Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007

Oh, what to write? Or not to write?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Did I get it or not? Wait! Don’t cheat by reading down just yet! Follow letter by letter! I smirk, a little curve on my lips, a little smile, a little bigger smile, a smile, a bigger smile, even bigger smile, huge smile, A BIG GRIN! I GOT CI!!!! YES!!!! I have to tell you, it [...]
Art and Storytelling Tech Fri, Jun 19 2009

Second and final pre-screening session tomorrow!
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I’m eagerly awaiting for tomorrow to arrive Finally I will meet the CI-team at Rikshospitalet and find out if I’m eligible for a CI or not. I have very few doubts in that regard, but have to prepare for the worst, of course. As well as for the best Right now my [...]
Tech Culture Tue, Jun 16 2009

Finally there - and difficult feelings
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Map of Lake Kariba Right now I'm in Zambia, next to Lake Kariba. Planned this trip a good while ago, among other to keep me busy doing something exciting while I'm waiting for the CI. It is a good strategy for me to have my mind on something else than such a frustrating thing like [...]
Tech Wed, May 06 2009

Pinch me! Slap me! Am i Dreaming?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I just got the long awaited letter from the CI-team at Rikshospitalet! YES! Finally! (read on below ) The long wait is over, and I can now start to look forward to the beginning of the process of becoming a candidate for CI! (sounds like I’m running for the presidency, and in many [...]
Tech Thu, Mar 26 2009

Financial crisis for Australian CI-candidates
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Australian government fails to fund demands for CI-devices in infants and adults. It is outrageous. They bail out banks in the finance crisis, but can’t allocate $2.5 million for people to get a chance to hear… Read more about it here…
Tech Legal Culture Wed, Mar 18 2009

Patience, understanding and love
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 When I started this blog in late 2006, I had a feeling it would be a long journey (that’s why I started the blog in the first place). That suspicion became stronger after receiving a letter from the hospital saying that they had an obligation to operate on me before 2010. What I had ahead [...]
Art and Storytelling Tech Legal Thu, Mar 05 2009

Deaf for a day
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I just read this journalists story about being deaf for one day. For everybody that have “normal” hearing, this could very well be en eye-opener! The challenge for “normal” hearing people is to comprehend the situation for deaf and/or hard of hearing. If the sound is missing, that is easy to comprehend. But what if [...]
Media Tech Thu, Feb 19 2009

Advanced Bionics test program – AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 My fellow CI-blogger Jeff “Metalhead” just published very interesting information about one of Advanced Bionics latest test-programs. It’s called AGC (Automatic Gain Control) and Jeff discusses pros and cons and explains really well what it’s about and so on. Read his post here
Tech Wed, Feb 11 2009

Promising results for tinnitus treatment
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 With the use of magnets, in so called “repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation” (rTMS), a trial run has showed promising results in the treatment of tinnitus. Read more about it here: [link]
Tech Culture Tue, Feb 03 2009

What to think?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Since my last post life has grabbed hold of me This is a good thing. I'm changing my life in the direction I have always wished for. I consider myself extremely lucky Life is looking good, but has it's challenges and a few funny twists... Challenge 1: how to engage in [...]
Tech Fri, Jan 16 2009

Christmas 2008 - 36 months in waiting
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 As the end of 2008 nears, I have this summary for the year. Still waiting for the CI. Still have no date. Still on the brink of deafness. Still struggling in everyday communication situations. Despite this, life is pretty good. I'm extremely grateful to live in a country like Norway, where I'm provided for. I'm not happy [...]
Language Tech Culture Fri, Dec 26 2008

A good analogy of HA, unilateral CI and bilateral CI for...
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 The following words was observed on Facebook (written by my fellow CI-bloggers) this morning. A CI blog-friend of mine, Valerie, asked for advice on Facebook: “Our school will have visitors out next week, how do I explain my cochlear implants and deafness without them treating me differently???? Then another CI blog-friend of mine, “the mad dasher”...
Tech Fri, Dec 05 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 5 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Secretary of State Sundsbø: - The responsibility lies on Health South-East . Secretary of State, Dagfinn Sundsbø (SP, Centrum Party) in the Department for Health and Care says to Din Hørsel taht the department have been briefed about the situation for CI-surgeries in the region of Health South-East. - There has been concerns for the difficult [...]
Tech Culture Tue, Dec 02 2008

