Comments on: Technology Changing Lives

By: Andy’s Techie Blog » Blog Archive » 2010 has been a year of….

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:13:13 +0000

[...] wife Bryony had her operation over the Christmas of 2009 with the recovery and switch on happening in the January of [...]

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:06:51 +0000

Yup, hearing aids just ‘shout’ at you and we can hear some surprising things. Someone sitting next to me turning their newspaper can be intensely irritating. As my hearing has worsened, they shout at me more and help me less. I had my CI implanted a few days ago and was born deaf, so I am quite apprehensive about the difference in quality of hearing I am going to experience. It’s the unknown quantity that unnerves me. But – que sera sera!

By: Luffer

Luffer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:56:34 +0000

Indeed, she lost her hearing over several years but never noticed it herself because it was gradual. It wasn’t until one particular incident when a jet plane went over head and we all commented on how loud it was and my mother just replied “What plane?”…

A bit of joking ensued along the lines of “you must be deaf if you couldn’t hear that!” etc… But then quickly realised she should get her hearing tested. The results were a bit surprising to find out just how much of her hearing she had lost without anyone really noticing.

To suddenly use hearing aids was a massive shock to her system. She used to complain how loud someone typing at a keyboard was, or even turning a page in a magazine. All these little things were a massive intrusion into her life all of a sudden. Her brain had to reprogram itself to filter out all the background noises we all learn to do naturally.

Her hearing was so sensitive that at the time I recall her asking what a loud crackling noise was because it was driving her mad. We couldn’t hear anything, or so we thought. Then it tuned out she could hear the frying pan in the kitchen two rooms away! When we listened for it of course it was there, but we were able to ignore it. However, it was a huge irritation to my mother and it took several months for her to feel comfortable wearing them.

By: Susanne

Susanne — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:55:56 +0000

This is fantastic news and really shows how technology can have such a positive effect on people personally. Best of luck to you both and I know we’ll all be keen to find out how it goes!

By: AndyParkes

AndyParkes — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:34:54 +0000

Thanks Luffer,

She is profoundly deaf, without her hearing aid she hears nothing at all!

I’m sure I’ll update the blog after the operation but her blog will have the full details! (www.thedeafone.co.uk)

Glad your mother got used to them, must be weird hearing nothing then having to switch to a massive amount of noise!

By: Luffer

Luffer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:02:48 +0000

I meant to add that as time passed my mother became used to the hearing aids and loves them now. It wasn’t meant to be a negative point!

By: Luffer

Luffer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:00:59 +0000

That is fantastic news and I hope the operation is a success! To what extent is your wife deaf? Does she have any hearing at all?

My mother is partially deaf and when she started wearing hearing aids a few years ago she hated it. The noise was a massive intrusion into her life that she just wasn’t used to. I’m sure your wife will receive excellent care both during and after the procedure but it must be a very scary and frightening prospect. Although I’m sure she is equally as excited!

Please update your blog with her progress over the coming weeks. I wish her the very best and hope that you both have a fantastic start to the new year. A whole world of new experiences await!