What I Can Hear as a Deaf Person (Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implant) [CC]

[@healthyhearingloss9953]

I appreciate you for sharing your experience, we all need to share more about our challenges and educate the world about hearing loss and technology. Keep up the great vids!

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I'll definitely keep up the videos! Nelle xx

[@tonycraib5939]

Hi keep it up with the CI it is an amazing experience .I have one my self and it has been a life changer for me. . I am the same as you in that I have a hearing aid in my left ear and the CI on my right .The CI will take awhile for brain to work out the sounds but it is worth it

[@dorothydrobney3881]

Once again, so happy to have found your videos. I have single-sided profound deafness, and just had my Osia implanted two weeks ago. My activation will be in two weeks from now, on November 14. It's one thing to go ahead with the surgery, but quite another to be able to hear from someone who has been through similar surgery...though I do not have the coil with the Osia as it relies on bone conduction. My 'rapid and profound' loss was 12 years ago, so I'm really looking forward to hearing something, and regaining directionality, on my left side again. Thank you!

[@nellefindlay]

Good luck with your new hearing device. I hope it works well for you. :)

[@peternorman2563]

Great video and very informative, keep at it Nelle you're a star.

[@Mochi-qj6mt]

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. The video was very informative and I learned a lot😊

[@SilverGypsyWeed]

I hope you are considering the second CI surgery soon, it truly makes a difference in locating sound direction, and for me it improved voice recognition.

[@nellefindlay]

I am saving up money for a second CI, as they are not provided under the National Health Service for adults. :)

[@dineldacool]

Hey Nelle these videos are amazing. Deborah here. We met at NCIUA conferences. Say Hi to your lovely Mum. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you again soon 😊

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

I hope your brother gets well soon! What a horrible thing to happen on his birthday! Please be careful all of you! Will be watching your video later! As for recording your appointment I understand I am grateful for you sharing your progress with us! And to record 19mins & caption it means so much! If I do try for an implant it will be thanks to your detailed video's! So thank you Nelle 💖💖

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. Coronavirus hasn't stopped him from playing Xbox for the last 10 hours so I don't think he's on death's door. You're very welcome for the videos, I'm glad you enjoy them. Nelle xx

[@LezBob]

I'm glad i found your videos. I have a hearing aid in my right ear and just got a cochlear implant in my left. I just realized I won't be wairing it and what your saying confirms everything. I don't see the point of going through all that readaptaion and relearning those aweful sounds and clicks when i can just hear them nicely with my hearing aid. If it doesn't help for background noise, groups, tv and phone, and I still have to read on lips, i don't even understand why my doctor thougt I would be good cadidate. Hearing more noise isn't necesarily helpful or more sound but in such a robotic and annoying way isn't helpful at all?? I guesse you have to have profound hearing loss in both ears to enjoy an implant. My hearing aid side is only moderate hearing loss. It also makes me severly dizzy and through up.

[@nellefindlay]

I've seen mixed reactions from people with asymmetrical hearing loss, some people get on really well with a cochlear implant, some don't. It might be worth trying to persevere with the implant for a bit to see if it gets better, but if you're happier not using it, that's fine. Cochlear implants in general are a bit hit and miss, I'm sorry it hasn't worked out for you.

[@LezBob]

Can't wait to see

[@janenath8421]

Nellie you are amazing. I have profound loss in some frequencies in one ear which happened suddenly.

[@louierichards3302]

Very good information, I have wondered what the differences are between a hearing aid and a cochlear plant others describe it, but it is still hard to understand what they hear. I know a few that new music and their audiologist had to create a special mix for the CI. They can understand better with that particular program.