Decoding sounds from Cochlear Implants
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 In this informative video you can supposedly get an idea of what kind of work my brain will have to do in order to decode those artificial electronic impulses into meaningful sounds.... I wouldn't know, if this is accurate or even if it's true, as I haven't been implanted yet, but would love to get comments [...]
Tech Thu, Nov 27 2008

A great what-is-Cochlear-Implant video
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Here is a very good informative video from the Med El Cochlear Implant-brand based in Austria. This video shows very good what a Cochlear Implant actually does for the hearing. It shows how a Cochlear Implant works in terms of bringing artificial sound to the brain. Thanks to Berose and her blog on which she made me aware [...]
Tech Mon, Nov 24 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 4 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Rikshospitalets goals for CI operations in 2008 will not be met. As of September 1st, Rikshospitalet has performed 25 CI operations on adults. - We will not be able to achieve the goal of 100 operations for 2008, Rikshospitalet says in a statement. The former health-minister Sylvia Brustad (labour party), ordered Health-South-East (Helse Sør-Øst) to perform 100 [...]
Tech Legal Culture Thu, Nov 20 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 4 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Rikshospitalets goals for CI operations in 2008 will not be met. As of September 1st, Rikshospitalet has performed 25 CI operations on adults. - We will not be able to achieve the goal of 100 operations for 2008, Rikshospitalet says in a statement. The former health-minister Sylvia Brustad (labour party), ordered Health-South-East (Helse Sør-Øst) to perform 100 [......
Tech Culture Mon, Nov 17 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 3 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 ...article continues... Invest in my health The health bureaucracy system has grown into a monster that seemingly no one is able to really control. The health care costs money, we all know that. But now I have cost the society more money in welfare benefits than a surgery on both ears costs, and I still have to [...]
Tech Culture Fri, Nov 14 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 2 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 article continues... Psychological burden Ulf is a part time dad for an 8 year old boy. - It is demanding for me as near deaf to be single dad for an active toddler which is very communicative. For me it developed in an unhealthy direction where I problematized the whole situation and got psychological problems. I “buried” myself [...]
Language Tech Culture Wed, Nov 12 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (Part 2 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 article continues... Psychological burden Ulf is a part time dad for an 8 year old boy.- It is demanding for me as near deaf to be single dad for an active toddler which is very communicative. For me it developed in an unhealthy direction where I problematized the whole situation and got psychological problems. I “buried” myself [...]
Language Tech Culture Sat, Nov 08 2008

In the Queue of my life, no 44 - (1 of 7)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Hard of hearing Ulf N. has been in line for eligibility-examination for CI (Cochlea Implant) for 18 months. That is very expensive for the state. The IT-expert burdens the welfare services approximately 30.000 euros per year. In the 18 months he has waited the welfare costs are the equivalent of a simultaneous CI surgery on [...]
Tech Culture Sat, Nov 08 2008

Explaining my deafness (even though I hear sounds)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I find myself explaining again and again to people what being deaf really is. It might surprise a lot of people that I can hear, but still have to classify myself as deaf, particularly in social aspects. Here are a few official definitions before I will give you, my readers, my self-developed metaphor I have created in [...]
Sun, Nov 02 2008

My story got published
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 A few weeks back the latest issue of the membership magazine “Din Hørsel” (”Your Hearing”) was sent out to all members of the Norwegian Association for HoH. In this issue is an interview with none other than yours truly I'm proud to be a small part of the fight for better medical care for [...]
Media Tech Culture Tue, Oct 28 2008

Norwegian Deaf and HoH asks for SMS to emergency services
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Recently some larger news-services (VG) in Norway has picked up on this story: The Norwegian Association for Deaf has started a campaign in order to make the Emergency services available to deaf and hard of hearing via SMS. Like it is now, it is NOT POSSIBLE TO SEND SMS TO EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN NORWAY! Apparently Sweden, Denmark [...]
Tech Wed, Oct 22 2008

Status update IV - early autumn 2008 - epilogue
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 You people must become fed up with all these “Status update”-posts, no?After this rather long and 5-way split Status update, I realized there are some other health issues that needed addressing. It also serves as a reminder to myself that the purpose of this blog is mainly to be like a medical journal (for myself and [...]
Mon, Oct 20 2008

Status update IV - early autumn 2008 - part 5 of 5
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 The mental aspect After a continuous rise of mental health throughout 2007 and the beginning of 2008 I think it is good in one aspect to get a setback. Life contains both ups and downs and what defines people is how they deal with both. I did a good job on the upside, and now I [...]
Tech Mon, Oct 13 2008

