Sunday, July 13, 2008

Thank you for all your answers...

Thank you to everyone for your tips and ideas. Brianna called me tonight and let me know that all is back to normal. She put her processors in the dryer kit twice, and that seemed to work. Thank you all again. Crisis averted!

Friday, July 11, 2008

A Question for those that have been there, done that

Brianna is down in Ga visiting me parents, and she let me know last night that she hears "raindrops" in her right ear. The left side isn't doing this. She can still hear, but has the raindrops as well. Any ideas on what this is and how to fix it? I suggested that she charge up her battery, and we switched to her 2nd program (she has 3 programs that are the same). Could this be tinnitus? Anyone have an idea? Thank you!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

4th Mapping Session

So we had Brianna's 4th mapping session. I am amazed with her progress. I can tell how well she is doing when we are home and I am talking to her, but I had no idea how well she was really doing. Her audiogram showed that she is about 25-30 Db with a dip down to 40Db at 3000-6000Hz for each ear. Her word recognition was measured at about 90% with both implants. She is just amazing. Michelle the audiologist raised her levels at the 3000-6000 point and hopefully we can get them to even out. So the next appt is mid August and we will see how she is doing there.
Other than that, there isn't much to tell you all about. School is out for Brianna, and next year we are going to try no FM system, no student aid and only 1 session a week with the hearing itinerant. Brianna is a bright little girl, and hopefully we can see how well she is doing on her own. Of course if she needs more assistance that will be provided to her.
Brianna was able to talk to me on the phone for the first time ever. Well, at least the first time ever really hearing what I was saying. She heard everything I was saying, or at least enough to piece together my sentences.
She is just amazing. This whole experience has made me a stronger person, but Brianna has always been strong. This is just her. She is finally where she was meant to be. Her attitude has changed dramatically. She no longer secludes herself from her siblings and friends. She gets right out there and plays with everyone. She isn't moody and stubborn all the time anymore. The stress from not hearing and having to struggle through every day was weighing on her I am sure. But still, she was a cranky-pants. She is becoming the Brianna that I knew was always there.
Let me tell you, in case anyone needs a tip from me...earmolds. Brianna has had a set of earmolds for about 2 1/2 weeks now, and they are working wonderfully. They hold the BTE speech processor on perfectly. We haven't had them fall off once since she got them. It took about 2 weeks for them to come in, but it was worth the wait. So any parents out there that are having problems keeping the BTE processors on the little one's ears, look into earmolds. Brianna was used to them from the BTE hearing aid, so it was a very easy transition, but I do remember when she first got them with the hearing aid, she hated it. But she got used to it, and they do their job. :)