After spending a week at Golden Sands. Every summer in Augest I do some volenteer work as a staff at Deaf Camp at Mablethorpe which is not far from where Golden Sands is. This year is my 3rd year.
At mablethorpe deaf camp they have 28 deaf children from all over the UK that are mild - profoundly Deaf at the age 6-14years. 7 of them were Cochlear Implant users plus there were me, Richard and lizze as staff too.
I spent a week organising games, sporting activties for them during week and of course take them out and visit different places.
This year was the first time I went with a Cochlear Implant. The past 2 years I either wore my H-aids or don't wear them at all. Untill this year with my implant I can't belive how noisey those deaf children ARE! I do remenber some of the hearing staff last year saying SHHH to some of the child. That time I didn't realise how noisey they were. This year I ended up saying "shhh" to them myself. I can't belive how much noise they make, all Icould hear was screaming, banging, etc. The good thing is, I didn't take the implant off while they were very noise!
Not only it was noise, the last day at camp there was a party and they had Deaf camp got talent. All staff have to do an act and of course some of the children did too. My friend Lizzie another C.I users (freedom) who has been implant at the age of 10 at the nottingham implant centre too came up with hip hop dance which we had to perform to the 3 evil judges and of course this kids.
The dance was great, Lizzie taught me how to do them because she had more experince in following music. which was a great achievement for me. So, check out these small pictures clip of us dancing and of course what we wore too. (sorry some of the are not clear) I'm in the red and lizzie wearing a black top!
Monday, 1 September 2008
Haven Hoilday!
Ever since I were little, my family and I always take a week camping at one of the British Haven Hoilday campsite.
Haven hoilday is a site for all ages but do have alot of activities throughout the day and of course entertainment during the evening. When I were little I used to take part in all the activites with my brother and sister such as football, basketball, treasure hunt that they have set up. I had no problem with all that as I knew what to do.
The only problem I had was the evening entertainment which had shows like Rory the Tiger and his zoo mates. I've always been a fan of Rory the Tiger when I were little and 
used to love watching him every time went. The only thing was that I wasn't able to hear him and it was all visual. I used to get picked to go on stage and take part in some of the activities but
used to love watching him every time went. The only thing was that I wasn't able to hear him and it was all visual. I used to get picked to go on stage and take part in some of the activities but 
when I were on stage I used to be quite and I didn't understand what to do untill my mum or any other of my family realise thatI was on stage. They used to come up and explain to the funstars that i'm deaf and my mum or my sister used to come on stage with me and interpet what they say. That the only way I could take part.
Now I've had this Cochlear Implant I went to one of his shows because we had a small menber of my family was with me that wanted to see Rory .
That evening I just sat there watching rory and able to hear him and could understand some word that he say, even though his lips not move. I was so happy that I could hear him which I have never been able to. I even brought his Cd which had loads of songs that was he often played such as the Tiger Club theme. (there apicture of me watching his show
)
) The next morning I ended up playing it and followed the lyric which was written at the back on the Cd case. The 2nd night we went back to watch another of his shows and guess what. I was able to understand the full lyrics that he played which was brilliant. After that the show ended it moved on to a funstars dance which I took part in and of course the adult game show which was a quiz, I was able to hear some of the question but did had to ask my mum for some help a bit
Not only there was an evenining entertainment, there was a beach there and it the first time for me to be able to hear the british "SEA" The waves were brillant. it did sounded low but I heard it. It wasn't just me that had fun listening to the sea. My 8 month old dog, Oscar enjoyed it too. It was his first time on the beach and he loved ever minute of it. We did have a hard time getting him clean again because he had long hair. ( here me on the beach drawing BIONIC in the sand)
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Flying C.I
Ever since I lost the Small T-mic while while I were away in Greece. I had to manage with the normal C.I hook while waiting for the new T-mic from the nottingham implant centre to send me once they have reached for some more small t-mic hook.
because I have small ears, the other hooks I have always make the implant fall off. which before the small t-mic make the C.I stays on and never falls off.
When I was away last week on hoilday with family. I went on the bumpers at Golden Sands with a friend for a laugh.
Not realising that the C.I will fall off if I shook my head hard or put my head sideways. Wednsday last week my
implant has been very Lucky!
I ended up having a small accident, which was unexpected - My friend claire and I were on the bumpers which we were bumping into each other for a laugh just before the end my car ended reversing as I moved the the steering wheel round to far, didn't realise that claire was coming from behind me she bumped in to me which was quite a hard bump that made my implant flying off my ear to the hard ground which could of be more damange ii if the car drive over it.
