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.