Hi all,
I go for a CI evaluation in less then two weeks……I really don’t feel it’s something that I need to do but both my Audi and Cochlear (after her discussing with them) feel I should at least “start the process”………
For “full disclosure” I do have a fluctuating loss but usually reverts to my level of loss.
Last night while at dinner. We were at a nice but busy restaurant. Six of us sat at a big round table and I really struggled to hear all of the conversations. One guy(the closest) to me was the hardest. I was able to hear the waiter clear, and surrounding sounds quite well but the low chat at table just killed me. Half way through our seating - I decided to take out my aids completely and see who much worse it was……
To my dismay; I felt I could follow the conversations ALMOST the same as with the aids. For sure the overall level of volume was half but I felt almost the same clarity and if I really concentrated, I was getting the same result.
On the other hand; everything outside the table went “dim” I no longer could hear the light background music, waiter became harder to hear and there was no chance of hearing any part of conversation from the table beside us (which I got part of when trying with the aids in)…….IS THIS A NORMAL REACTION? Anyone tried or gotten similar??
My gut feeling is that more volume of the aids is great in quieter settings. Allows me to pick up
birds chirping, background, distance sounds etc but not sure my main thing (clarity) is getting much benefit.
Sometimes I feel I am nearly better off going back to no aids and just dealing with missing things and that belonging to who I am now.
Any feedback/ suggestions is greatly appreciated.
John.