Journal - Day 1

My First Day -- a.k.a. "Hook-up Day" (June 13, 2006)
My system was checked out, internal diagnostics were performed, then individual threshold (the softest sound you can hear) and maximum (loudest but comfortable sound you can hear) levels were set for each of the 22 electrodes inserted inside my cochlea. Then a "sweep" was performed whereby each electrode, one by one, starting with the lowest frequency (bass), made a "beep" sound and continued through the last electrode (treble) making the "beep" sound. This is a very important process of making the "parent map" whereby all subsequent MAPs are made. Each beep is supposed to have the same "loudness level" and the implant user is instructed to tell the Audiologist to either turn up or down each electrode according to "loudness levels." However, there is a glitch in this philosophy as you all know, as well as I, that an increase in 'pitch' may also appear to correspond to an increase in 'loudness.' Since I've already been through this process when I received my right implant 10 years ago, this initial exercise was relatively easy for me to perform.

Once this was done, the audiologist set my MAPs using certain default/reference parameters (either based on her personal experience or the manufacturer's recommendations) and the I went "Live"...............oh man, the moment she turned me on I was ecstatic!! Instead of "hearing" a bunch of "Micky Mouse" or "Donald Duck" squawking noises, I was actually hearing "real" noises that sounded "normal" to me such as: a female voice, the hum of the computer, the slight drone/hum of the AC, the tapping or thumping of fingers or feet on the carpet, etc.......etc......unbelievable!!! You have to remember, when I experienced the sounds from a CI for the first time, it was very strange, awkward, unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and ultimately, disappointing. Not this time, No Sirree!!!!!!!! I was in 'Heaven' and so overwhelmed!!!! I couldn't believe it. Here I was expecting "Micky Mouse/Donald Duck" and instead I got the "real" thing.

Gosh, what a relief! I thought to myself, "how sweet it is, I'm ready to rock-n-roll"!! My MAPs were set at "basic" levels and then I was sent home to revel in my new-found "hearing". I proceeded by to the office to finish up a few loose ends, and then headed over to my favorite watering hole. All my fellow patrons were anxiously awaiting the outcome/success of my "hook-up". Of course, most people assumed that I would have "instant hearing" and started to test me by covering up their mouths. I immediately informed all of them to stop that shit and then proceeded to tell each of them how crappy their voice sounded........that shut them up. But seriously, they all were as excited as I was and wished me luck and were very happy to hear that the CI was a success. Thank God for the 21st Century, where the prevailing social attitude accepts people/things that were once considered "weird" or "taboo". By the end of the day, my cochlea/brain had "adjusted" to this new-found sensation, and as a result, my MAPs were not "sounding" as good as they were initially at the time of the hook-up.

This result was expected, according to most of all new CI recipient's experiences on their first "hook-up" day, and to the experiences of the associated audiologists tasked to set up initial MAPs for new CI users. That is why, according to the current audiological procedures, nearly all new CI users are instructed to come back the very next day after initial hook-up to get another "tune-up" after their brain/cochlea/inner ear had become accustomed to the initial stimulation (I call it shock therapy) provided by the newly implanted CI.