The COLOUR of sound
Without a genetic footprint of hearing loss in his family, Bob never gave his hearing a thought. In his youth he was exposed to the loud noise of the army and this left him with a legacy of deteriorating hearing.
This is his story.
Bob Ross August 2009
Download a copy of Bob's story
I was born in Wollongong in 1946 and enjoyed an extremely healthy and playful childhood.
In 1965 at 19 years of age, I voluntarily joined the Armed Forces for a period of six years passing the rigorous medical without any problems. After initial training I was posted to the Royal Australian Artillery Corp and, because in those days hearing protection did not exist, all the wonderful noises of heavy Field and LAA guns unfolded before my 'ears'.
There is no 'genetic footprint' of hearing loss in my family but, in retrospect, the damage to my hearing had already started and being exposed to the heavy artillery noise exacerbated it. However, I never experienced any problem until 2000 when friends made it quite clear they did not appreciate continually repeating themselves.
As seems to be the custom, I refused to accept and admit to myself I had a situation developing, but by 2002 it was obvious I needed professional help. An Audiologist, at completion of testing, ensured I was fitted with Digital Hearing Aids in both ears.
Over the next four years I was progressively fitted with more powerful aids as my hearing diminished rapidly. Unfortunately, by October 2006 I had no other choice than to retire from my Taxi and Limo work because I could not hear and understand conversation in the confines of a vehicle. My personal safety was also challenged. At this stage I was classified as profoundly hearing impaired in the right ear and severely impaired in the left.
Of course social activities had long ceased as, for me, more than two people constituted a crowd. I struggled with retirement, continuing to perform part time work for another eight months after which time I admitted defeat and stopped working completely. In September 2008 my GP sent me to an Audiologist (the most proficient and wonderful Christine Elliott) who after an exhaustive two hour test confirmed the worst. I was no longer hearing enough to hold a 'Commercial Driving Licence'.
I could not hear enough to keep a Comercial Driving Licence
It was a rather traumatic moment for me until Christine said she would recommend me for the Cochlear Implant assessment program at SCIC (Gladesville). WOW…was I excited after she explained what 'could' happen if I progressed to an Implant. The rest is history. I completed the tests and was successfully implanted by Professor Gibson at the Mater Hospital in April 2009. The support provided by the staff at SCIC is enormous and any fears and concerns I had were handled by a wonderful group of professional people who only had one interest… my well-being.
Switch-on day, the 6th May 2009, will forever be remembered as the day I got a 'second' chance at life. With my audiologist Christine in attendance (witnessing her first cochlear implant switch-on), Carol Amos, my Clinical Audiologist from SCIC, went through the steps and then it ALL happened. I was switched on. AWESOME just about describes the amazing feeling of 'hearing' the most vivid array of sounds imaginable. Screeches, pings and pure NOISE befell me. After a period of 10 to 15 minutes, Carol gave me a speech test and I achieved a 64% result….not bad first up. Everyone in the room was 'smiling' or crying and I'll never ever forget the moment.
I was fitted with a Nucleus Freedom Processor and at my eight week 'mapping' achieved a 94% result on my speech test. Of course the initial shock of so many different sounds was challenging, but by referring to the notes and instructions provided by SCIC and switching between programs on the processor, I was able to cope with the forever changing sound patterns.
The COLOURS of sound are amazing
I am now quite comfortable with my processor and intend to keep 'learning' as my hearing journey continues. Just this week I have been accepted into the CAN volunteer group and am looking forward to 'enhancing' this wonderful experience by helping and supporting others who are about to start on this 'journey'. The joy in experiencing the difference in 'colours', AFTER switch-on, is amazing.
"My journey continues".......
On the 9th April 2010, I received my second Implant which was conducted once again by the wonderful Prof 'William' Gibson and now the rehabilitation starts again at SCIC in Gladesville NSW. The team are 'fantastic' and since I've been there before, I'm not concerned about what lies ahead. The 'mappings' will happen and my hearing will just keep getting better on a daily basis. I had been told by 'experts' (bilateral recipients) that I wouldn't know myself once I got 'stereo' sound....how very true....my switch-on was the 30th April (5 days ago) and already the overall improvement is quite noticeable. It can only get better........