[@Helenfromeugowra]

Great explanation, thank you. I hope your brain kicks in and interprets a bit more. It is quite a miracle, the CI.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm getting on really well with my implant and am really glad that I got it. I don't really like to use the word 'miracle' because I think it can give people unrealistic expectations, but it's definitely pretty fantastic. :)

[@paulj0557tonehead]

Can you remember songs melodies from memory, or if you jog your memory from reading the lyrics? If you could sight sing before can you sing tunes in your mind. I'm wondering too if you could teach yourself to sight sing because you already understand intervals based on comparisons from simple familiar melodies shown on the staff. I think doing this might open a new world of music in your mind's ear.

[@nellefindlay]

This is definitely an idea. I did a video where I took an 'are you tone deaf' quiz. I did surprisingly well, it was still well below average (for a hearing person) but not completely terrible. I can remember tunes pretty well and am okay at listening to music and I can sing vaguely in tune (not well, but just like a hearing person who is a bad singer, not spectacularly bad).

[@paulj0557tonehead]

@@nellefindlay Thank you for your answer. I play the organ and I love how it feels on my body. Here is an AI generated list on pieces that the deaf might like. How AI could do this is beyond me. Toccata and Fugue in Dm - BWV 565 This piece is part of a playlist of organ music tuned to 432 Hz, which some people feel differently than other tunings. Chorale in A minor This piece by César Franck is described as rich, dramatic, and contrasting. Litanies This piece by Jehan Alain is loud, crunchy, and brilliant, and begins with a short plainsong phrase. La Nativité du Seigneur This piece by Oliver Messiaen is inspired by the Christmas story and is divided into nine meditations.

[@nealeburgess6756]

I tried your fun drinking game. Great fun. Now, tell me, what do you recomend for a hangover?!? Now to be serious. Your presentation was very informative, and your audiologist's graph helped understanding too. Thank you. On a more positive note, like, err, um, I think your presentation skills have improved. Rather than berate the use of "like", you deserve praise for improvement in your fluency. You say word whiskers (um and err etc) much less than in your earlier videos. Yes, it could be even better with less likes, but Rome wasn't built in a day! You are doing really well. With regards to likes of a different kind, I hope your followers are generous with the thumbs up after watching. It means a lot to get those likes.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. Unfortunately I don't have any hangover suggestions because I personally don't actually drink. I honestly thought that I spoke very well until I actually had to write subtitles for myself. It's not just the 'likes' it's the 'really reallys' and the 'so yeahs'. I annoy myself when I have to watch them to edit. I feel like I'm very caricaturable (I do know that isn't a word). My confidence filming has definitely improved. When I first started making videos I hadn't quite realised that there is no pressure to get it right on the first go because you can film the video as many times as you want, without anyone seeing it. I'm glad the video was informative. I'm very pleased with myself for thinking of the graph idea. I wish I had seen something like that before getting hearing aids and the cochlear implant, because to be honest I didn't really understand what I was going to hear other than that it would be better than nothing. I'm very grateful for all of my views, likes and comments. I feel very lucky that this has been so successful. Nelle xx

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

@@nellefindlay no need to be annoyed with yourself! 6mths ago when you did your first video you had only just lost most of your hearing,you could not hear your own voice plus hearing aids were new to you! And from what I been told the hearing aids were whistling non stop! I have to follow you on captions so I still do not know what your voice sounds like! And the early videos you were looking down at notes! But the videos have got better & better! I would not have a clue how you added graphs to the latest video! I can now understand what you can & can't hear with the implant,hearing aid & nothing in! Plus you must be doing something right! No negative comments! Only two or three thumbs down! It's a shame your video's are not sponsored like a lot of others! I hope once your used to the implant you get a job you will really enjoy! You would be good helping deaf or hard of hearing people! You take time to explain things especially on here! 💖

[@elopezudec]

Felicitaciones excelente video...muy pedagógico felicitaciones...Dios te bendiga

[@nellefindlay]

Muchas gracias, espero que los subtítulos autotraducidos estan bien en español. En mis videos más recientes, he puesto subtítulos en español.

