Jump to content

Mary Beth: My hearing loss and CI story


Mary Beth

Recommended Posts

  • HearPeers Heroes

From One CI User to Another:  My Hearing Loss & CI Journey

Mary Beth

 

My hearing story

I was born with typical hearing but by age 13 my progressive hearing loss began.  I have otosclerosis which is genetic but my version started earlier than normal and progressed faster than normal.  My hearing continued to decline.  The doctors tried to surgically fix the hearing in my right ear but after 4 surgeries on that ear, I had lost total hearing in that ear.  So for the next 24 years I only heard from the hearing aid in my left ear.  I needed more and more powerful hearing aids as time went on.  Eventually hearing aids just were not enough.  My world was shrinking as I needed to rely on speech reading with the left hearing aid to follow conversations.  I am a teacher and hearing all day in class was exhausting.  I came home tired and frustrated from the challenges of listening every day.

 

So in late 2014 I went for an evaluation to see if a cochlear implant would help.

 

My dead ear was implanted first in February 2015 and turned on (activated) in March.  At first it only heard static and beeps but within hours it was starting to hear words.  Absolutely amazing!  I practiced with listening exercises and apps every day and every day I could hear and understand more and more.  Absolutely life changing!

 

I could not wait to get my left ear implanted and hear this good in both ears.  My left ear was implanted 8 months after my right.  Within months of its activation I was listening with balanced ears for the first time in decades.  It is so awesome!

 

I remember very well how frustrated and anxious I felt before getting a cochlear implant.  These CIs have been the best decision ever for me.  Life changing.  Wishing you the very best!

 

My hearing loss and journey to cochlear implants

Podcast interview with transcription

https://cochlearimplantbasics.com/2021/06/mary-beth-napoli/

 

First cochlear implant

Guest blog

https://blog.medel.com/why-a-teacher-of-the-deaf-chose-a-med-el-cochlear-implant/

 

Second cochlear implant

Guest blog

https://blog.medel.com/bilateral-cochlear-implants-mary-beths-story/

 

Cochlear Implants:  Selection and Activation

YouTube captioned video

https://youtu.be/uAG0fCgafqk

 

Cochlear implants and music journey

Guest blog

https://blog.medel.com/3-steps-to-rediscovering-music-with-a-cochlear-implant/

 

YouTube captioned video

https://youtu.be/1WNwVDH9G2k

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Wow that's a journey, there's certainly seems to be a lot of different points of view, but in general everyone seems to be happy with their choices.

Thank you for your story.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 weeks later...

Hi Mary Beth,

I hope you are doing well.

I was wondering if there is any update for this topic: "Trying to receive Roger input only with Sonnet 21".

I actually have the Roger 02 X receiver. Seems like Roger connected to Sonnet is preset for 50/50 when ideally should be 100/0.

Were you able to figure out how to change this setting to get ONLY Roger input with Sonnet without surrounding sound?

Please let me know.

All the best,

Rosane

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HearPeers Heroes

@Rosane

The only way to get Roger only (100/0) mix with Sonnet/Sonnet2 is to use the Roger neckloop or Roger MyLink neckloop with the Sonnet/Sonnet2 set on T.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you, Mary Beth!

I find it pretty intriguing there is no easy/better solution since the main point of using a Roger Pen is exactly to isolate external sounds and be able to hear better one source. 

Best,

Rosane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • HearPeers Heroes

@Rosane

in the school system we use Roger technology often for our deaf and hard of hearing students.  In those settings we use 50/50 mix so students hear their teachers, their classmates and themselves.

 

When I stream audiobooks everyday for pleasure, I prefer streaming audio only.  The Artone 3 MAX BT neckloop lets me stream from my phone to my Sonnets and T lets me hear the book only.  I am a fan.  Here is a link to my captioned review in case you are interested.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for the info, Mary Beth.

 

It's helpful indeed. I would still be interested in finding a solution with no need to use an additional tool. 

I would imagine that Med El and Roger should be able to find a way to create a setting to choose either 50/50 or 100/0. 

The 50/50 setting for the school situation as you mentioned is ideal. But there should be an option for those that need 100/0.

 

Thank you for sending the video - I will look into this tool. 

all the best,

Rosane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 months later...
  • HearPeers Heroes

Was asked about this link so just loving it up to the top.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...