Journal - Day 4, part 2

Friday, June 16, 2006
After a third visit to the audiologist (Mary Lynn McDonald of the Houston Ear Research Foundation) my MAPs have been revised to acceptable levels. One processor utilizes a rate of 900 pps and the other process utilizes a rate of 1200 pps. Both processors are using a Maxima of 9 (this variable can be anywhere from 2 to 12, I think).

I've been instructed and encouraged by Mary Lynn to visit certain websites that offer training for "speech recognition". These are excellent tools to help me improve my ability for understanding speech. Don't forget, I need to start all over again since this experience is akin to trying to master a new language. Listening to radio talk shows or to TV won't cut the mustard. Instead, I need to train myself slowly and methodically, much like we all used to do when we were learning how to read. Remember those stories of "Run Spot run........see Spot run, etc"???? That is the ONLY way I'll ever be able to accomplish the "impossible", that is, the ability to "hear" and "understand" human speech.

However, as far as music goes, and for that matter, general environmental sounds, I have that problem licked! I can't wait to go to a concert, ballet, symphony, or opera again. For the last 11 years, these things have been meaningless to me for I no longer had the ability to "appreciate" such things. If all else fails, at least I can find solace knowing that I can now go to a symphony or whatever and fully enjoy listening to Beethoven's 5th Symphony or Moonlight or Appassionata; The Nutcracker; Carmen or Othello; Romeo/Juliet; or the Rolling Stones/Clint Black/Lea Ann Rhymes, etc...etc. There is no end to enjoying the music media now. For the last 3 days, I've been enjoying a "blast to the past" listening to such artists as: Jethro Tull, The Police, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, etc......I remember those groups well since I had "hearing", so to speak, during that time frame.

God Bless all of you, and never take your "hearing" for granted. You never know when you'll lose it, because someday, inevitably, you will. Take it from the Bionic Man, that is a fact.
Love and Cheers -- Jeff the "Bionic Man"