[@chiomaokoro8270]

Thanks for this video. Although it was made 2 years ago but it's really what I need now because I suffered the exact same hearing loss as you. Unfortunately I stopped wearing my hearing aids years back because it wasn't really helpful as u mentioned, but I didn't know the auditory nerve aspect. I do hope to get the CI soon. How are you coping after 2 years. I hope you have adapted very well and can hear without lip reading now.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm doing very well. My speech recognition in quiet (according to my last test) is over 80% with background noise, I struggle a lot more, but it's still an improvement over hearing aids. Things do still sound robotic to me, but for other people it sounds completely natural so I think that's just an individual difference.

[@koford]

i just having bad days and lost of hearing in addition to tinnitus. not only that im experience dizzinez and what not.. cochlear implant was discussed and when i watched this video i knew and pointed at this video and said: I told you.. i knew you would hear people talk litk robotic kind of and i said to my sister: What if i hear you as a man voice? soooo, i dont know wherer i want this but i have sevear hearing lost and almost hear nothing. This seems my only choice, so im bit nervous and bit sad when you said you wont hear as you did before, i am gonna miss the difference.. the variaty of sound.

[@nellefindlay]

It's completely up to you what you want to do. My experience is that the robotic sound doesn't really bother me and I just view my implant as a tool to make my life easier rather than as something to fix my hearing. Cochlear implants are not your only choice however, you could decide to go down the sign language route or learn another communication strategy such as cued speech. Also transcriptions apps are pretty good now and a transcription app with a Bluetooth microphone can be a pretty good communication tool. I personally have found my cochlear implant incredibly useful and if I'm ever bothered by the sound, I just take off the processor. It's really important to remember though that you always have a choice and you have more than one option.

[@frederickgaoing1863]

Very good video about your hearing loss experience. Honestly I can tell you that you have a beautiful voice and your speech is clear. I also wear a hearing aid. Thank you and Aloha.

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I have to say that I'm very thankful that my speech hasn't changed since losing my hearing! It's good to hear from other people who have hearing loss to see whether they are enjoying my videos. Nelle xx

[@m3horn]

The new hearing aids make sound louder at different sound pitches. That work for me but you have more hearing loss then me and not enough for you. Half you're getting along with your cochlear implant Nelle and can hear better but not 💯 but much better then hearing aids.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I probably should have clarified in the video that hearing aids do work for less severe high frequency hearing loss, it's just when the high frequencies need to be really loud that they don't work as well. I'm getting on really well with the implant and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is considering it. Nelle xx

[@michaelgrant6862]

I’m enjoying your videos. I’m scheduled for my implant in two weeks. A question for you, if you put your previous hearing aid back in your right ear, do you hear any residue hearing at all?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm glad you've found my videos enjoyable. In my case, I have no residual hearing in my right ear. Unfortunately, when you get a cochlear implant, it often destroys the residual hearing left in that ear (but not always). However, since my residual hearing wasn't useful without a device anyway, I think the trade off was definitely worth it.

[@OvDevilz]

Get well soon little brother

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I promise he's fine. Coronavirus hasn't stopped him from playing Xbox for the last 10 hours or eating loads of birthday cake, so I think he'll make it. Nelle xx

[@OvDevilz]

I gain quite lots of knowledge today. Thank you.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I'm glad the video was helpful. Nelle xx

[@englandcalling9721]

Fascinating, and informative as always. Have you discussed with your audiologist whether combining your hearing aid and cochlear implant would 'together' give you a wider palette of sounds in your right ear? From what you said, they appear to have strengths in different areas, so I wonder whether using both in that ear might help you further?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, one of the downsides of a cochlear implant is that you lose all the remaining hearing in the ear with the implant. So now without the implant I can hear absolutely nothing in that ear so a hearing aid wouldn't do anything. People with more natural hearing in the lower frequencies are able to get what's called an electro-acoustic device which means they have a shorter electrode array implanted which only covers the high frequencies. This means they only lose their high frequency natural hearing and can keep their lower frequencies. The processor then uses the implant for the higher frequency sounds and works like a hearing aid for the lower frequencies. Unfortunately, because I have a profound hearing loss at all frequencies, this wasn't an option for me. I hope this answers your question. Nelle xx

[@englandcalling9721]

@@nellefindlay I doubt an audiologist could have explained it better! Have you thought of a career in audiology, I think you'd be a natural. Take care.

