Back where Orange and Tiger Paws reign supreme!

It's great to be back in Clemson.

I moved in last Sunday, and classes began on Wednesday. I had to make a last minute schedule change due to unforseeable consequences, which means that my schedule is out of control in certain areas. On Monday and Wednesday I have three classes (each 50 minutes) from 9-12. Then, I have an hour and a half lunch break before I return to class at 1:30. After this class, I have a lab, which can last up until 4:30. On Friday, I have the same classes, without the lab at the end of the day...so I am done around 2:30 at the latest. This heavy courseload on MWF means that my Tuesday and Thursdays are completely open. On Tuesday, I only have one fifty minute class, while on Thursday, I have no class, at all. You heard me right...no class on Thursday!

Wednesday was was not just my first day of class, but it was also my first day of class with an implant. I LOVE having my implant in class! I kept turning my implant off during class, to try and listen with just my hearing aid. The amount of material I MISSED without my implant on was astounding compared to the amount of material I was able to gain from wearing both my hearing aid and implant. Having the implant gives me enough extra hearing that I am able to focus on understanding the concepts the teachers are explaining, rather than necessarily spending most of my brain's cells on just HEARING what's being said. Granted, I can't hear everything that's said..but the point I am trying to make is that the implant is making a HUGE difference in classes.

I still have captioning, and I still plan to utilize my FM system in most of these classes. It's sort of late, and I have class in the morning, so I'm not going to get into detail on that. You'll probably hear more from me about my classes, as I start to get swamped with work and need a place to vent.

Finally, I must tell you, I have an awesome room. It overlooks the old student union, and is on the top floor of the building. We have a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and more importantly, Death Valley. It is an absolute thrill to be able to look out the window every morning when I wake up and see one of my favorite places on earth! The sun sets over the mountains and the stadium, and we have some great views of that. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get around to taking them!

Hope y'all are doing well!

I'm a sensitive kind of guy

Well, at least with my new implant.

The increasing clarity of my implant has finally allowed me to start playing around with some of the new features of my implant. Before, I wouldn't have been able to tell a difference from adjusting these features, but now, my hearing has gotten good enough that I can mess around and make adjustments and tell the difference from one setting to the next.

One of favorite features, so far, is the ability to adjust sensitivity levels. Basically, I can adjust the range of my implant and tell it to pick up sound only within a certain, preset range. This range can be quickly adjusted by the mere push of a button on my processor (behind the ear).

A few nights ago, I went to California Dreaming with some friends of mine. If you haven't been there, the food is quite good, but in terms of the atmosphere, it is horrible for someone with a hearing impairment like me. For such a dark restaurant (which hinders lip-reading), it is extremely loud. It's almost impossible to hear people in that restaurant! This time however, while I couldn't change the lighting in the restaurant, I did have the ability to remove the background noise. I simply had to decrease the sensitivity level of my implant so that it would only pick up any sounds within three to four feet of me...meaning, I could only hear noise from my table! This definitely improved the quality of sound and made it a bit easier for me to follow some conversations. Unfortunately, the lighting really was bad for me and I had a hard time reading lips...but at least I was able to hear people talking!

In the past, I've tried turning the volume down on my hearing aid in settings like California Dreaming, but that had the undesired consequence of turning down the volume of the person I want to hear! Not good....I like sensitivity a lot so far!

I also used the sensitivity feature yesterday when I took a tour with my brother and dad of Cummins Marine in North Charleston. They specialize in diesel engines for the marine division - boats, etc - and have a lot of engineers...so basically this was a chance for me to start looking at possible jobs, etc.

While I enjoyed the tour greatly, we went into one room where they were testing an engine. Of course, diesel engines can be very loud, and I could not hear the guy talking to us over the noise of the engines...so I just reached up and adjusted the sensitivity dial on my implant. Within seconds, the diesel engine in the background had faded to a distant hum and the voice of the guy talking to me was much easier to understand...in fact, since he was the only thing within two feat of me, he was the only thing I could hear!

In addition to adjusting the sensitivy on this tour, I also utilized a new beam function that Abby programmed in my implant two days ago when I visited the hospital. The beam function is a program affects the three microphones on my processor that pick up sound in the environment around me. This particular function turns off the microphone at the back of the implant and only leaves the front two microphones on. This means I am only able to hear things that are directly in front of me. This was perfect on the tour, because I really only wanted to hear the guide, who, not surprisingly, was standing in front of me.

The beam program can be used in combination with the sensitivity adjustments to create an environment that truly optimizes my ability to hear! I am so excited about being able to use these features in a classroom/lecture setting at school. My fear of being a mechanical engineering student and having to work in a lab filled with loud engines (like the one I visited last year on a M.E. tour) and communicate with professors and graduate assistants has faded for the most part.

This implant has brought me a world of confidence and as I assume it will continue to get better, I can't wait to see where it will take me!



