Carol services! - New C.I Moment!

Tonight, i'll be going to a Carol Service along with my family at a church near by tonight! Every year my family likes to go and I have always went with them.. Every year my mum has always booked an interpreter for that service. So, I wouldn't feel to much left out.

Everytime I went, when ever they sing, I used to get bored, I couldn't hear or follow the music. I used to look around at all theses pictures on the walls and ceiling. Once I embarrased my self. while everyone was singing, everyone stand up and sang. I stand up too with a book in my hand and didn't sing at all - I was looking at the ceiling full of different jesus pictures and while I were looking at them, somehow, I didn't realise it has come to the end of the song and that everyone sat down, I just carried on looking at these pictures and then my dad tapped me and said you can sit down now lol, heres me being the last person to sit down; how embarrasing!

Not only that, before each song they noraml say the page number for what song, even though i had an interpreter, I didn't get what she said because someone head got in the way and I then tapped on this wooden share to get my brother attention, I didn't realise I was tapping loud and that my mum said "ssshhh" I was like opps, sorry. ( I have no hearing awareness)

After all thoses years going, tonight hopefully it be different, there will be an interpreter still, but hopefully, i'l be able to follow them singing by following the lyrics. I had some practise with my mum by playing online carol songs and I followed them well. So, night i should be able to too.

anyway thats it for me now, have a NICE XMAS. I hope santa has given you plenty of gifts :-)

xx

How weird was that?

Ever since I've had a new setting after I had problems with twitching in the eye, well today at university I was in the canteen and I didn't get a twitch at all. It seems like I am happy with my new settings.

The only thing I found that is so weird is that Carina my audiologist has set p2 as my old mapping that I had before 9 months so if i had any problems like twitching with the new mapping that is now on p3 the I could switch it back to the p2 to my old mapping. Well, today I had no twitch I just thought I'll see what my old map sound like.

I thought i'll watch eastenders with my new one which sounds better and watch easterends repeat with my old one, as I tried it - everthing sounded robotic on my old setting, each character sounded like a cartoon charactor, it is weird on how quickly you could adapt to the new setting and not liking the old one. After doing that it really does tell me that sounds do get better once you are used to it and one you've had new settings.

Has the twitching disappeared?

Today I went back to Ropewalk, after experience some twitching.

As I went in the audiologist room where they get me connected up to the computer, I explained to carina what was hapening and when do I get a twitch. Carina explained that some people do tend to twitch on loud sounds or when they are going through the different sound when changing the electroces levels.

As she exlplained, she then connected me up to sort the problem out. Carina was to go through all the electrodes and putting them at loud sounds and for me to tell her when it makes me twitch or if she could see the twitching. While going through some, she played the tone and only a few of them causes the twitch and when it twitch she then turn down that electrodes that causes it, after going through thoses electrodes carina switched me back and and to test the loudness of it and see if it was ok. After turning it down on some of the electrodes I felt much better and didn't feel a twitch while she was talking. Carina and Richard decided to make other noise like banging the table or clapping there hands. I then had no twitch which was good. Carina thinks the twitches is caused by loud sounds, the implant was too loud for me, I did thought it was too loud, no wonder my implant was turn right down. Now thats sorted, carina has change the p1 2 and 3 setting. P-1 is for the loop, p-2 is before 9 months mapping and p3 is the new map i have now and using now. Carina thought I should have the setting that I had before 9 months on my processor as I never had problems, so if twitches or anything does happen I can switch on to P2.

Since switch on and every other mapping. I have been struggling to uses thoses scales that say no audio, soft > Meduim> Comfortable> Loud etc I founded it dificult to judge was loud and what was soft so that was another reason why my implant sounded to loud.

So, now I am out of the implant centre, everything sounded ok and it not robotic. which is good. I went out this evening and had no problems so far. So, tomororw i'll be back in university - hopefully going in the canteen or any other loud area it won't make a twitch.

