Ultimate 3-D Surround Sound System... in my head!

I just had a second remapping of my left bionic ear and 23rd mapping of my right bionic ear ( I think so) - and my hearing is much better than before. I am no longer hearing any beepings in my left ear, but now I am trying to hear more new sounds. But -

The best thing of being a bi-lateral is hearing the world in 360 degrees and 3-D SURROUND SOUND. Whoa!!! This is way better than anything else I have tried before.

One night, I had a dinner with a large group, I learned that I can hear lots of people talking around me - my mind was able to tell me where they are, how far they are, and more. Then I closed my eyes for a moment, I still can see the whole room just by hearing. Even they moved around, I still can follow them, too. Whoa. I did not even realize to experience that. It was one wild moment for me.

One time, I heard the incoming footsteps in my left ear - and I went to that direction to check it out. But I passed the stairway and then I can hear it again in my right ear as it was from the stairway. I didn't trust my mind, so I waited to see if my mind was right. Yes, these footsteps was coming down from the stairway as a gentleman was stepping down. It was only 6 days of hearing with my left ear and as bi-laterial.

I am learning that I can hear many more by being bi-laterial! Whoa. Sweeeet!!!!

Back from Advanced Bionics

Hi,

I am back from California - and I really had a blast being with Advanced Bionics staffs and also with volunteers like me!

I am an volunteer with Advanced Bionics - the reason I am doing this is that I am giving back to the company for everything they worked so hard for my hearing. And the best thing of all is that staffs at Advanced Bionics are are SO COOL!

The volunteers who came to the meeting are from Canada and United States - and they are awesome! They really gave me lots of pride in being a volunteer. Some volunteers have own cochlear implant and some are parents of children with their own cochlear implants. All of volunteers really enjoyed doing helping patients and parents with cochlear implants and more.

We had a presentations, meals, dinner, beers, and even we had a tour of the plant where they manufacture every piece of implant and processor. These were handmade, done American Way, and often labor intensive. The production staffs do have pride in every single cochlear implant that goes into every patient like me.

It was a great experience being with Advanced Bionics. I am still thinking of it, too.

My left bionic ear, day 6

It's been only 6 days of hearing with my left cochlear implant and it's great. The hearing is still coming, still beeping. It is time for another cochlear implant re-programming (aka re-mapping) - and it gets better with every re-mapping.

This afternoon I am flying to Valencia, California for an advanced volunteer's meeting with Advanced Bionics, the maker of my cochlear implant. I look forward to meet the company staffs and those volunteers who are invited to come. The purpose of this meeting is to extend our skills and share experience among other volunteers for helping bionic cochlear candidates and patients.

Also we have an opportunity for a tour of the plant where they manufacture the cochlear implant, too.

Listening to the Mass Media...

Hi,

Today is my second day of hearing with left cochlear implant and 435th day (1 year, 2 months, 9 days) with my right cochlear implant... and I really enjoy listening to music more than ever.

The "Great Hearing Adaptation Process" is underway for my left ear. I still hear all those beeps and booppps in my left ear.... very nice, very sweet. SWEET!!!

I always know that hearing the music can help me to learn more of what these the beeps, beeeeeeepppps, and boooeeepps represent... so I can get more out of my bionic cochlear faster and much sooner than I want to. (Being in silence won't do any good!) I listen to many downloaded MP3's, radio, CD's, TV's and more. (try without closed captioning,too!)

Also I like to listening the talk shows - it does not matter if I misunderstand some words I heard, but it helps me to understand the differences between musical and voiced sounds. This is very important and critical for better listening skills.

Someday soon, all these beep's will go away in my left ear, but I will be hearing normally as much as my right ear does. Our minds are so adaptable!

Enjoy!

Hearing Downtown San Antonio

I work at headquarters at world's largest communication in downtown San Antonio, right on the Riverwalk. I decided to take a long walk at lunch break because my doctor advised me to work on my balance by taking long walks.

The cochlear implant surgery has affected my balance in a small way, but it is "recoverable" by doing more activities like walking and exercising. It is no big deal, and what a great reason to spend the lunch hour by walking on the Riverwalk.

As I went outside on a sidewalk I can now tell where all the sounds is coming from! I can tell a incoming motorcycle on my left side, behind me, and is approaching very fast. Cool. I guess I really can see everything behind my back by hearing!!! And the buses are noisy - and even worse when it brakes to a stop.

When I was on the Riverwalk, I can hear and spot the crackles, mallards, and robins... hearing people talking around me and everywhere is great, and it gave me a new sense of perspective about my surroundings... And I can hear tapping of feet and clatter of dishes in a diner... and too many to pay attention to!

I think I am going to learn more about my hearing perception than hearing the new sounds!

Second Sounds!!! (Left Bionic Implant ACTIVATED!)

Beeeeooppppp..... beeeeeeoooooppppp!

I just got my left implant activated this morning. Wow!! It is so nice to hear it again, too. It is so pleasant to hear, and no more virbration at all. The sounds (actually "beeps") are smooth and crispy to hear it. It is very different from what heard the first time on my right ear a year ago. But I really like it!

My daugher, Sophia, almost 8 months old, has been very helpful with me with my "Second Sounds" experience. She made lots of voices, clapping, and banging to be sure that my implant is working. She is right! She smiled big, too! And my wife Lizzie videotaped this moment.

Wow, I really like to hear both of my bionic implants at same time... wow... and I can even tell where all the sounds is from... and I am very pleased. In my left ear, I am still hearing beeps, but it does not matter today because I am learning to hear all over again, with help from the right ear... and I am not yet overwhelmed, but I think I will be very pleased all the way!

I am ready for hearing new sounds!!!

This is an audiogram of my left ear... but the green dashed lines is what normal hearing should be... is where I am hoping for!

Now Healing!!! Sophia and I having fun with ear bandages!  

Successful Left Bionic Cochlear Surgery!!!

Hi, I am home! I just had an successful bionic cochlear implant surgery this afternoon - it went so well and it took about two hours. I am up and walking but carefully. But I am taking lots of nap so my ear can heal fast.

I wish I can go to see "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" today, but I decided to wait until I get my "Second Sounds" (left bionic cochlear activated) in two weeks! It will be so cool to hear all these sound effects in THX format!!! I'll let you know what I think of the movie soon...

Thanks for all your support and prayers!

Dan

Tomorrow is the big day....

Tomorrow is the big day for my left ear bionic implant surgery...

And I am trying hard not to think of the bionic cochlear implant procedure that is still going on in my mind. Aaaauughhh!!!! ha ha ha


:-)

Three more days....

Wow, I have three more days for my bionic cochlear implant surgery on my left ear. I'm not that nervous, but I am eager to get this surgery experience behind me. I am still wearing amplifed hearing aid in my left ear - and there was a loud talking going on behind me and it hurted my ear drum so I had to turn it down. What a bummer. But that won't happen again after my "Second Sounds"....

Learn to Listen the sounds around us...

This webpage includes every sound possible - and this is a good listening practice, too.

http://www.findsounds.com/types.html