Life with a Cochlear Implant

Pet peeves of the internet
Life with a Cochlear Implant My most hated thing is certain people trying to force their views/ideas on other parents. What worked for your family will not work on other! Not all children are exactly the same! deaf children are deaf, their first language might be BSL/ASL or spoken language. Or they might wear HA/CI's or nothing at all!  I understand if you try and share your experiences but don'...
Wed, May 21 2014

Took a HUGE step today
Life with a Cochlear Implant And I'm proud of myself for doing it, my nerves didn't get to me like they normally do. Okay, okay I have been putting it off for three days but oh well!GO read here.  [link]
Fri, May 16 2014

Cochlear Loaner
Life with a Cochlear Implant I was considering joining the Cochlear Loaner programme so I could have a spare processor to take with me while travelling, so I got the information sent to me and stuff and I have decided against it now [link] am getting excited as the days and weeks go on. I have a lot of holidays to take before I even go which I am pleased about but I am not pleased about actually...
Wed, May 14 2014

See Hear
Life with a Cochlear Implant I watched See Hear today, a TV programme for deaf and hard of hearing viewers. Today, it was going back 50 years and discussing a programme called Horizon which showed a programme on deafness. It seemed to focus more on oralism.Some of the experiments actually took place at Manchester University's Audiology Centre, and it was interesting to watch children back then an...
Sat, May 10 2014

First itinerary
Life with a Cochlear Implant Our first rough Itinerary has been printed off for our trip, we are aiming for September/October and will be away for 2 months(We may stay longer/depending on funds)I cannot wait!
Tue, May 06 2014

If you had the money...
Life with a Cochlear Implant Would you fund a CI yourself? Completely wish I would, my CI care would probably be better too!I am not completely satisfied in Manchester, but hey what can I do?They are very reluctant to see me and they said they would help me but didn't...
Tue, Apr 29 2014

Just stumbled across this link on Twitter Quite...
Life with a Cochlear Implant Just stumbled across this link on Twitter Quite interesting since I am definately interested [link]
Mon, Apr 28 2014

Bilateral
Life with a Cochlear Implant Does anybody know of any updates from NICE about bilateral implants? Wondering when this will be possible for us? Four years ago I was asked by Manchester if I wanted to become bilateral but they asked me too late. It was a month before my 20th birthday and I was too old!
Mon, Apr 28 2014

Deafness and the rest.
Life with a Cochlear Implant I can't remember but I was SURE I already posted this, anyway if anybody remembers or knows the link to it please let me know!To me, deafness is not hearing loss. It affects me in every way, emotionally. It is frustration, destroys my self esteem, confidence and of course affects my communication ability and I am stuck between two worlds. I prefer the deaf world but p...
Sun, Apr 27 2014

March 23rd 2014 NASA
Life with a Cochlear Implant Looks like I will never catch up with the holiday posts so I am posting some photos from one of my favourite trips. That was of course the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida. We went there on March 23rd 2014. It was a very long day, our coach picked us up from Port Canaveral and took us to the Space Center which was not that far away and took us to the airport w...
Sun, Apr 27 2014

Very close
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am almost done reading my book, I am hoping to finish it this week. It's hard when you are in work 45 hours a week! Weekends are way too short!I already finished watched the Fosters and craving more, but it doesn't return until June then it won't be on Netflix till Aug/Sept! I am almost done with Switched at Birth too!I am starting to save up for travelling around E...
Sun, Apr 27 2014

A Willow post!
Life with a Cochlear Implant Willow has been home almost a month now :) she has settled so well and loves to spend her nights on my mum's lap! She is great comfort to when O am home alone even though she does not come to me, just seeing her there helps. Willow is one crazy daft cat but we love her! Every day she goes out she does not go far and is always nearby when we shout her to come in! She d...
Fri, Apr 25 2014

Not official news yet....
Life with a Cochlear Implant But in few months or so we will be travelling around Europe so I now need to start thinking of things that I need to get.My list currently consists ofSpare processor(does CI teams normally give out spare CI for a long period of time?)Batteries(tons!)Spare mic coversSpare coilsDry and store(I have the Breeze but the Zephyr seems much smaller? And I need some dry bricks...
Tue, Apr 22 2014