Call to help Abbie to the ALDA Convention!
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 A beautiful soul in the CI-blogger community is trying to raise 1000$ in order to attend the ALDA Convention (Association of the Late-Deafened Convention). Visit her blog for more details. She is one good soul who is alway warm, generous and supportive. She really deserves some support. This post will be removed after the deadline for [...]
Education Tech Culture Wed, Oct 08 2008

Status update IV - early autumn 2008 - part 4 of 5
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Everyday life - restlessness I'm more stressed and restless. The feeling of social isolation is stronger than ever, and I'm more sad. It's not depression, because I am able to initiate things and engage in activities that are good to me. The positive experiences about my body's reactions to physical exercises this summer came at a [...]
Tech Tue, Oct 07 2008

Research Supporting Bilateral Cochlear Implantation
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Someone heard me! And I got hold of what I needed! A 5 pages long list of research that supports the notion that everybody who needs it should have bilateral CI! I got in contact with Amy Brown from the Let Them Hear Foundation Advocacy program. She provided me with a huge list called “Research [...]
Tech Mon, Sep 29 2008

Status update IV - early autumn 2008 - part 2 of 5
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Adjustment of my HA Dear Abbie, this paragraph is dedicated to you: Earlier this year I complained about hypersensitivity to sounds, recruitment and other issues that made my days difficult. Then a fellow CI-blogger; Abbie simply suggested that I should get my hearing aids adjusted. Of course! Why didn't I think about that? (I think the [...]
Language Tech Wed, Sep 24 2008

Jennifer re-activates her first CI today - true bilateral...
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 My fellow CI-blogger, Jennifer activates her re-implanted 1st CI today. I'm so excited for her, and quite optimistic. All signs points to a successful activation today. (I can afford to get my hopes way up for her ;-) ). She really deserves to luck out, since her first attempt was more or less a disaster, [...]
Tech Wed, Sep 24 2008

Bilateral CI research findings
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I will post my findings on the issue of bilateral CI on my blog. Hopefully it helps someone else too... I want to collect the data concerning this debate, in order to get an oversight of what the medical community discover, as well as what they are writing and thinking about this issue. Papers found in [...]
Tech Thu, Aug 28 2008

The relief of a summer
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 This summer I felt better than I have in many years. Somehow I think getting away also meant that my mental self got away for a while. I did what I said before in this blog: I left it all (about my hearing and thinking about it and being tired from it) behind and “forgot” [...]
Tech Tue, Aug 26 2008

Scientific proof in favor of bilateral CI
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Hello, world! I'm back after long and nice vacation. Had a great time. Now I'm ready for another year of blogging about waiting for my CI. Will initially start up with a plea for help about information. I need arguments in favor of bilateral Cochlea Implants. I wish to operate on both ears simultaneously for several [...]
Tech Mon, Aug 18 2008

Kostbare helseinnsparinger
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 (Publisert i Aftenposten Aften Fredag 27.juni 2008 s. 19.) Å vente i årevis på en funksjonsforbedrende operasjon er meningsløst og representerer en uansvarlig forvaltning av fellesskapets midler. Staten pøser ut enorme summer til unødvendig trygd på pasienter som tvinges til å stå på ventelister. Jeg er en døvblitt far til en vilter og herlig 8-åring. Jeg [......
Sat, Jul 12 2008

Letter in Norwegian to parties involved in my case (to be...
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Brevet er redigert for å tilpasse det til bloggen og fjerne navn og roller: “Var på Rikshospitalet for å ”mase” i dag. Har rykket frem 10 plasser siden april, er nå på nr. 49 i køen. Med den farten (siden april) blir jeg operert høsten 2009 en gang.... Har nå vært i helsekø i [...]
Tech Wed, Jun 25 2008

Parenting, oncoming deafness and it’s effect
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 I am a single parent. I just had my son over for an extended weekend before he takes a long summer vacation with his mother. My son hasn't reached puberty yet, and hence has a boyish thin voice... Unfortunately this is the kind of voice that strikes me the worst, since it is in the frequency-neighborhood [...]
Language Thu, Jun 19 2008