Lucky claire bumped into me towards the end and when it flew off the whole ride stop because it was only for 5 mins..... I was very shocked and if the car had rode over it I probably would of been upset. It made me realise that the implant mean so much to me and I didn't want anything to happen to it and NOT to do that again.
check the video of the Flying implant at the side of this page.
The next time I go to the implant centre hopefully they'll have some more small T-Mic and also I'll be asking for those huggies which alot of kids use to make the implant to stay on. Hopefully that be useful for me too.
anyway the interview video has been recorded but will be up at the end of this week, Richard and I been so busy on hoilday and haven't had the time to edit it. So, we're working on it this week.
because I have small ears, the other hooks I have always make the implant fall off. which before the small t-mic make the C.I stays on and never falls off.
When I was away last week on hoilday with family. I went on the bumpers at Golden Sands with a friend for a laugh.
Not realising that the C.I will fall off if I shook my head hard or put my head sideways. Wednsday last week my
implant has been very Lucky!I ended up having a small accident, which was unexpected - My friend claire and I were on the bumpers which we were bumping into each other for a laugh just before the end my car ended reversing as I moved the the steering wheel round to far, didn't realise that claire was coming from behind me she bumped in to me which was quite a hard bump that made my implant flying off my ear to the hard ground which could of be more damange ii if the car drive over it.
Lucky claire bumped into me towards the end and when it flew off the whole ride stop because it was only for 5 mins..... I was very shocked and if the car had rode over it I probably would of been upset. It made me realise that the implant mean so much to me and I didn't want anything to happen to it and NOT to do that again.
check the video of the Flying implant at the side of this page.
The next time I go to the implant centre hopefully they'll have some more small T-Mic and also I'll be asking for those huggies which alot of kids use to make the implant to stay on. Hopefully that be useful for me too.
anyway the interview video has been recorded but will be up at the end of this week, Richard and I been so busy on hoilday and haven't had the time to edit it. So, we're working on it this week.
Friday, 15 August 2008
Speech Therapy - (session 1)
Yesterday I went to the implant centre early becuase Richard had his implant tuning as it started to sounds quite. So, instead of me sitting in that chair getting tuned up it was him. It felt weird as he's always watching and waiting for me. While he's was having his tuned up. My audiogist Carina who did my 1 month tuning spoke to me asking how I'm getting on with the implant as i spoke back she was amazed that I am using my voice more now instead of letting the interpreter voicing over for me. She was please that I able to understand her alot more now than before. Anyway after a good chat and finished setting up Richard implant it was time for me to make my way to the waiting room ready for my 3pm appointment. While i make my way Richard still havent finish becuase he had to do an hearing test and more test on the Mr borin(lipreading)etc, He did well and has improved. Also the sounds on his implant is much better now and he's happy. He don't have to go back till another year now accept going back when he gets his new freedom as he still got the old 3G cochlear.
In the waiting room, I only waited about 5 minutes my interpreter was already there waiting for me and while we sat down dyan came in an made our way to the quite rooom. This was my 1st speech therpay after I was implanted with this amazing device. Just before the implant I had Speech Therapy and was accessed on how my voice sound with alot of different tests by saying the words to pictures. Reading a sentence from a storyline. Dyan my speech therapy thought my speech sounds great but needed a little work on some areas. which we both worked together and put down targets for me to improve after the activation date. There wasn't alot to work on it was mainly missing alot of ended word while i'm talking such as 't,k,d,s' on any word like 'Back' I miss out the 'K' which it happens alot. Also my voice is quite and I need to improve the loudness.
Now, I can hear myself talk, which i couldn't really hear myself before. Now I have six 1-hour session to work on my speech every week at Ropewalk (Nottingham) First, she wanted to do the test again to see if anything improved after the implant. Which there wasa slight improvement with the loudness but not enough. Still, i have to work on the endings.
after doing the test. We worked on my loudness first as that's important to get the right voice level while i'm talking so that everyone could hear me. We started doing that by saying "Stop" We did that in 3 different volume (quite, Medium and loud) My target was to get my voice between medium and loud all the time without it dropping to a quite level... so here me saying STOP!!!! to me it sounded loud but dyan said it was still quite... after spend about 15 minutes on that... I finally said the word in the right volume more than 4 times. That the way she want me to talk all the time. So, i tried my best to read out a storyline without it going quite... Dyan thought I did it really well but some word were to quite and it need to be the same all the time, so we left it there as I've been there for almost an hour and 15 minutes, she has given me Homework for me to work on (voice volume) so, since i'm away for 2 weeks on hoilday with family. My next s.a.l.t lesson is in the first week of september!