New :)
Life with a Cochlear Implant Today I became the owner of a brand new IPhone 5s! I have wanted one for years and never actually got one! I already have an Ipad but gettin an iphone was my dream and it finally came true!  I am going to spend the evening reading my book and see if I can finish it soon.  It is 8.20pm so a relaxing night with a book, booze, chocolate and tv is in the plans!  Have...
Sat, Apr 19 2014

Long Bank Holiday Weekend
Life with a Cochlear Implant Those who work in a Private Day Nursery like myself survive for weekends, planned holidays and long bank holiday.I am hoping to upgrade my phone today which I am really excited about, I just hope they'll let me! Anyway tomorrow I have plans to go to the cinema with my mum and Monday bowling and Nando's with my good friends! I love weekends!
Sat, Apr 19 2014

Some Holiday Photos
Life with a Cochlear Implant Photos of the ship, sunrise and sunset, Port Canaveral, Coco Cay, the plane, Shrek and Puss in Boots. Loved every moment of this two week holiday(vacation)
Fri, Apr 18 2014

More Deaf Awareness
Life with a Cochlear Implant In the past two days I have noticed more and more deaf awareness, Thursday Morning I was at the tills in my local Tesco and the cashier signed bag for me and I said yes please. She knew I am deaf because I am a regular and my HA was visibleYesterday I was in Morrison and a lady tapped me and pointed to the floor, I had dropped my pen. My CI and HA was visibleSome peop...
Fri, Apr 18 2014

How often do you go for hearing check ups?
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am curious, how often do you go for hearing check ups? I haven't had a hearing test since 2009(for my CI) and 2011 for my HA(rough estimates)I am sure there is much better technology out there available for my HA ear.
Fri, Apr 18 2014

When to go to audiology
Life with a Cochlear Implant In my previous post I mentioned maybe having to get my hearing aid checked out, here I explain more.Most days I have to make sure my ear mould is wax free, blow water out of the tubing and check the batteru but still doesn't make a difference to sound quality. I am not sure if it's the hearing aid or just me being awkward
Thu, Apr 17 2014

Reading
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am still reading that book that I bought a few weeks ago, I watched the film on the plane coming back to England from Orlando. The reason it is taking me so long to read it is because I work 10 hours 5 days a week so I am lucky if I get chance to read a few pages/a chapter a day! It is good, but lot of things in the book never actually happened in the film so it is ...
Thu, Apr 17 2014

A lot has happened in the past few weeks!!
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am debating whether to get audiology to check my hearing aid out, most evenings the battery is very low, I can barely hear or the battery goes really quickly. I have had my hearing aid for about two years ish now so I think it's time for a check. I am not followed by audiology services really anymore, its more of when I need it basis.I think my prescription has chan...
Wed, Apr 16 2014

Autism Awareness Day
Life with a Cochlear Implant I know this was a few days ago now but my ship Freedom of the Seas(and the company Royal Carribean) does Make-A-Wish and the last week of the holiday they helped children from Autism of the Seas(a autism group) to enjoy a holiday :) [link] the last day before we docked at Port Canaveral there was a walk for Make A Wish, you could just buy a tshirt or as well particip...
Thu, Apr 03 2014

Slowly catching up
Life with a Cochlear Implant But I will get there with the holiday posts. I am going to start a few new polls just to get an idea of things.I haven't yet started my book, but today is Mother's Day so I am enjoying the day with my mum and our Willow!
Sun, Mar 30 2014

A funny picture!
Life with a Cochlear Implant One of the perks being a Cochlear Implant user, being magnetic!! Didn't have my CI on last night, it has attracted to my internal implant. I went to my friends' house for a joint birthday party with me and another friend who is turning 25 today, anyway another friend had brought a drinking darts game, and I discovered it had a magnet so decided to try it on my head t...
Sun, Mar 30 2014

Willow Update
Life with a Cochlear Implant Willow is still doing really well, has settled into a nice routine and is definately a wild one! She loves to have a wild run from time to time, as if she's chasing something invisible running like a bat out of hell! It is hiliarious and mum and I love her to bits already!She is really good, she will listen to any commands and do whatever immediately. Every morning sh...
Sun, Mar 30 2014