What is the CI-situation elsewhere in Europe?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 If anyone has information regarding CI-operations and CI-related health benefits in Europe, I would be extremely grateful for any input. Do people have to wait for surgery? How is it financed? How about the follow up, and re-mapping after the surgery?What country has the best reputation?Is Advanced Bionics represented in all European countries? (I might have [...]
Tech Culture Fri, Jun 06 2008

Early morning magic mist - Deaf silence
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 At 5 in the morning the world seems different and so peaceful. First time in my life I didn't bother to take on my hearing-aids going out of the house. I am accepting my deafness more every day and learning to live with it. Strange occasion to realize it on, but very serene and pure... [...]
Tech Tue, May 27 2008

Status update III - part 3 of 3 - Social life and Society
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 My social life suffers. I decline offers of going out with friends, I withdraw early from family assemblies, isolate myself from communicating with people in such occasions. This depresses me. But I live on the knowledge of that it's a passing thing, and that one day I will be able to participate as I used [...]
Art and Storytelling Tech Sat, May 24 2008

Status update III - part 2 of 3 - Challenges of tinnitus
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 The tinnitus is a relentless as ever. Recently I discovered a way to explain how it sounds. I came to think of the TV test signals with the one-frequency audio sound. That is on about 1000 Hz and is almost the same frequency as my tinnitus. In other words; I have a constant TV-test [...]
Wed, May 21 2008

Status update III - part 1 of 3 - Sensory input
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Since I'll be going offline in order to be a farmer, welder, lumberjack, car-mechanic and on top of that plans to undertake some kayak expeditions in Sweden next week, I might as well get my overdue status report out now. It became so long, I decided to split it in three and they will automatically [...]
Mon, May 19 2008

The 3Ps… and friends
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Thanks to Sam “Blitzer” for a reminder of the key to endurance: “The 3Ps”. His post on Michael from Minnesota who has trouble with getting approval of CI served as an inspiration to me today. The 3Ps: Persistence Perseverance Patience I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone around me in my life who helps me keeping my spirits up:...
Language Tech Legal Mon, May 12 2008

R.I.P Sten Harris
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Sten Harris died yesterday, after a long time of illness. Sten worked at Rikshospitalet for many years, operating most of the CI-operations up until now. He was a true CI-pioneer in Norway. His illness and following death is probably one of the reasons that Rikshospitalet has problems with the capacity of performing CI-operations these days. [...]
Tech Fri, May 09 2008

Audio depth perception (and pitch)
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Thanks to all friends who responded about my question of wether to fight for bilateral from the start-line or do one by one... The decision has now been made I want stereo!!! I want depth perception and I want my pitch back.... This image is a good analogy of the sound-problem I have these days. Try [...]
Tech Fri, May 02 2008

The rings of Saturn - simultaneous bilateral CI-surgery?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 The Sahara desert, where I was recently, is like a window to the universe. I was excited to be able to see Saturn with my very own eyes through a telescope. Fantastic! Just like the picture above. The thought just came to me; In space there is no sound. Sound carries through air. No air [...]
Tech Sun, Apr 27 2008

My letter to the Norwegian Treasury Department
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 The text has been translated and changed some, compared to the original letter in Norwegian. My status and reason for writing this letter: I have been hard of hearing all my life, and at the same time I have been working like everybody else at 100% in the IT-industry for as long as I could. Never learned [...]
Tech Fri, Apr 04 2008

Minister of Health in Norway guarantees CI-operations for...
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 This is a translated, abridged, shortened and reworked version of a Norwegian article found on HLF's website. Guarantees CI-operations and screening of infants. Norwegian Minister of Health, Sylvia Brustad gurantees that screening of hearing on infants and CI-operations will be carried out, regardless of the cutbacks at Rikshopitalet. In response to MP Berit B...
Culture Tech Tue, Apr 01 2008

The cost of a CI-operation?
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Can anyone tell me the cost of a CI-operation? Either for one ear, or simultaneously both ears? I would like to “hear” (pun intended ) from everyone who has knowledge about it... On a personal note... My writing is a bit slow these days, I hit a mental bump in the road caused by these budget cuts [...]
Tech Thu, Mar 13 2008

Open Source Project for finding subtitles
Becoming Deaf in Norway 2007 Find new subtitles in a whiff! When TV-networks doesn't caption their popular shows, deaf and people with reduced hearing are discriminated. On the Internet and by the use of home computers, there is a way around this. Most of the activity related to this is by copyright laws and such, regarded as illegal in various countries. [...]
Tech Wed, Mar 05 2008