Oh, I mentioned about the interview video that I have posted up. Richard is still working on it and he now decided to add more things to it and not yet finished it. So, it looks like i'm not going to post it up till after the 31st. There also will be another video (BIONIC Vs FREEDOM) Because I have Bionic and Richard has Freedom - we always tease each other by saying Freedom better than Bionic and Bionic better than Freedom. I have no idea why we both do that, in fact they are both the same but jutt in a different style and different brand.
Now, My brother had set up a competition for us to do while we're on hoilday and see who wins, but what make me laugh he has done a competition that doesn't invole in the implant. Its all activities like go-karting etc. :-P
so, i'll post up the video on that too " PLEASE CHEER FOR MEE!! , Us Bionic crew always the winners, lol! (well, i hope so)
that's it for me now, speak to you all soon.
HAVE A BRILLIANT SUMMER!!!
k x
In the waiting room, I only waited about 5 minutes my interpreter was already there waiting for me and while we sat down dyan came in an made our way to the quite rooom. This was my 1st speech therpay after I was implanted with this amazing device. Just before the implant I had Speech Therapy and was accessed on how my voice sound with alot of different tests by saying the words to pictures. Reading a sentence from a storyline. Dyan my speech therapy thought my speech sounds great but needed a little work on some areas. which we both worked together and put down targets for me to improve after the activation date. There wasn't alot to work on it was mainly missing alot of ended word while i'm talking such as 't,k,d,s' on any word like 'Back' I miss out the 'K' which it happens alot. Also my voice is quite and I need to improve the loudness.
Now, I can hear myself talk, which i couldn't really hear myself before. Now I have six 1-hour session to work on my speech every week at Ropewalk (Nottingham) First, she wanted to do the test again to see if anything improved after the implant. Which there wasa slight improvement with the loudness but not enough. Still, i have to work on the endings.
after doing the test. We worked on my loudness first as that's important to get the right voice level while i'm talking so that everyone could hear me. We started doing that by saying "Stop" We did that in 3 different volume (quite, Medium and loud) My target was to get my voice between medium and loud all the time without it dropping to a quite level... so here me saying STOP!!!! to me it sounded loud but dyan said it was still quite... after spend about 15 minutes on that... I finally said the word in the right volume more than 4 times. That the way she want me to talk all the time. So, i tried my best to read out a storyline without it going quite... Dyan thought I did it really well but some word were to quite and it need to be the same all the time, so we left it there as I've been there for almost an hour and 15 minutes, she has given me Homework for me to work on (voice volume) so, since i'm away for 2 weeks on hoilday with family. My next s.a.l.t lesson is in the first week of september!
Oh, I mentioned about the interview video that I have posted up. Richard is still working on it and he now decided to add more things to it and not yet finished it. So, it looks like i'm not going to post it up till after the 31st. There also will be another video (BIONIC Vs FREEDOM) Because I have Bionic and Richard has Freedom - we always tease each other by saying Freedom better than Bionic and Bionic better than Freedom. I have no idea why we both do that, in fact they are both the same but jutt in a different style and different brand.
Now, My brother had set up a competition for us to do while we're on hoilday and see who wins, but what make me laugh he has done a competition that doesn't invole in the implant. Its all activities like go-karting etc. :-P
so, i'll post up the video on that too " PLEASE CHEER FOR MEE!! , Us Bionic crew always the winners, lol! (well, i hope so)
that's it for me now, speak to you all soon.
HAVE A BRILLIANT SUMMER!!!
k x
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
My first instrument!
Over the weekend it was my brother 17th Birthday. My brother had a small tea party which loads of friends and family came over. During the small tea party my sister played her keyboard while my mum came in with a birthday cake.
Having to hear my sister plays her keyboard for the first time was amazing! I then decided to try it out myself after the party. My sister set it up and put this light thing on to help me.
My first song I tried out along with the light was "Happy Birthday"
check the video out :-D
Anyway, the implant going well. I'm off to speech therpy this thursday. I've spend the past 2 weeks using my voice. My brother did a bet and he bet i couldn't spend more than 3 days without signing a word and Guess what? I won the bet I didn't signed a word at all. It was hard but it was worth it in the end.
so, check out the next video which will be posted up in the next few days, There will be a interview about my implant journey and the whole idea of the video is for me to use my voice more and practise answering questions with the voice!
Having to hear my sister plays her keyboard for the first time was amazing! I then decided to try it out myself after the party. My sister set it up and put this light thing on to help me.