Day 3 March 10th Coco Cay, Bahamas
Life with a Cochlear Implant This is Royal Carribean's private island. It was BEAUTIFUL
Sat, Mar 29 2014

Day 2 Cape Canaveral
Life with a Cochlear Implant We woke up just before sunrise at 6.30am and watched the gorgeous sun rise over Orlando We started our day with breakfast at the Hilton Doubletree Orlando Airport Hotel. We all throughly enjoyed it. There was breakfast bar and plenty to choose from! I ended up having American pancakes(for first time) with syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon and a bit of waffles. We ...
Fri, Mar 28 2014

Reading and work
Life with a Cochlear Implant While I was away, I read two books and I thoroughly enjoyed them, I didn't start reading until a few days in and it only took me three days at the most to complete one book.I will re-edit with the name of the books, but on the airplane I watched a really good film called the Book Thief and I actually found the book in Morrisons the other day, mum mentioned books are n...
Fri, Mar 28 2014

Meet Willow!
Life with a Cochlear Implant Say Hello to Willow! She has settled so well, mum said it took her not long to start wandering about and she ate quick. I looked through the window when I got home and she was sat in the middle of the room and she was watching the window. It didn't take long for her to get used to me, she has let me stroke her.Right now, for the first time she has got into her cat bed...
Fri, Mar 28 2014

Vacation
Life with a Cochlear Implant I returned from my 2 week cruise on Monday, I enjoyed every minute of it and didn't want to come back! I return to work tomorrow.Photos and information about each day will be on soon. Probably after the weekendI also celebrated my 24th birthday yesterday and Willow is my birthday present!
Wed, Mar 26 2014

Introducing.....
Life with a Cochlear Implant my new cat, Willow!I haven't got her yet, Mum will pick her up on Friday after she's had her injections then she will come home. She is black and white and is incredibly cute! She is 10 months old and was took to the Animal Shelter as a strayNo photos of her yet but definately will be soon!
Wed, Mar 26 2014

Florida Day 1
Life with a Cochlear Implant Our day started at 5am(GMT) which is 12am Florida time. I am a nervous flyer and was even more nervous when I heard about the missing Malaysian plane but my doctor had given me something to help me on the flight. I enjoyed and loved everybit of the 9hour and 20 min flight. Thos was the first time I travelled to USA and first time on Virgin Atlantic. Decent food, games...
Sun, Mar 09 2014

Throwback Thursday!
Life with a Cochlear Implant                                                                          Around 1yr old, at my deaf school's speech and language sessions 2nd birthday 2nd birthday At deaf school in Nursery aged three. Nursery school was in a school for the deaf but in nursery most of it consisted of hearing children as the mainstrea...
Thu, Feb 27 2014

Wordless Wednesday
Life with a Cochlear Implant
Wed, Feb 26 2014

Promotion!
Life with a Cochlear Implant Yesterday I was informed that I was being promoted in April, so they will discuss it with me! I am excited for this challenge!!I am looking into doing night courses instead, I really want to do Level 2 BSL as well, I need to see what night courses are available and are definately a option for me due to work hours!Have a good day! Only 10 more days
Wed, Feb 26 2014

Happy Cochlear Implant Awareness Day!
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am a cochlear implant user so knowing me is awareness in itself! Not a lot of people actually know how it works, but to communicate with me is a challenge itself!My Cochlear Implant is a great tool, but not 100% efficient in helping me, as I am still deaf with or without it!A bit of Cochlear Implant Information for you An internal part: a receiver which is surgica...
Tue, Feb 25 2014

So Close yet so Far!
Life with a Cochlear Implant Right now I have decided on a few options for my career, I am weeks away from 24 and this is about 5 years too late but hey there's older people than me just starting! I have about 5 choices and I need to decide on two that I really want to do and start really thinking for September! Whether I will actually do something about it, I don't know but tonight all I know ...
Sun, Feb 23 2014

Mappings!
Life with a Cochlear Implant This blog post is for YOU, the cochlear implant users.I would like you all to tell me what happens during your mappings in details if possible. How often you go for mappings, how long you have been implanted, how often you go to your CI Centre.Please feel free to comment below or send me a PM at melissascochlearimplant@yahoo.co.uk
Fri, Feb 21 2014

