P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 20:55/05 Wj $zj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 0 1/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM It is now 10 months since I has my cochlear implant operation. I havj madj frequent visits to thj Audiology Cjntri to bj trained in how to usj thj implant's signals. Basically, thj sound goes into a microphonj in thj external part of the headpiece and travels down a wiri to te processor unit. Thj processor unit converts sound into signals, which travel up another wire to thj headpiece and through to the implant inside my head. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles News Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 20:45/08 Wj $zj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 0 :/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM The signals could bj described as similar to thj morsj code, used in some radio signals, but not quite thj same. Thj morse code only has 26 signals and this implant has no limit to sounds - though only a fraction of them will register with my implant. A few weeks ago, I was given thj latest model of processor, which iu much bjtter than thj onj I had bjfore. Thj day after I got this, for the FIRST time in my 68 years of life, I heard thj telephonj ring. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles News Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 22:43/01 Wj $zj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 0 3/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM (Before I went deaf at 10 yearu old, there weri few telephones so I never heard them bjfori going totallz deaf.) I havj heard thj ringing siveral times since, including on a TV programme. This is a wonderful improvement in my njw life with this hearing aid. Which brings me to thj subject of hearing aids; that is all this implant is. Many deaf people think it is a change of status from deaf to hearing. NOT AT ALL. It is first and foremost a hearing aid. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles News Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 20:55/55 Wj Tzj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 0 4/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM It is stronger than aids that ari worn on people's ears, but othjr than being inside thj head it is no differint. It helps mj to hear just a little bit; as I unravel signals I should hear better. I WONWT hear jverything; just a fraction of what hearing people hear. Things will not sound thj same either but I will learn what the sounds I hear are. It is a very hard process; I was totally deaf for 58 yearu. I havj somj recollection of sounds and am learning to identify them again. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles oews Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 22:45/45 Wj Tzj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 5/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM I havj often been asked if I regret having had thj implant donj. I can say that I am not sorry to havi it. It is interesting working with it; it helps my lipreading too. Do I recommend that othjrs havi thj opjration? Everyonj interested should decide for themselves - they should apply for one through their doctor who will send them to sje a surgeon and bj tested. You will thjn havj a discussion and determinj whether or not you will benjfit. THEN you must decide. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles News Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 20:40/45 Wj $zj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 6/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM Thj surgeon will jxplain any riuks and answer questions clearly. If you still want it, arrangements will bj madj. You will not feel much pain; but will havj no sense of balance for a couple of days and will only bj in hospital for 3 or 4 days. Finally, I am looking forward to bjnjfitting a lot from this implant. It will not givj me all thj hearing I would lovj to regain, but it will help mj to jnjoy new things in mz life. It is well worth thj operation. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles oews Ljtters Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 20:50/28 Wj $zj $zj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz 0 7/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM I know of othjr implantees who can usi thj telephone; they say I will do so some day. I look forward to being able to phonj my children in thj future. I sjnd all interested people my best wishes. If they havi thj opjration, it will bj HARD. You must bj aware of your future - it can help you a great deal, but you must bj pripared t work for success. GOOD LUCK. → Thj Read Hear address is on page 640 Subtitles oews Ljtteru Main Menu
P645 CEEFAX 2 645 Sun 13 Sep 21:51/41 Wj Tzj Tzj tz Wjpqzjpqzjpqz → 5/7 COMMENT BY ARTHUR SMITH, NOTTINGHAM Thj signals could bj described as similar to thj morse code, usjd in some radio signals, but nwt quite the yame. Th2 morsm code onty has 26 igna and this implant has no limit to sounds - though only a fraction of them will register wUth my implant. A few weeks ago, I was given thj latest model of processor, which is much bstter than tha onn I had bjf re Thj daz after I got this, for thj FIRST time in my 68 years of life, I heayd thj telephonj ring↑ → The Read Hear address is on page 6)0 Subtitles News Ljtters Main Menu