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An Issue I've Never Heard Anyone Else Talk About


Alfred

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Hi, All

I was born profoundly hearing impaired in both ears (essentially sound-free without H/As) and have always worn the strongest hearing aids available. A couple years ago, my right ear shut off and I have since been fitted with an implant. I've had it now for about 9 months and I LOVE IT, but I don't wear it very often. 

All my life I've had the 'ability' to turn my hearing off and on at will and CI has removed that option for me as there is no way to turn it off short of removing the magnet from my head. If I do this, the magnet then dangles at the end of its tether and swings around like a rogue earring, so I have to take it off to prevent that. Then I have to do something with it, because it's valuable and expensive and I don't want to just shove it in my jeans pocket, so then I have to carry a case to put it in and then put the case in my pocket. So if I do this, it becomes an issue to get it back out, turn it back on (pull the casing off and put it back on) and place it on my head. 

This is far too laborious for lazy me. I've found that rather than go through that, I only wear the processor on special occasions, which is sort of defeating the purpose.

 

I've spoken to my audiologist and the whole team agrees I should just put it on and leave it there and not turn it off ever. I'm 55. I've been doing this my whole life. Now I am no longer able to turn my ear off at will? I'm afraid I've wasted everyone's time and  money, because at this rate, I may just wind up never using anymore and it makes me sad to think of it, but between always-on and always-off, I tend to lean to the quieter option.

The whole thing is affecting me mentally. I feel bad, like I'm disappointing everyone involved. 

Does anyone else have this problem? Any solutions? Is there any way to turn of a processor shy of removing the casing?

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

-Alfred

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@Alfred

There are ways to let you do this.  Which processor do you use?

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@Alfred

 

There are two ways to do this that I am aware of.

1). Have your CI audiologist create a program for you that has each electrode set too quiet for you to hear.  When you want to be in quiet just use your remote to move into this program.

2).  The new remote (Fine Tuner Echo) has a monitoring mode which mutes the mics.

 

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@Alfred I have the sonnet and I take one program (for me this is program 4) and I turn the volume all the way down, keep turning the volume down until you can no longer hear anything and voila now you have a ‘mute’ program slot. That is what I do and it works well. Perfect for that quick cat nap in the recliner. 

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You are welcome @Alfred.  Please do not lose hope.  You can most definitely find a way to wear your Sonnet yet have it muted for those times you wish to be in silence.  Wishing you the best on your journey.  Let us know how things are going.

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