Wanting to hear
Pete was born deaf and hated it. He could always see others in conversation and felt he was missing out. But despite this he was well educated and successful. It wasn't until hearing aids could no longer help him at all that he considered a Cochlear implant. This is his story.
Read Pete's story in The Manly Daily
I was born profoundly deaf and I have to admit - I hate being deaf and by the ripe old age of 42 I probably still had not come to terms with it.
But still I managed to get a University degree, work overseas with large corporations, manage my own business, maintain an active sporting life, meet and marry the girl of my dreams … all without hearing a word! I kid you not. Even at my wedding to Katja Chris our celebrant said "repeat after me Peter……….." Oh ohhh!! I managed to miss the 'respect and obey' parts - much to Katja's father's ongoing dismay!
Did you know it is much much easier being deaf and single than being deaf and married? Amazing but true. Some blokes at the pub reckon they would give a year's wages not to be able to hear their missus! But I find it distressing not hearing my wife and her kids, it just seems I am missing out on so much. I sit around the dinner table, hearing the bustling noise of conversation, without learning anything about how everyone's day has been.
I've already said how much I hated being deaf but even so I have endeavoured to remain as 'normal' as possible, living life with a positive attitude, and I have no regrets.
However I reached a stage where I felt I couldn't progress without better hearing. Indeed, daily I felt the burden of not being able to communicate. My hearing deteriorated more and the coping mechanisms I developed to help overcome this disability became less and less effective…[not that they ever really where…but hey!].
I needed to do something about it. I strolled into the local Hearing Aid shop and enquired about the latest in hearing aids, I needed to know if they were more powerful and better able to help me. The young fellow said "yeah, but let's do a audiogram first to see what would be the best option." I kinda sighed. You see, I've done my fair share of audiograms, but each new person you see wants to start from scratch. So we did one…
"err…..how long has your hearing been like this Mr Gunness?" the young bloke whispered to me whilst pouring over the graph.
"oh….you know….about 42 years," I replied nonchalantly.
"I don't think I can help you…have you heard of the Cochlear Implant?" he responded.
I had first been referred to the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre (SCIC) eleven years earlier but an implant wasn't for me then so now I decided to go back and see if it was for me now!
And Oh My God! The next few months flew like quicksilver. The time between my first visit and having the implant was seven weeks. Not bad considering I dilly-dallied around for 11 years. In retrospect, I wish I had done the whole cabooble back then…but you know…I reckon you really need to feel it is the right thing to do at the right time and place for you.
After the switch-on I intially thought "oh oh Pete! what have you done!!" The sounds I was hearing were absolutely hellish. A total mix of noises that travelled around my poor noggin' banging and crashing and wizzing and basically being a total disorientating pain.
I was therefore, surprised how quickly it all settled down. My brain got to work and started associating different bangs and crashes with visual inputs. And then they became no longer bangs and crashes but the noise of identifiable people and objects.
"Ahhhhh that's what a chair being dragged sounds like", I would say to myself. [I have also started training the kids to lift the seat when they get up.] Indeed, sometimes now I long for the 'fabled peace and quiet'.
It's only a little over three months since I have had my implant and I can sincerely say it should be registered as one of the world's wonders. I like it so much I have had my right ear done. True!
Right know I'm sctratching a small bald spot behind the ear, waiting for the operation to heal. I will have this switched-on on the 15th April...Yippie!
The operation second time around is totally different to the first. All the whizz bangs are not there. I guess the brain has these new sensations registered away on file and under control.
So I'm hoping that having bi-lateral implants will enable me to hear bi-laterally! Actually studies have shown this operation will further enhance the already remarkable success of my first implant.
I guess we will wait and see. But I'm confident and excited the outcome will be rewarding. If you wish to find out more see my blog
Cheers
Pete