My first song I tried out along with the light was "Happy Birthday"
check the video out :-D
Anyway, the implant going well. I'm off to speech therpy this thursday. I've spend the past 2 weeks using my voice. My brother did a bet and he bet i couldn't spend more than 3 days without signing a word and Guess what? I won the bet I didn't signed a word at all. It was hard but it was worth it in the end.
so, check out the next video which will be posted up in the next few days, There will be a interview about my implant journey and the whole idea of the video is for me to use my voice more and practise answering questions with the voice!
Saturday, 26 July 2008
3 month's implant journey (video)
It's boring to see the 3 months journey in words, How about seening it in pictures and clips.
well, Richard my fiance has created a video on what i've been doing over the past 3 month's with the implant.
Enjoy the video:
well, Richard my fiance has created a video on what i've been doing over the past 3 month's with the implant.
Enjoy the video:
Thursday, 24 July 2008
3 months, what a journey!
Hey all,
wondering where i've been, and not posted or a while? Well, here I am and have alot to tell you all.
I'm telling you now that almost 4 months ago i had the operation and it wasn't to bad at all, but to be switched on and it's now 3 months since I've been activated. I can't belive how quick it has gone. It feels like I have been hibernated for sometime and to wake up with this wonderful weather, but with all these crazy sounds.
I'm soooooo loving this implant journey with world full of sounds, it can be annoying but what more could I ask for.
I'd my 3 months mapping the other day and it went great. I walked into the door at the implant centre with a big grin on my face because I was so looking forward to having my implant turn up. As I arrived at the centre I had 2 appointments. 12-noon was the hearing therispt and 1:45pm - audioligst. I had to wait almost 1 hour and 45 mintues just t get tun up.
So, here I was in the hearing therispt room. As I sat down, Charlotte the hearing therispt asked me tons of question. It felt like I was being for some sort of job.
Since we discuss how the implant getting on, and happy with my all my feeback. It was time to get my thinking cap switched on and do all these test.
firstly, we did some sentence test, which charlotte had to read one sentences out of the four choices that were on the page. Without lip-reading and only listening, I had to pick out what she said. The test got harder as we go along and at the end of the test., I realised how much I've improved sinced the last time I had this test done. Last time I only got 6/35 and now it turn out to be 24/35. Which was great. After that she read out a story frm this sheet and given me a copy. I had to follow (pointing) to the word she reads out, same again without lipreading. Last time I had to look at her a few time because i was lost. This time i didn't look at all and managed to follow her without looking what she was saying.
Finally the test was done and she discuss how well I have improved and when i'll be seening her next time and what i'll be doing next time. So, now my next appointment is in Oct!
Since, that appointment only took about half an hour.we had a while yet before it was time for the mapping appointment. So, myself, richard and my interpreter took a walk down the shopping centre near by and had something to eat and had a good chat. The time soon went by wuick and i was getting excited to have my mapping.
As I walk back into the centre again, my audiogist was already out in the waiting room and just about to call my name and untill she saw me and said "this way katie" I got into the room and sat down. Same again, she came out with loads of question just like charlotte did and also asked me even moorre question on how Greece went! I had no choice but telling her how i got on.
I was hoping she would connect me up right away just so i can shoot off out thoses doors and try out the new sounds, but what happened - I had more tests!
same as usual we did a hearing test by pressing the button every time i hear a sound. Did well but still got alot of work on high frequency sounds. Obviously I didn't hear them at all before I'd the implant done.
Next, I did this test which involves a grump old man on the screen saying a loads of sentense again. I did much better than last time - before I had the implant i couldn't event pick up a full sentences, then after week 1. manage to get 5 or 6 right. This time I got 17 out of 20.
finally I was finished. She had turn the implant up a quite alot which she thought it was enough for now and now my next mapping is not untill october (6-month)
So, now it will be short while untill i next visit. As, i left the implant place. Already I notices that I was hearing more things and seems to hear more things that was a bit of the distance away. When Richard and my parents spoke to me it sounds all echoy again. I felt like I was back in disney land again.
few hours later, i connected my ipod and it was on the same volume as before when I pressed play I was shocked on how loud it was, so I turn it down a bit. It seems like the music starting to sounds much better than it was before.
3 days later, the diseny voices started to faded a bit, and now I'm hearing much better but I keeping hearing this sort of "hmmmmmmmmmmm" which I still haven't go a clue what it is. It feels like the sound is traveling through head which make some sort of hmmmmmm. I tried taking the headpeice to check if it was tinitus and it wasn't.
I jst seem to think its making that sound because my brain doesn't know what it is and still working it out to make i into a real sound. " don't ask where I got that idea from but that what i think" It wasn't some sort of wind and now i'm still working it out. oh, well it will fade eventually.