On a side note, despite my confidence in the future, I still am having a minor issue here in the present. I got a haircut today, and didn't really think to tell the barber anything special regarding my implant. Before my haircut, the hair on the back of my head was long enough to almost completely cover the magnet. I will admit that I felt a sense of security with this magnet covered...felt like people weren't staring at me.

However, after the haircut, I noticed that my hair was VERY short in the back...short enough to the point that I could not cover the magnet anymore with hair. So now, my magnet is just sitting back there, completely exposed. I guess everyone at school is gonna have a chance to see this, in all its entirety!

I hate admitting that I have issues with the way I look and wearing this implant. Despite admitting this issue, I hope you realize this is not something that's keeping me awake at night...it's just a slight feeling that shows up from time to time and disappears as soon as it came. I never had these problems with my hearing aid, but I think that's because I grew up wearing the hearing aid and it has always been a part of me. While I am not certain, I am going to make say that people with disabilities (at least I do) probably become very attached to the things that lessen their disability...such as a hearing aid, a wheelchair, etc...to the point that these things become as much a part of them as their fingers, their legs, or their nose.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that as I grow to rely on my implant more and more, it will become more of a part of me, and nothing to be embarrassed about. I am already reaching a point where I'm proud to wear it and display to my friends...it's around people that I don't know...like the thousands of students in Harcombe Dining Hall, that I feel a bit exposed around!

I guess I don't have a choice...I'm about to throw myself back into the mix at Clemson in less than two days!

I'm leaving Friday and heading back to Tigertown! I'm VERY excited, and can't wait to get back up there and see the campus, my friends, and of course, Death Valley. I probably won't post for awhile, but I fully expect to continue this blog after I get back to school, so keep checking back!

Hope everyone has a great remainder of the week!

My Random Thoughts

Usually when I post I have a specific thought in mind...but tonight, I think I'm just going to fill this blank space with whatever thoughts come to mind...most of them should deal with the implant, but occasionally a random thought might get in there!

- When I yawn with an implant, I can still hear just as well as if I weren't yawning. I think when you yawn, it forces your ear canal shut or something, which blocks the sound...which was the case with my hearing aids. However, since my implant bypasses the ear canal and goes straight to the cochlea, nothing is getting shut down and my hearing is completely unaffected!
- I just graduated to being able to wear headphones and listen to music on my computer...through my implanted ear! The sound isn't perfect, but I've heard the Red Hot Chili Peppers SO much in the last few years of my life, that I figured my brain could fill in anything that is less than perfect...yeah!
- Clemson football will win at LEAST 8 games this year in the regular season...I hope and expect them to win more, but I am predicting at least 8 for now. Mark my words.
- I'm slowly getting more comfortable with having that big device behind my ear! No longer do I worry about whether or not people in a restaurant are in view of my implant, nor do I really care what people think when they pass me in the car on the left side...you may think this is a silly fear to have, but I doubt anyone reading this can truly say they have not once worried about what others might think of them! Besides, like I said, I'm gettin over this one!
- Surprisingly, I am not too scared about going back to school, even with an implant untested in a school environment. I think it's a combination of family, Clemson, and friends who have gotten me to this point of confidence in such a short amount of time!
- I thought having to change batteries for my implant once every two days was going to be a pain in the butt, but it hasn't been so far!
- There is a girl, a Clemson Girl, who makes me smile everytime I see her or talk to her! :)
- Since I started wearing my implant, on June 29th, I have gone through 10 battery packs. Each battery pack has six batteries, and each time I must change batteries, I use three batteries at a time. Therefore, I have already used 60 batteries, in a little under a month and a half. At this rate, I could go through 720 batteries a year. I would recommend all of you investing in powerOne battieries...I'm keeping them in business! j/k!!
- It's kind of cool to know magnetic objects can be stuck to my head...might come in handy someday!
- How impressive is it that my implant can withstand the 100% humidity of Charleston, SC like a champ! Having spent years completely frustrated with my hearing aids being absolute wimps when it comes to the slightest drop of sweat, it is quite refreshing to wear my implant with complete confidence that it can withstand the sweat and humidity.
- I couldn't have chosen a better time to get an implant...the technology of the Cochlear Freedom is unbelievably advanced, more than I ever could imagine possible!
- I wonder how many of you tried to yawn after you read my first random observation to see what the heck I was talkin about! :)
- The positives of having an implant have already begun to outweigh any of the negatives...meaning that my decision to get an implant has already proved to be a worthwhile one!
- It is wicked cool to stand in the bathroom at night and hear the clock on my wall ticking away the seconds...I can't believe that I've missed it for 18 years!
- On the same token, I always thought wind chimes were stupid, until I heard them for the first time the other day.
- Nothing beats a Charleston sunset over the harbor...except maybe a Charleston sunrise at the beach.
- Moe's is good eatin. So is Mac's in Clemson! Having just said that, I will have to contemplate any hidden meanings beneath the fact that two of my favorite places to eat are named after people with three letter names that start with M.
- I need a new hat...I've worn the same Hyperlite hat for nearly four years, and if you've seen it, you know it's probably time for me to get a new one.
- Speaking of hats, one of my fears before getting an implant was not being able to wear a hat due to the location of the magnet. While the magnet is in the way like I feared, I can wear adjustable hats and adjust them so they are loose enough to fit over the magnet. I actually like doing this, because it makes me feel like the magnet is more secure. Unfortunately, even XL fitted hats are uncomfortable, so as long as I have an adjustable band, I'm good to go!
- My family means the world to me. They always have, but there's something about going to school, and then having a chance to come home to them for the summer that gives you a refreshing reminder at how much they mean to you.
- Finally, life is good!