[@tenniskinsella7768]

My audiogistcssid I might be able to have hearing g aid right side. I have had a cochlear implant for 20 years and was given a body worn one becsuse the behind tne ear one was not going to be made any more . So had operation to have upgrade by tbe same manufacture. I had comications and they coulnt fit the one I was supposed to have indo got another make lucky like it

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

Hi Nelle how have you been?I decided to update my profile picture as I wanted people to see me as I am! When I had my brain injury when I was 20 the force of being kicked in the head by a cow damaged a small bone in my neck! I could have been left paralyzed from the neck down! But sometimes if I twist my head wrong I have to be careful hence the solid ortho neck brace! I emailed my orthotist & he told me the collar will have to stay on for 3 weeks! Going by my past records just to be safe! It can come off to shower & sleep! I may have to have a more solid one made in the new year! But the reason for this message Nelle is to congratulate you,it's been a month since your activation! I was wondering if you might consider doing a video on your first month with your implant! Your highs & lows etc! And what else you gonna be taught! It is just a suggestion for people like myself who's next step may be an implant or people that have just had the implant to compare progress & what it's like having a implant in one ear & a hearing aid in the other! Hope you got some nice plans for Christmas! I posted for the first time on Instagram for a couple of months & mentioned you and for people to watch these video's & follow your story on your website! Thank you for your kindness i hope I helped with hearing aid advice! And positive wishes! I just want to give valuable advice as a deaf hearing aid wearer of over 30 yrs! Stay safe with the new covid variant! All of you ❤️❤️

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I hope you manage to get your neck sorted out as best as possible soon. I'll definitely be making a video soon about how I'm getting on with my cochlear implant. Thanks for mentioning me on your Instagram. Thank you for the positive wishes. Nelle xx

[@michaelmissenberger8782]

My son has two cochlear implants, but he is only 18 months and cannot tell, what and how he is hearing... not yet. They look the same than yours, so I guess its a Nucleus 7. How long does it take to hear after you switch it on / place the coil on your head. Does it take some time to start / synchronize or is directly working without waiting?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. My implant is a cochlear nucleus 7. There isn't really a delay before I start hearing when I put the coil on my head, probably less than a second delay. I hope this answered your question. Nelle xx

[@gracedaly6598]

I have tenintus I have lost my hiy pheequinsey hearing

[@MatildaHam-sb9cd]

Why have u not for two cochlear implants? 😊😊

[@nellefindlay]

Unfortunately the medical system where I live only pays for one cochlear implant for adults. I am saving up money for a second one privately.

[@MatildaHam-sb9cd]

@@nellefindlayoh okay. I hope u get it! Can u do a video about the referral for cochlear implants etc. because I have been referred, but I do not know what happens next? I am 13yrs old with profound loss in my left and severe to profound in my right. And thanks for sharing your journey! ❤❤

[@chrislundberg1]

My implant surgery is set for Oct 3rd, I have a tumor in the coacher that needs to be remove prior to implant during the same operation. Any words of wisdom on recovery or something I should know.

[@nellefindlay]

Good luck with your surgery. Thankfully my surgery was a pretty straightforward situation, so I don't know anything about dealing with complications. I would just say expect to feel awful for a few days afterwards. Also, don't set your expectations too high for your switch on appointment.