Eye twitching

As I mention a few days ago that I had twitching in my eye on every loud sound, it hasn't stopped at all, yesterday it continued to do it at the xmas meal. I had do the same again, turn it down then when I left i turn it back to 12 o'clock.

Since it hasn't stopped, I have now decided to go back for a new programme and see if the audiologist can see whats causing the twitching. it maybe it just too loud. So, tomororw I have an appointments at ropewalk to sort it out. Just in time for xmas as I don't want to have much problem

so, I will keep you all posted on how it got on.

Xmas Meal - Woah! what's that noise?

Today, I went out with a group of friends from my university class for a christmas meal

All my friends are hearing and I am the only one that is deaf. Its the first time I ever went out for a meal, I went to a party once with them before, but I never went out for a meal with hearing peers before.

I had a great time, the communication between us wasn't much of a problem; they were all very deaf aware. They knew they had to face me if they want to talk to me so I could lip-read them, when they all talking together as a group, one of them would tell me what the topic about and make it easier or me to know they are talking about.

As we were eating the meal, we all had Crackers and Party poppers. I never knew they made noise. I turn the other way talking to my friend, josphine and one of my friends set a party popper off and made a loud bang. As I were talking to her, I suddenly turn around and said what was that, then I saw theses colourul straw coming from it. I was like wow, I didn't know they made noises.

Also, I had a xmas cracker, josephine helped me pull mine and I helped her to pull hers to open it. They also made a noise as we were pulling it. I didn't even know they would. I mean, last year I remenber pulling it and that was about it, you see it rip and get to see what inside it. I didn't at all think they would make sounds - How strange.

So, I learnt something new today. Not only I heard that, normally if we're in a noisey place ever time I talk to someone, they would ask me to repeat because I talk so quiet, after going back to uni for the last lecture. I realise that the loudness of my speech was ok while I were in the resturant as I didn't needed to repeat at all. So, that's good and now know when to raise my voice.

Eye twitching on loud sounds?

Ever since i've had my 9 months tuning; I have experience a few twitching in my eye.
problems at all untill I went to the canteen for lunch. I sat down with a few friends and everytime a very loud sound comes along
I have never experience anything like this before. It all started after my 9 months tuning. After my implant been change to a new setting, I was switched back on and listening with the volume was set as 12 o'clock and when my audiologist ask how it was, and did a few noise to see if it sounded ok and if its too loud or not. I thought the sounds felt fine and it was comfortable to listen to, it wasn't too loud or wasn't too quiet. As we finished with the new mapping we went back in this room for another hearing test, everything sounded alright and things wasn't loud. I was happy to go home with that level.

When I got home everything was fine, I had no problems, nothing bothered me or anything and I didn't need to turn it down or turn it up, I was just happy on where the volume was set.

As I went to university the next day, I had no my eye would twitch a little. I had 4 hearing friends with me at the time, and every time my eye twitch, it looks like I were winking at them.

The twitching didn't bothered me at all at first, but after about half an hour when more louds sound jumps in the twitching continue to repeat and at every loud sounds it did it again and again. So, i thought i'll turn the implant down a little bit to see if it made any different; the slight twitching did stopped.

When I went back in lecture, I would turn my implant back to the normal level the white dot would be facing upwards to 12 0'clock. When I were at home, it would stay on the same level.

The next day at lunch time in university it happened again and had to turn it down.. It didn't just happend at uni, it happen when i went to clothes live show, with the loud music. I enjoyed it but had to turn it down a bit because of the slight twitching then when i left the building i would turn it up back to 12 0'clock.

Yesterday I went to the ear foundation social, becuase there were loads of people, it was loud I didn't turn it down, and when I was in the room where the food was, dyan who is my speech and language therispt was walking around and I could hear her heels clashing to the floor making a loud tap, my eye started to twitch on each step she made. I didn't turn it down as I thought it would only last a few minutes and I was ok with it.