Anyway that's it for me now, by the way we won the bronze medal while we were taking part int the world cup in Greece. We did well, even though it was pretty tough in the heat.
I'll try and pop up some photo's sometimes this weekend for you all to see. Also, i'll post up a photo that I had done in my photoshoots too, which was for the implant centre.
anyway, i'm speechless now. I've ran out of words.
so, i'll send you all the gossip soon.
take care for now x
k x
wondering where i've been, and not posted or a while? Well, here I am and have alot to tell you all.
I'm telling you now that almost 4 months ago i had the operation and it wasn't to bad at all, but to be switched on and it's now 3 months since I've been activated. I can't belive how quick it has gone. It feels like I have been hibernated for sometime and to wake up with this wonderful weather, but with all these crazy sounds.
I'm soooooo loving this implant journey with world full of sounds, it can be annoying but what more could I ask for.
I'd my 3 months mapping the other day and it went great. I walked into the door at the implant centre with a big grin on my face because I was so looking forward to having my implant turn up. As I arrived at the centre I had 2 appointments. 12-noon was the hearing therispt and 1:45pm - audioligst. I had to wait almost 1 hour and 45 mintues just t get tun up.
So, here I was in the hearing therispt room. As I sat down, Charlotte the hearing therispt asked me tons of question. It felt like I was being for some sort of job.
Since we discuss how the implant getting on, and happy with my all my feeback. It was time to get my thinking cap switched on and do all these test.
firstly, we did some sentence test, which charlotte had to read one sentences out of the four choices that were on the page. Without lip-reading and only listening, I had to pick out what she said. The test got harder as we go along and at the end of the test., I realised how much I've improved sinced the last time I had this test done. Last time I only got 6/35 and now it turn out to be 24/35. Which was great. After that she read out a story frm this sheet and given me a copy. I had to follow (pointing) to the word she reads out, same again without lipreading. Last time I had to look at her a few time because i was lost. This time i didn't look at all and managed to follow her without looking what she was saying.
Finally the test was done and she discuss how well I have improved and when i'll be seening her next time and what i'll be doing next time. So, now my next appointment is in Oct!
Since, that appointment only took about half an hour.we had a while yet before it was time for the mapping appointment. So, myself, richard and my interpreter took a walk down the shopping centre near by and had something to eat and had a good chat. The time soon went by wuick and i was getting excited to have my mapping.
As I walk back into the centre again, my audiogist was already out in the waiting room and just about to call my name and untill she saw me and said "this way katie" I got into the room and sat down. Same again, she came out with loads of question just like charlotte did and also asked me even moorre question on how Greece went! I had no choice but telling her how i got on.
I was hoping she would connect me up right away just so i can shoot off out thoses doors and try out the new sounds, but what happened - I had more tests!
same as usual we did a hearing test by pressing the button every time i hear a sound. Did well but still got alot of work on high frequency sounds. Obviously I didn't hear them at all before I'd the implant done.
Next, I did this test which involves a grump old man on the screen saying a loads of sentense again. I did much better than last time - before I had the implant i couldn't event pick up a full sentences, then after week 1. manage to get 5 or 6 right. This time I got 17 out of 20.
finally I was finished. She had turn the implant up a quite alot which she thought it was enough for now and now my next mapping is not untill october (6-month)
So, now it will be short while untill i next visit. As, i left the implant place. Already I notices that I was hearing more things and seems to hear more things that was a bit of the distance away. When Richard and my parents spoke to me it sounds all echoy again. I felt like I was back in disney land again.
few hours later, i connected my ipod and it was on the same volume as before when I pressed play I was shocked on how loud it was, so I turn it down a bit. It seems like the music starting to sounds much better than it was before.
3 days later, the diseny voices started to faded a bit, and now I'm hearing much better but I keeping hearing this sort of "hmmmmmmmmmmm" which I still haven't go a clue what it is. It feels like the sound is traveling through head which make some sort of hmmmmmm. I tried taking the headpeice to check if it was tinitus and it wasn't.
I jst seem to think its making that sound because my brain doesn't know what it is and still working it out to make i into a real sound. " don't ask where I got that idea from but that what i think" It wasn't some sort of wind and now i'm still working it out. oh, well it will fade eventually.
Anyway that's it for me now, by the way we won the bronze medal while we were taking part int the world cup in Greece. We did well, even though it was pretty tough in the heat.
I'll try and pop up some photo's sometimes this weekend for you all to see. Also, i'll post up a photo that I had done in my photoshoots too, which was for the implant centre.
anyway, i'm speechless now. I've ran out of words.
so, i'll send you all the gossip soon.
take care for now x
k x
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