[@moustaphabouabdallah2995]

الرجاء مساعدتي على شراء مثل هذه الالة السمعية وجزاكم الله خيرا

[@nellefindlay]

مرحبًا، أنا لا أتحدث العربية، لذا أكتب هذا من خلال ترجمة جوجل، لذا آمل أن يكون دقيقًا. للأسف، لا أستطيع تقديم الدعم المالي لأي شخص للحصول على أجهزة السمع. قد تكون هناك بعض البرامج الحكومية أو الخيرية في بلدك والتي قد تساعدك في الوصول إلى معدات السمع. أتمنى لك حظا سعيدا. نيل :)

[@katyharris7370]

Hi Nelle I hope you find this post,thank you for your email! You are doing very well with 92% word recognition in sentences! I did find out that the NHS did bilateral implants up to & including 19 year olds! And some take a couple of years to get their second implant! Which would make them the same age as you! It's good your still using your hearing aid! The audiologist was right it could cause the auditory nerve to die off! You need the other implant early next year while your brain is still learning & remembers what sounds & words are like in each ear! The implant team would probably tune the other implant to low frequencies! As there are only 22 electrodes! I am glad your getting new fushsia earmoulds! Even the one you got now don't fit tight enough in your ear if it whistles! My profile picture is an early N7 but I hope to upgrade to the lastest N7! I decided to use my hearing aid earmoulds in both my implanted ears! I not got one in this picture! I want to show my implant off more! If I am going to be deaf for the rest of my life I want to look attractive! You look beautiful in this picture! As Barry Taylor said your hair looks lovely,he does make a lot of sense! And he could join us in the CI club! You are a perfect candidate for a 2nd implant! You have the right attitude! Plus you will make the most of this gift with a job you will like! Maybe losing your hearing has done you a favour in a way! It's a new start your only 21! You have a supportive family! It can't be easy for your boyfriend Will if your living at home while you have all your implant appointments! You have months of appointments ahead! A friend of mine had to pay for a 2nd implant! The NHS wearnt sure whether to spend the money! So her friend started a go fund me page to raise money for the implant! So don't give up Nelle! My family pushed for my 2nd implant! Wrote to my local MP & the hospital agreed to do it! I got called in when somebody cancelled! Your hearing may not last in that ear! A hearing aid can only amplify what's there! In 10 days you have already heard more than in the past 6 mths! So keep nagging & if you do start a go fund me page I will donate the first amount as I wish I had your support when I lost my hearing! All the best Katy xx

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you so much for your comment. I'm so sorry for not replying sooner. For some mysterious reason, KZbin decided that it was 'likely spam' and held it 'for review' so I didn't find it. I've found and approved it now though! I'm definitely looking into trying to get the second implant on the NHS (because I, unfortunately, don't have £40,000 just lying around). It's cool that you feel confident showing off your implant. I've got some zebra print sticker things that I'm going to put on my implant soon. I'll probably make a video of me jazzing up my implant. I don't know if losing my hearing is necessarily a good thing, but I am trying to be philosophical about it. It definitely acts as a bit of an idiot filter at the very least. I also probably wouldn't have started a youtube channel if this hadn't happened so there's that. I'm glad I'm still young and cool enough to pull off cochlear implants (and when I'm old, I'll be old and cool enough to pull them off). I'll definitely be fighting to get a second implant. The first thing I'm going to try is to make a case with the local care commissioning group, and if that fails, I've already got a letter drafted to my local MP. So, I've got a plan and a backup plan. I am definitely losing the remaining hearing in that ear so I really hope I'll be able to get a second implant. I don't think I'd feel comfortable fundraising for a cochlear implant when there are people starving in the world, but I won't say never. I appreciate the sentiment anyway. Thank you for your comment and I apologise for the delay. Nelle xx

[@davejenkins873]

Thank you Nelle, that was very well explained and interesting. May I ask how you hear your own speech without anything, with the aid and with the implant?