When I went in the room where most people was, I heard group of children running around, screaming etc My twitching got worse so I turn it right down so I was happy.

I did tell dyan about it, and ask her if it was normal to have that? she thinks I should go back and get it sorted - she said she will mention it to carina. I did thought about e-mailing my audiologist last week, but I decided to give it a few days see if it the twitching decrease as it was still early days of just getting used to the new mapping.

I am happy with the mapping I got, just the twitching that tend to bother me in the nosey area. when I am at home or in a place where there not much noise I would want to turn it back to 12'oclock but if i was in a place where its noisey the volume is turned right down. - I wouldn't dare turn it up any louder cos either my brain would shake or i would get more twitching lol.

so, I'm just wondering what I should do, get it turn down just a little or leave it the way it is and just turn it down when i go to a noisey place. The twitch doesn't hurt at all, it just like someone tapping. I never had that problem before, so this is new.

Is this normal, and have anyone had the same problem? Would the twitching fade away if I leave it and become used to it?

Talking In Public - C.I xmas social!

I can't believe I have used my voice out loud to room full of people! I must of been talking for more that half an hour and had all eyes on to me. It all felt like a dream to me and its not like me talking to loads of people. Since being deaf and not hearing my own voice before implanted, I would just normally use sign language or get someone to voice over for me, this time it was the other way round. Can you believe it?

Today I was at 'The Ear Foundation Xmas Social' It was organised by me, david and Abi. The Xmas social was for us to get a chance to meet other implantees and enjoy the xmas fun.

While everyone were enjoying the xmas gathering. I had to do a Xmas quiz - My job was to tell everyone the rules, read out the questions and also give them the answer at the end. I can't believe I did that, I would never do anything like that before, I have never ever talked through a microphone before. I felt like a pop star; even though i wasn't singing ,lol.



Using my voice today - wow! isn't it just briliant. I didn't think I would see myself doing something like that once I have had the imlpant. Its a massive achievement. I felt so happy and proud that my confidents has grown more about using my speech not only to the people I know well, but in a group of people i don't know. I was so happy about the comments I had recieved from my speech language theripst, Dyan. She was the xmas social too. ;-D It was good to see her and get her involved in the 12 days of xmas singing and signing.




Not only i did the quiz, I also called out the numbers from the raffles, it felt like i was a bingo caller. <<- - Hey, that's my new job, NOT!! I am so looking forward to do more of this, who knows maybe next time, I probably see myself on stage acting and BUT using my voice next time < - I love acting, I have done a quite alot of pantos though I have never done it with my voice on and it has always been me using sign language. So, if i was to be in another pantomine and you won't see me signing, you'll be hearing my Voice

Signing 12 days of xmas

The 3 organisers of the day (abi, david and me)

So, that's it for me, i'm off to put my feet up and relaxs after a hard day, anyway hope you all had a good day and going so well with your xmas shopping! it isn't long now, woop!

Fashion Show -New C.I moment

Over the weekend, while stopping at a friends house for a weekend. Lizzie and I took a visit to NEC in Birmingham to watch a fashion show. Lizzie and I are a big fan of clothes and we're always into anything fashion.

When we were at NEC we took a walk round at these clothes store and we came up to this thing that had head phones and you can listen to this music. Lizzie and I tried it out, becuase lizzie has had her implant for a long time, she had better experience than me and could Identify music right away, where I couldn't unless I heard it before. So, as I tried it out, I could hear the music very well. I have never tried big headphones like that before and never heard out of them. So, that day was the firs time i heard out of them and could hear the beats of the disco music.

Not only I heard out the head phones. This cat walk show started at half 12 and it had a big audiance where more than 2,000 people were there watching. We both manage to sit on row 'H' which wasn't to far off from the stage and as I sat down I could hear loads of people chatting away - I couldn't make out what they were saying, but didn't want to be rude and lip-read them to follow their convosation, lol.

When the show started a famous person walked on stage 'veron kay along with alesha dixon'- who presented the cat walk show.

