I promised an update and explanation of my ‘experiment’. It turns out to be rather anticlimactic. No mental anguish or hearing struggles to report. However, I once again proved to myself that I CAN learn new tricks!
At my recent mapping, I learned that there were 4 electrodes off in my older left side C1 cochlear implant. I do remember when two of those were turned off at my request because of poor sound quality out of that channel. There is no memory of the other two being turned off or of my being made aware of the fact that they were off. My audiologist explained how an electrode will automatically be turned off by the mapping software if the impedance is higher than normal and this is what was happening when I was mapped with SAS, a strategy that I have been using on the left side for the last ten years.
Interestingly enough, when mapped with MPS, those two electrodes stayed on. I had tried MPS a few years into my CI experience and did not feel I could make the switch from SAS to MPS. Lately however, I had been wondering if I should try again. My audiologist agreed that it would be worth a try and encouraged me to make the attempt. Doing so would give my 2 more electrodes and might result in better hearing with my left ear in the long run.
She suggested that I switch over on Friday after work. I tested the waters a bit prior to Friday and I didn’t like what I heard very much. By the time Friday came along, I was having second thoughts. It was a busy weekend ahead so I would be out and about, not just hanging around the house. I would have to risk not being able to hear at some events. Generally, I'm not willing to take any unnecessary risks when it comes to hearing. However, I was also feeling a need to do this. I finally decided I just had to go cold turkey and switch it over. So I took a deep breath and made the switch. Thirty minutes later, it wasn’t sounding too bad.
I went to my afternoon dentist appointment and was shocked at how loud the office was. Sitting in the dental chair, I realized this was my first visit since being bilateral. I could hear people in the other rooms and when she started cleaning my teeth, I could hear her scraping them! Wow, I had no idea that all these sounds were there. Saturday, I attended a bridal shower and then we went for dinner and a movie. By Sunday night I was feeling pretty good about MPS! It still sounded a bit strange, but was improving steadily.
Having the Harmony on my right ear made the difference. It gave me an ear to depend on while the other side adjusted to the new strategy. It’s now a 9 days after the switch and I know I will not be going back to SAS. I’ve switched back a few times to see what it sounded like and it sounds very harsh. A year ago, I would have said I was going to be using SAS forever! It will be interesting to see how that ear tests when I go back in August, but it sure feels like I am hearing even better now than I was two weeks ago.
Getting out of the comfort zone can be a good thing sometimes!
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