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for the comment. I have sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss from the inner ear) so I hear my voice the same as I hear everything else. So without hearing aids etc. I can't hear my own voice at all. With hearing aids I can hear my voice a tiny bit, and with my implant I can hear my voice like a robot. People with conductive hearing loss (hearing loss from the outer/middle ear) can hear their voice louder and more clearly than other sounds. I hope this answers your question. Nelle xx

[@davejenkins873]

@@nellefindlay thank you, I didn’t know any of that.

[@vivienurwodhi7269]

You had operation on my birthday 🎉😂😂🤪

[@grizzley109]

Very descriptive video , the graph was very useful! How is your experience with strangers while wearing the implant vs the hearing aid ? Are they more accommodating because they think cochlear implants are more serious? If you know what I mean

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I haven't really interacted with any strangers for long enough to really give a definitive answer. I feel like a lot of people don't really know what cochlear implants do. Some people think that having a cochlear implant is proof that you are 'properly deaf', and others think that you're magically cured. There really isn't much in between. From extended family etc. I get a lot of questions like "So can you hear now?" or "What percentage can you hear?" and it's kind of difficult to explain the answer. That's part of the reason I made this video to give a detailed description of what I can actually hear. I hope this explanation helps. Nelle xx

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

Thank you for replying so promptly! I loved how you added the graphs I would not have a clue how to do it! That was interesting what the audiologist said about you keeping the hearing aid switched on! I got told off for leaving my hearing aids out during lockdown! Friends were saying I was sounding more & more deaf! So I emailed the audiologist who was cross I left them out & could lose my remaining hearing! She said I may not think they are helping but they are in a small way! Like with yours hearing sounds your implant misses! When I first was given the chance to get an implant I was told I would lose any remaining hearing in that ear! After 10 days with a working implant do think you would get the other ear implanted? Like with me I never knew when the last of my hearing would go! Yours may be stable in that ear for a while to come! I love the way your getting fuchia coloured earmoulds! I am thinking of getting red or shocking pink next time! I would welcome colour suggestions from all your subscribers! Plus if I did get an implant I would have a matching coloured earmould for my implanted ear! My ear would feel too empty without one after all these years I know I could not hear out of that ear! Did the audiologist add more programs like the week before? I know she added 4 last time!Will you be seeing other people at the implant centre to learn more like using a phone,using an app & stuff like that? You can only explain how an implant sounds to you! It's not like hearing aids which most deaf people get! We cannot try an implant to see what its like & then say yes or no to keeping it! I can see why your being careful with the processor etc with masks etc! They are more expensive than a hearing aid! I must admit the magnet does look better on top of the hair! I loved the way the magnet jumps straight on to your head! Did they change the magnet strength as you had a choice? I can't believe how small the processor is! About the same size as my old analogue hearing aid! It was good you showing everyone around your hearing aid & the CI & how they work! I hope the operation site has now healed! I bet Will is happy you can hear him even though he probably sounds like a dalek! Haha! Sorry for rambling but it's such an interesting subject & like you before your hearing aids I am finding being profoundly deaf hard to take! Its the not knowing whether there is enough hearing left for new hearing aids to help! Well done Nelle with your progress & for the best video to date! 💖💖

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. It's definitely important to wear your hearing aids if you have them, even if they don't really do much because it's supposed to help keep the nerves alive or something. I would definitely get the other ear implanted if I had the opportunity. I'm going to ask if there is any possibility at my next appointment. (I've already been told no, but I'll keep nagging in case they change their mind.) I'll definitely be doing all the rehabilitation exercises and courses I can get because I want to get the best possible result, and to try and convince them to give me another one. With regards to the magnet. They changed it to a stronger magnet at my first appointment, but now the swelling has gone down more, I have to wear it on top of my hair because it's too strong otherwise. I want to change the magnet, but it's twisted in so tight I can't undo it. The processor is also very small and comfortable to wear. It's not heavy or anything at all. I pretty much can't even feel it. Everything has healed very well and everyone is very pleased with the result I've had so far with my implant. Thank you for your positive wishes. Nelle xx

