Mapping (program adjustment) of a cochlear implant is a tricky thing. There’s no one formula that works for every person. It’s not like programming a computer where there are 20 ways to do something and it either works efficiently, works okay, or just doesn’t work. CI mapping is more of an art than a science, at least from a patient’s perspective. This week, my artist/audiologist helped me find my own art again.
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activation
Only place to go is down…
I’ve often said that if this is the best my hearing gets, I’m happy with it. Well, we have definitely reached “the best” in one sense. In another sense, it’s back to terrible. Had my one year mapping yesterday, with a new audiologist, and as with every mapping, today I hate it. The good news is that my speech recognition scores came in at 100%.
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One month.
I had my one month post-activation mapping and testing today. I might just be a rock star after all! There are so many sounds I had forgotten about that are coming back – like birds! Things that I knew logically made noise but I hadn’t heard so long that I pretty much forgot.
Bionic powers activate!
Yesterday was activation day. I did not have a “rock star” activation, nor did I have a bad one. I think I’m absolutely average. The good news: I hear sound. The bad news: my brain does not yet know what to make of the sound.
Fears, hopes, anxieties, & reality
I have reached the pre-activation anxiety stage. Been here for a couple of days really, but have mostly been able to ignore it. All the different possibilities and stories I’ve heard really mean nothing in the end. My experience is going to be unique to me, and since I’m a planner, that’s really hard for me to grasp.