That's all for now, y'all! Hope you've had an awesome summer, whether it's been spent workin, at school, or just being lazy, like me!

Patience, Patience, Patience

I have a few more things to add to my list of things I have heard recently, so I'll share them with you now:

- I heard the sirens of an ambulance almost as soon as I saw the vehicle on the road today. Usually, I see the vehicle, and it passes me, and THEN I hear the sirens!
- Heard Alan whistling in the car on the way to Clemson.
- I always knew referees blew the whistle several times at the end of a soccer match, but I never knew how many times, or even when they blew the whistle. Now, when I play Fifa 2004 on my Xbox, I can hear the ref blowing his whistle to signal the end of the game, or even to call a foul on a player!
- John was brushing his teeth in the bathroom, about twent feet down the hall...not only did I hear him actually brushing his teeth, but I heard him turn the water on and off several times.

I know there's more...but they are escaping me right now.

The fact of the matter is, my hearing is improving in a huge way, mainly because of my newfound ability to hear high frequency sounds. My ability to understand these sounds, however, is still needing some work. I have no trouble hearing people calling me or hearing people talking close by...however, I am still lacking the ability to understand those voices.

To prove my point, I should tell you about the results of a hearing test I did recently. I actually visited the hospital on Tuesday, a week and a half ago, but since then, I've had a few exciting things happen that have kept me extremely busy and pre-occupied...things have finally settled down to the point that I could take the time to add some more to this blog! :-)

The following gets a bit technical, and I will add a disclaimer here stating that while I am fairly positive that I'm getting the terms and information down straight, I'm not an audiologist, so I might get a few simple facts wrong, but the larger issue remains the same!

The first test we did was with a series of beeps, that helped determine the shape of my audiogram. An audiogram is basically a chart featuring decibels (the level of sound, or how loud it is) and then frequency ranges on the x-axis (from low, to high, as you move to the right on the axis). At the very top of the audiogram (I'm thinking around the range of 20-40 decibels), there is a shaded box. This box signifies what is known as the conversation range. Normal conversation between humans occurs in this range, and for a person with normal hearing, they can hear equally well across all frequencies at the top of this range.

Before my operation, in my left ear, I could her low frequency sounds at several decibel levels below the conversation range. As we moved across the frequency range, towards higher frequencies, my hearing dropped drmatically, to the point where there was no response to any of the highest frequencies.

The results of the test over a week ago showed a remarkable improvement! My ability to hear low-frequency sounds has moved to the top of the conversation range, and there is actually a fairly straight line moving across towards the high frequency (which is good, because it means I can hear equally well at different frequencies), but as it gets to the highest frequencies, it does drop off a tiny bit. However, this is to be expected, as I am still in the process of getting used to the newness of these frequencies. Nonetheless, even with this slight dip, there is a significant improvement in my ability to hear high frequency sounds, and that's what matters!

When it comes to listening comprehension, however, my hearing in my left, implanted ear is still leaves much to be desired. The next test we did involved listening to a recorded voice saying twenty sentences. My job was to repeat the sentences, and because they were recorded, I could not read any lips. I didn't get many full sentences right, but I did get parts of some sentences, to the point that I think I scored around 18% for the first twenty sentences. The next twenty sentences, after I'd gotten a bit used to the man's voice, I think I scored just below 40%! I must admit, I was very frustrated during this particular test, as I could hear the man talking, but could not for the life of me know for sure what he was saying. I was flat out guessing and doing my best to create sentences that at least sounded like what i'd heard!

The last test I did was repeating fifty recorded words. Unfortunately, I got ONE word correct out of those fifty. This may sound horrible, and it certainly did to me, but Abby told me partial credit gave me a score of about 18%. In this test, partial credit comes from getting certain sounds in a word right. For example, if the man said 'feet', and I repeated 'meet', I'd get partial credit for at least getting the 'eet' sound right. It's important to remember, also, that people do not converse in single word sentences. Whereas the sentence test I described a paragraph ago may be more accurate in determining how well I can converse with others and not lipread (obviously not too well, yet!), this test is more accuraate in showing Abby what sounds I am having trouble understanding and what sounds I can hear just fine. Finally, the national average for regular implant users in this test is about 40%, which means I'm already halfway to the status quo, and I've only worn my implant for a little over a month!

If you are still reading, thank you for not being too bored! It took me awhile to figure out how to type all this in a way that it might make sense, and I'm still not sure if I did that.

I have some other things I'd love to share, and I should be posting those in the next few days or so.