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

@@nellefindlay thank you for explaining things so well! I am glad your gonna try & get your other ear implanted! I think it's wrong you can get bilateral implants up to the age of 16 I think! It should go by how well the patient is doing with their first implant & their attitude! Your not one of those people that after a month or so say I don't like the implant & won't wear it! Plus I read if the NHS does both ears it works out cheaper! Actions speak louder than words! The better you do the harder it will be for them to say no! I keep saying if I win the lottery I would give some to different cat rescue centres & some to the NHS implant services to give those that would benefit a 2nd implant a chance! I got used to wearing hearing aids for nearing 30 yrs but now for the past 2 mths being profoundly deaf has started to hit home! But Nelle you have shown people of the internet that a CI is a good thing! And thank you Nelle for reminding me I should wear my hearing aids all the time even if I don't think they help! Good luck at your next appointment & if anyone will have a 2nd implant in the new year it will be you! 💖💖

[@barrytaylorprofoundlydeafi2479]

That was your best video ever Nelle thank you so much! The graph helped so much! Let's start with what I know! Hearing aids! With mine I can now only hear what you can without the one in your left ear! I can't hear speech now! But l can hear a plane going over! So my loss is 110db across the board! As for tinnitus have you tried getting the aid programed to mask the tinnitus? I was surprised what the audiologist thought you could hear with your aid! If your aid still whistles you may need a more snug earmould! That's what happened to me! As for the cochlear implant I now understand about the 22 electrodes compared with hundreds of hairs we all have to hear normally! Your doing brilliant as it's only been activated just over a week! I see you played safe and had a hook on your ear to keep the processor on! Do you usually put the magnet under your hair or like you had it in the video? I miss seeing the earmold in that ear! But I am glad you not turned the hearing aid off like you did the other day! Am glad your happy you got the implant do you hope in the new year that somehow you will get the other ear implanted or do you still want to keep the last bit of natural hearing with a hearing aid? I saw in another video from a couple you follow from America the guy kept repeating words to the lady so she could understand more words but she had not heard in that ear for 10yrs! You are lucky in a way it's only been 6 mths! 😊 On another note have you coloured your hair it looks so nice! You look better with your hair back like in the video! Thank for starting this you tube channel there is nobody else out there that explains their hearing loss journey so well! I hope I helped on the hearing aid side,you have helped me decide about a CI 💖💖

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I haven't bothered doing anything to mask the tinnitus because it doesn't really bother me that much. I'll be getting another earmould soon (in fuchsia pink) so hopefully, that might help. I'm not really too bothered by it, after all, I can't actually hear the whistling. I'm glad the video helped you understand more about cochlear implants. I'm really clumsy and especially with masks and everything I thought it was probably for the best to put the extra hook thing on it. I'm terrified of breaking the processor or losing it or something so I'm trying to be really careful. I normally wear the processor as I have it in the video because it helps hold my hair back without having to use a proper hairband or clip or anything. So that helps enable my laziness. In my mind, it also stops the microphones from being muffled by my hair or anything, but I've been told by the audiologist that it makes no difference. The audiologist also told me off for taking the battery out of my hearing aid because it would make my auditory nerve die or something so that's why I have it back on now. Also, I haven't done anything to my hair, I'll probably get it cut soon because it's starting to get annoying. I think my hair grows abnormally fast or something. I'm glad you enjoy my videos. Nelle xx

[@REKONZE41]

Her teeth looks so perfect im jealous lol. But awesome video been wondering how deaf people hear

[@nellefindlay]

Thank you for the compliment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Nelle :)

[@davidgraf5941]

Would you describe your hearing experience with CI the same one year after you recorded this video?

[@nellefindlay]

I'd say it's definitely better than when I first got it, I can definitely tell voices apart more and am understanding more speech. I have a 1 year cochlear implant update on my channel if you want to watch it for a more detailed description. Nelle :)

[@davidgraf5941]

@@nellefindlay Thank you for explaining the hearing experience with CI’s. Our son is 5 and he has two CI’s. He talks a lot but he still cannot describe how he hear.