When Veron started talking, I listened very carefully and I could hear what he were saying - I felt so pleased as I was able to pick out most words without having to look at him - it was so nice to meet him, Not only 'veron kay' were there.

A girl band called 'The saturdays' I have never been to a live show wih my implant before and seening that group sing was awesome - I could hear their voices along with the backing music. Now i have become a fan of 'The saturdays' and brought there single to put on my ipod.

so, what a day - brilliant experience and another C.I moment, Woop!

Me and lizzie

Check out 'The Saturday' song that they peformed to us! It has good beats - Hope you enjoy it

Away from Home and A phone call from?

Over the past week, I was hardly at home because of university, seening friends, football training and away for the weekend etc.

Since I haven't been home much, every time I arrive at home, my mum wasn't there, I seem to have missed her since she works different times and everytime she arrives home, I wasn't there. so, while I were at a friends house for a full weekend after playing in a football tournament, watching a Live Fashion Show and going to a Deaf Social night.

Finally I got to sit down rest at my mates. While resting, my phone was in my pocket, if i recieve a text it bleeps once, I would normally hear that as it quite loud. This timie, my phone ended up bleeping loads of times, I was like, eh, thats not normal. so, I took my phone out - looked at my phone screen and it said "Mum" I was like, why would mum be ringing me, she noramally text me.

So, I thought, I answer it and see if i my mum realised she ringing me and decided to put the phone down. I answered it and said "hello" I then listened and see if i could make out what she would say.

The first thing my mum said was "How are you, can you hear me ok"? I heard all of it very well, and I said "yeah I can hear you, why are you ringing me?" My mum turn round and said, she thought she'll give me a practise!

We spoke for a while, normally my short phone call would last less than 5 minutes, this time it lasted more than 10 minutes. We had a good covonversation, she was missing me and wanted to see how I am! I was really impressed with myself that I could hear my mum very well and clear and only had to ask her to repeat once. My mum was so pleased that I could hear her so well and now, she said she'll ring me everytime I am away to give me more practice and when she missing me, aw isn't that sweet! :-D

How amazing is that! I loved every minute of my phone call and now I wanna try a have a go at ringing someone esle!

9 months - what a result!

Woah, it's been almost a week ago since I've had my 9 months mapping, and still, i haven't yet posted it up! I have been soooo busy and I haven't found the time to pop on the computer untill today, yep i'm having a lazy day!

here we are..

Monday 1st Drc - 9months mapping

Unlike other mapping, I would normal get connected to the computer and get my implant turn up and altered on different frequency. This time, it was different, instead of getting connected up, I went striaght for a hearing test.

Carina wanted to see how I am hearing now with the mapping I have right now before she could do any changes. So, I went in a and the usual hearing test we I need to press the button every time i heared a sound.

The test went well, I heared alot of it, I just wasn't hearing the very quiet sounds but I was hearing better than the last test with the same mapping.

So, after I had the test; Carina then knows what needs changing.

So, in the room where i got connected up to the computer for the implant to be programmed again. Carina first check how well my nerves responsed, which i didnt have to do anything accept sit down and relax.

After that was done, I had to listen out for the sounds and point to this paper that says: loud, medium, or soft etc.

After that was done, I went back and did some test,

I did the BKS test, beat last time result and got 90%
Cuny test again, I beat last time score and got 90%

I was pleased to do my result and coudnlt believe how much i have improved in 9 months, how briliant is that.

After i did those test, Carina decided to challenge me and I tried this new test that i have never ever done before, I did a BKS test but with a noisy background, which was all hissing sounds. I had to guess what that person say, I didn't do to bad and got 36% or 38% for the very first time.

Now all my mapping is over, I don't need to be back at the implant centre till my 18months.

so, thats my 9 months result - sorry it took soooo long to post it up.

(the picture is me my friend Lizzie who has a NF implant both wearing our new winter hat)