toni Braxton is the first song I understood completely from beginning to end despite it being high pitched the entire time.

I'm happy that you were able to find something to help you calibrate faster. I remember your first post saying you were hoping to be the one and it worked quickly for you. But it seems it worked out for you really quickly and you'll probably have it resolved by Tuesday. It's kind of crazy to see how an adult can adapt so quickly honestly.

badjay posted...

I'm happy that you were able to find something to help you calibrate faster. I remember your first post saying you were hoping to be the one and it worked quickly for you. But it seems it worked out for you really quickly and you'll probably have it resolved by Tuesday. It's kind of crazy to see how an adult can adapt so quickly honestly.

No way my hearing goes back to normal by Tuesday.

Makeveli_lives posted...

No way my hearing goes back to normal by Tuesday.

Sorry about that, but at least workable somewhat. It seems if you have a recollection of what things should sound like your brain pieces it together quickly. Maybe the work day might help with knowing how your coworkers should sound, you'll be able to adapt faster. But I don't know enough about these things. I really do wish you the best.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I had hearing aids since I was 4.

I'm a bit ignorant on this topic, but what are the benefit to the implants vs continuing to use hearing aids?

It's great to hear you're making progress, (no pun intended). I try to put myself in your shoes, and I just imagine how terrifying it must be to feel like you're being assaulted aurally.
Keep us updated please.

emblem-man posted...

I'm a bit ignorant on this topic, but what are the benefit to the implants vs continuing to use hearing aids?

Hearing aids amplify sound so what remains of your natural hearing can pick up whats amplified, cochlear implants override your natural hearing entirely to bypass it and replace it with something perceived as sound.

https://youtu.be/8Yr3jR6QTpA?si=2Eu2uguTh4rRooZS

impossible to effectively explain honestly.

ItsNotA2Mer posted...

It's great to hear you're making progress, (no pun intended). I try to put myself in your shoes, and I just imagine how terrifying it must be to feel like you're being assaulted aurally.
Keep us updated please.

I understood a few words of a mint commercial on YouTube that didnt have captions.

I apologize in advance for this question, but you said everything sounded like r2d2, so I have to ask have you tried listening to r2d2 in Star Wars to see how it reacts?

Mistere_Man posted...

I apologize in advance for this question, but you said everything sounded like r2d2, so I have to ask have you tried listening to r2d2 in Star Wars to see how it reacts?

No. Implant works by deciphering speech so I'll only show improvement listening to speech at the moment. Music I can do if I recognize it.

Makeveli_lives posted...

No. Implant works by deciphering speech so I'll only show improvement listening to speech at the moment. Music I can do if I recognize it.

Again I apologize. I just thought it could be interesting if it translated r2s beeps into words, and could only imagine what it would think they were. I meant no disrespect in my question.

Mistere_Man posted...

Again I apologize. I just thought it could be interesting if it translated r2s beeps into words, and could only imagine what it would think they were. I meant no disrespect in my question.

I didn't take it as disrespect.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I didn't take it as disrespect.

I figured, it was more a just in case thing honestly.

Makeveli_lives posted...

Yes I gave to relearn the English language. Its been described as a kid who grows up in a foreign language household but lives in America. So they listen to their parents speaking their home language and then always respond in English.

This concept is tripping me out. Language processing in the brain is fascinating.

Makeveli_lives posted...

I understood a few words of a mint commercial on YouTube that didnt have captions.

That is awesome!!!

Getting better every day.

I can now hear the first minute or so of this song before the extra instrumentals kick in.

https://youtu.be/hwT3sngWtsY?si=WZKkaWZy_XjqQ-iX