Neptune Update

Short update. I asked about getting the Neptune processor since I'm going to a lake this summer and would totally like it if I could leave a processor on to hear. Unfortunately, Medicare only allows someone with a current processor to get a new one every 5 years. So, I have to wait until October 2015 to obtain it. By then, will I even care anymore? Heck, hopefully AB will just come out with a newer, smaller processor by then, which I'd be more excited to get

ClearVoice - What was I actually expecting?

I finally got my implant programmed with ClearVoice today. I've heard nothing but positive results about it and figured it's a must have if I want to hear people talk better.

Advanced Bionics states that many individuals have showed much better speech recognition results with this program, with much better results in children than adults. Certainly sounds promising.

My new audiologist explained that there are three levels to ClearVoice, a low, medium, and high. In which, the low takes out only a minimal amount of background noise, and the high takes out lots of it for optimal attention to be drawn to vocals. She reset all my settings with the medium setting, saying it's typically what people prefer, and it's a good starting point to see how I do.

The first thing I noticed when she switched was that the low static noise that I always hear in doctor offices, disappeared. I assume it was the air conditioning system; I always find it to be the most overwhelming noise in most commercial buildings, even my work. As far as speech changes, nothing. But that was to be expected since it is in an otherwise, quiet office. Plus, after all, if I already have 100% speech recognition in quiet, what was I really expecting with ClearVoice? 120%? Is that even possible?

As I left the office, the next thing I noticed was that my car was driving much quieter. Usually when I drive, I hear the traction of the wheels on pavement pretty clearly, but it had been gradually reduced in sound to be close to unnoticeable. I decided to listen to all the songs I listen to in a cycle to see if they sound any different. Besides some obvious sound reductions, again, in the instruments, I didn't really notice any increase in vocals. Some of the songs even sounded a little less enjoyable than they previously did.
I'll clarify this part - as you'll recall, my non-implanted ear hears at about 120 decibels, which is bass levels. I consider it to be my ear to balance out the implant since my implant favors high pitch and frankly, most sounds under 90 decibels. Thus, when I listen to music, I've got my implanted ear hearing the vocals above anything else (generally), while it'll also pick up any high pitch instruments, such as flutes, saxophones, acoustics, violins, and many chords of the piano. At the same time,the non-implanted ear is picking up the bass, the drums, the bass guitar, low pitch chords of the piano, and the guitar. To me, it's a sweet balance in sounds, and it's the biggest reason I have no interest in getting my other ear implanted. I also rely on the non-implanted ear to hear when I take off the implant, which still functions well enough for me to get around... my house. And I'd rather be hearing something, than nothing, when the implant isn't on.

Other than that, I continued to test the ClearVoice when I watched some TV. Again, no noticeable difference in speech comprehension. In fact, all I've overall noticed so far,is that the sound quality with ClearVoice seems somewhat softer. I had to actually turn the TV volume past 30, which I never do. I leave it at a comfortable 24, usually. (I'll clarify here though, that although a 24 is my volume of choice, my husband, with normal hearing - so the military says (I think they just suck at testing the military) - prefers the volume at nearly 45. So my "comfortable" 24, is no where considered loud).

So, I guess my biggest test for ClearVoice will be when i get my butt in public. Sunday, I'll be attending the Diamondbacks game, and that should be a pretty good testing ground. Tuesday, I'll be back at work, and again, that will also be a good testing ground. The most frustrating place to hear people these days, is, after all, at my job. The building is always loud, with the AC running, the soft but obvious music playing, and if the store is open, customer chatter everywhere. It's usually so environmentally loud in there to me, that I can't hear someone talking to me behind my back. Like the old days. A constant reminder that I am, indeed, still Deaf, no matter what's in my skull.

AB's new processor, the Neptune

Those of you with implants already know about the release of the Neptune sound processor by Advanced Bionics earlier this year. For those of you that don't have an implant and don't keep on top of this type of information, I'll explain. The Neptune is the first ever waterproof cochlear implant device. Like hearing aids, standard CI's cannot tolerate water and moisture without getting damaged. The Neptune, however, can. This is great news for those that are avid swimmer's and will be able to embrace being able to hear while in bodies of water. Even I have to admit, it'd be nice to be able to go to the lake and still have my CI on to talk to people floating on tubes around me, instead of having to go completely deaf. The last thing I, and others, want to deal with, is possibly damaging a device worth more than 20 grand.

It would also be useful for people that exercise often. There is nothing more annoying than wearing the implant and sweating (behind my ear). Some people (even I) may go as far as snagging the ear piece into our hairbands to avoid the sweat-with-plastic contact, but of course, it's a pain in the butt. Although there are some serious pro's about the Neptune processor, it's certainly not an implant I'd be wearing all the time. It still has a wire attachment; it just attaches to your swimsuit strap, shirt strap, swimmer's cap, or whatever clip on area it can reach. If it was wireless, my goodness, it'd be a slam dunk. Although what I really dream of, is an entire processor all in one, that will only clip to my skull as one small piece of plastic. I'm sure that's everyone's dream... science hasn't gotten that far yet. But with the extreme changes we've noted in hearing aid sizes, it'll definitely happen someday!