Mapping, speech, deafness
Life with a Cochlear Implant I may have shared this already but when I was still in high school, I felt like the odd one out. I didn't feel "deaf" enough to feel part of the HIU(Hearing Impaired Unit) as I use spoken language to communicate but prefer sign for receptive use, I attended the HIU every morning and afternoon, for FM and equipment check. Plus I had three/four lessons a week in there i...
Fri, Feb 21 2014

A PACKED weekend
Life with a Cochlear Implant I have a fun packed weekend for this weekend which I am really looking forward to!! Tomorrow I go shopping to finish off holiday shopping(2 weeks to go) then it's my grandparents' wedding anniversary and we're going for a meal. The food I am looking forward to but not to the about 19 family members coming. That's the thing I hate about deafness, you can't hear in nois...
Fri, Feb 21 2014

NDCS my life, my health
Life with a Cochlear Implant Just found this on the NDCS page. NDCS My Life, My HealthIt is really FRUSTRATING that when you need information when you are a certain age, the info isn't there and when you are too old that's when help is given to others. One of my pet peeves but I suppose because I am nearly 24, I should know all this already. Nope.I still go to the doctors with my mother, luckily...
Sun, Feb 16 2014

Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Life with a Cochlear Implant Does anybody know if there is currently anything going on the UK regarding Bilateral Cochlear Implants and renewing the NICE guidelines? I am just curious at the moment
Tue, Feb 11 2014

Holidayy
Life with a Cochlear Implant Roll on the holiday, 25 days!
Tue, Feb 11 2014

Vision
Life with a Cochlear Implant Walked out of the door this morning and realised I havent got my glasses!  It's interesting to realise how quick I have gotten used to wearing them full time.  But luckily I can see without them I am certain I will get a headache later due to eye strain from lipreading,  reading and writing.  I am sooo ready for the weekend and it is only tuesday..going to be a ...
Tue, Jan 21 2014

Cochlear Implants views
Life with a Cochlear Implant A response to a fantastic post from a mother of a deaf child who has chosen against implants.  [link] You may think I am anti-CI even though I have one but children need to be children. I was quite lucky as I was 10 when I got implanted so I had already learnt how to speak and everything. You cannot say a child will not be able to speak fluently or learn to read...
Fri, Jan 17 2014

Undecisiveness
Life with a Cochlear Implant Still struggling on deciding my career. I am also 24 and I still have not made a decision. Seems too late but I know of many people in their 30's and 40's who are in college/university so I suppose it's never too late.I wish somebody could make the decision for me then at least I know what I need to work towards. I like children and learning about deafness. I would lo...
Thu, Jan 16 2014

Away for a very long weekend
Life with a Cochlear Implant I am away for a very long weekend with my mother. We came on Saturday and won't go home till tomorrow. It has been quite fun just chilling out.The tube off my earmould snapped last night and luckily I brought my implant with me, I digged it out while mum was panicking how I would cope until tomorrow afternoon. She was relieved! Anyway she told me for our big holiday i...
Tue, Jan 14 2014

Going well
Life with a Cochlear Implant My diet is going well I aim to lose about two stone. It will be hard to do it in the length of time I want to do it on. 9 weeks can you guess why? Yesterday I completely cut out crisps and chocolate and started on salad again. Good job I love salad and pasta. Wish me luck!
Fri, Jan 03 2014

A new year, a new start!
Life with a Cochlear Implant Everyone of us will see January as a whole new start and will promise themselves to change. We do it every year and some of you may actually change but for the most part not many of us actually do. Change can take many years to have the confidence to actually do then we feel bad because we didnt do what we had promised ourselves previously. I keep promising myself I a...
Thu, Jan 02 2014

Last day of 2013
Life with a Cochlear Implant Fairly soon I am heading out to join my friends for a house party to celebrate the end of 2013 and to welcome in 2014, we will be playing games and having fun and possibly watching films. 2013 has been a alright year for me, not much happened but I am hoping 2014 will be even better. I didn't manage to take my test but I am comfortable with that at the moment. My mum ...
Tue, Dec 31 2013