Becoming Bimodal. The CI Journey continues.

What is Bimodal I hear you ask?

 Bimodal is using two different modes. In my case I am now using a Cochlear Implant and a Hearing Aid to hear, two very different bits of equipment. This means I am now 'Bimodal' *Yay*

About a month ago I was invited to get my 'Naida Link' Hearing Aid from the Audiologist, a hearing aid that has been especially designed by Advanced Bionics (the clever makers of my Naida Q90 Cochlear Implant Processor) in collaboration with Phonak (the clever makers of the Natho hearing aids that I was wearing previously). Although this had always been the plan all along, to become bimodal, I was nervous about this next step for various reasons:

 1. After 23 (I was three when I started wearing them) years of wearing ear moulds, I relished not having to wear anything in my ears. I was loving it! With just one CI on my right side which does not need ear moulds, I felt light, as if there was nothing in or on my ears. The sensation of the wind blowing felt strange at first but I found something about it so comforting. I didn't want to give it up so soon.

 2. When I was first activated in February, my brain was overwhelmed and it impacted upon my work and my health. Was this going to be yet another huge hurdle to overcome? I still felt like a newbie at work, always three steps behind everyone else. Was this going to be another step back?

 3. What if I didn't like it? What if it was a huge let down after all the anticipation? What if, having finally gotten used to the sounds of the Cochlear Implant, my brain would give up on all that I had learnt, ignore the new frequencies that I could now hear, the 's' sounds that people always seem to add to their words that never used to be there before, and simply reset to factory settings? The old reliable hearing aid that at least provided me with the low frequencies, just enough to get by with the nod and smile.

All at once it was time for the appointment. In theory, it was a long wait but at that time it felt barely long enough. The appointment was short, just an hour for mapping. I was given a choice of colours but I felt compelled to take the same colour as my processor (sandy beige), even if the silver did take my eye. The hearing aid was programmed based on my Audiogram, a click of a button. I wasn't even sure I'd remember how to put it on after all this time, but I did.

 "How does it sound?" A question I always dread. I never know what to say nor find the right words. It sounded squeaky and surreal. Like voices didn't match the pattern of lips again. I wasn't actually disappointed, I was expecting another adjustment period but it was frustrating that lipreading would be difficult again. The Audiologist really helped though. She put absolutely no pressure on it at all. She said I should take my time with it, maybe wear it an hour a day to build it up and go from there. She even asked if I wanted to take it off for the journey home. I declined, I knew I had a long way to go and I was determined to start right there. The low frequencies from the hearing aid combined with the high frequencies of the processor meant that voices went up and down, like a mix match of sounds, squeaky. My voice sounded much deeper than I expected and very  metallic. It felt like having just been activated again, when voices had lost their natural touch that I'd spent months on identifying. I reminded myself, again and again, it won't always be like this, my brain just needs time.

 And I was right. Although I have to admit the first week after the appointment I had been swamped at work and didn't have much motivation or energy to wear it in the evenings but I did try an hour here and there when I remembered. About two weeks later I wore it for a whole evening and I decided to take the plunge and wore it for the next day at work, and then the next and the next. Within a few days of wearing it all day, it all began to sound natural again but with the added bonus of lower frequency sounds. Men sounded like men and women, although some still squeak, began to sound clearer, as if being Bimodal added clarity. Sounds were no longer always happening on the right side (CI side) of my head, they were sometimes happening on my left (HA side).

The first time I did a Parkrun with Bimodal hearing, two ladies were talking to each other as they ran past my left side and I remember turning to them and thinking, its been a long time since I've heard anyone on that side. Don't get me wrong, I'm still terrible at localisation but now I have a fighting chance. One of the benefits of wearing the Advanced Bionics CI and HA duo is that they are programmed to work together. They have different programmes depending on what functions you'd like, for example, music, focus (good in small groups) and also the option to stream all the sound into one side. I'm still playing around with all of the functions and I've still got lots to learn but isn't technology just amazing?

 I've now been activated for 8 months and Bimodal for 1. I recently went back to the hospital for a check up and to assess how well I am hearing with them. These are my results of the speech test whereby sentences were read out and I had to repeat what I had heard.

In Quiet
Hearing Aid Only          18%
Cochlear Implant Only  94%
CI + HA                         94%

In Noise
CI Only                          44%
CI + HA                         76%

When it is quiet the Hearing Aid doesn't provide much support, yet when it is noisy it really begins kicks in. For example previously when I am in noisy situations e.g. the staff room and I am trying to have conversation with just one person I found it really difficult with just my CI on. Now it feels slightly easier but I still get distracted easily. I now have the hearing aid of an 8 month old so, really it is understandable that I get distracted by shiny things and in particular things that crinkle and scrape (ouch!).

 For those of you who are unsure about getting a Cochlear Implant or becoming Bimodal, I'd just like to say, I understand. I've been there, arguing with myself about it, worrying about all the potential outcomes, but ultimately, it is your decision. Whatever you decide, embrace it.

 I took the journey, I have no regrets and I'm never looking back.