[@lonniekoehn3708]

How much is your hearing loss? Mine is 85% hearing loss.

[@nellefindlay]

I don't know the percentage, but my right ear is totally deaf and my left ear can't hear anything quieter than 95db.

[@ingoscholz2073]

Nelle, thanks for the explanation, the graph and your video. Again - very interesting to me. You seem to adapt very, very fast. 💪 What was the first impression after getting rid of the bandage? Was it different to your hearing loss? Or was it kind of shocking: „ok, now I am „more“ deaf than before?“ (or was there no difference in your case?). How did you feel til the day of activation? Was it more kind of „can‘t wait for“ or „I was frightened“? You are really touching. Thanks!

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The people at the auditory implant service are pretty impressed at how well I have adapted to hearing loss. I think it's because I'm pretty good at picking up languages and I have a very good memory which I'm sure helps. Before the surgery, I was really worried about how I would manage with only one hearing aid, but, to be perfectly honest, it was really not any different to what I had before. (Everyone at the auditory implant service had already told me that I probably wouldn't notice the difference as my hearing aids don't help much, but I didn't believe them.) While waiting for the activation, I was just trying to keep my expectations low. In that situation, of course you hope that you will have an amazing result, but not everyone does. I just tried to not expect anything spectacular so I wouldn't be disappointed. I went in with the attitude of "if it works, great. If not, that's fine, I'll work with it." I think that's probably the healthiest attitude to have. Nelle xx

[@m3horn]

Yep there is no cure for really severe hearing impairment or deafness. But cholcar implants are the closest you're going to get for now.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you for your comment. It's definitely important to remember that hearing aids and cochlear implants are not a cure for hearing loss, but they can definitely help and are worth considering for anyone with hearing loss. Nelle xx

[@tenniskinsella7768]

@@nellefindlay my audiologist says people in the deaf community are now having implants where once they were against them

[@ozengider4976]

Hello Nell, I am also scheduled for a CI and would like to ask you a few questions: How does your tinnitus sound after the implantation, has it changed? Do you have any pain while sleeping or lying on the side of the processor? Can you feel the processor under your scalp? Can you understand foreign languages ​​with the CI? Thank you in advance for your answers.

[@nellefindlay]

Hi, thank you so much for your comment. I can definitely answer those questions for you. For me personally, my tinnitus hasn't changed, but with the processor on, I don't notice it as much because of the sound of the processor. In the time between the surgery and having the processor switched on, I noticed the tinnitus more because I couldn't use a hearing aid on that side so I had nothing else to hear. I think this varies a lot depending on the person though, so you might experience something different. Now that everything has healed, I don't feel any discomfort or pain at all from the implant. A couple of days after the surgery it was a little uncomfortable to sleep on that side, but after that it was fine. Yes, I can feel the implant under my scalp if I touch it with my hand, but it's not extremely thick or anything and there is not a visible lump if I have my hair tied up or anything like that. I would say the implant feels like a bump raised about 3-5mm. I can't feel any sensation of the implant under my skin when I'm not touching it, and I can't feel any pulling from the magnet when the processor is on. I can only speak English and Spanish and I'm trying to learn some Esperanto and Japanese. I can hear these languages as well as English (my first language). I have heard from other people though, that tonal languages such as Chinese are harder to hear with a cochlear implant because they rely on being able to hear pitches well. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions and I'd be happy to answer them. Good luck getting your implant! Nelle xx

[@ozengider4976]

@@nellefindlay Thank you so so much for this very helpful answers. huge hug from berlin

[@froedlmetallmann4643]

For a fun drinking game, take a shot every time I say "like". My parents are suitably disappointed. 🥲 "You never realise what an idiot you sound like until you have to write subtitles for yourself." ~ Nelle Findlay 2021 😆