Challenges to Overcome

Rob Dobson

Rob's hearing loss wasn't discovered until he was three years old and even then he didn't get hearing aids until he was four. This meant his language development was hindered. But he has not let that hold him back. He recently completed Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies - Hearing Impairment from University of Newcastle and is studying for his Masters in Special Education - Hearing Impairment. What an achievement! This is Rob's story.

Rob Dobson March 2008

Rob

Rob's Story

My name is Robert Dobson and I have a severe/profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. My main form of communication is oral but I have a basic knowledge of sign language. When I was born there were no hearing tests for babies so my parents had to work out whether my hyperactive behaviour indicated a hearing loss or not. It seems I was born deaf but was not diagnosed until I was at least 3years old and I was not fitted with bi lateral hearing aids until I was 4 years old. This meant I was behind others in my age group in terms of language development.

Throughout my schooling I relied heavily on what little residual sound I could get with two hearing aids plus lip-reading. Coping in mainstream schools in normal hearing classes (primary and secondary) was a challenge. I felt isolated from peers. I only had support from Advisory Teacher Hearing Impairment twice a week. This was both good and bad. It singled me out from the group, showing I needed help, but at the same time it wasn't really often enough help.

One of the biggest challenges faced in my adulthood has been dealing with the demands of the 'hearing establishment'. Society is organized around hearing people, and major adjustments have to be made for me to confront everyday problems but I did that with gusto and bravado.

Meeting the demands of the 'hearing establishment' was one of my biggest challenges

Going through a university, which is geared for normal hearing people, required a supreme effort for me. I was very lucky to get support in the form of note taking and additional support for other areas of study. Despite my hearing loss, I graduated with two degrees - Bachelor of Teaching and Graduate Diploma Outdoor Education and have been teaching on a contract/casual basis for 12 years mainly in physical education but also as teacher of the deaf. I have recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies - Hearing Impairment.

Over the last few years I had heard about cochlear implants from friends and my interest intensified when the Nucleus Freedom was introduced. I met with my ENT Specialist Dr Paul Varley and the wonderful audiologists at the South Australian Cochlear Implant Centre (SACIC) and we explored and discussed the benefits a Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant would give me.

The assessments demonstrated I would receive a significant improvement for my hearing needs with an implant and this would make communication easier. I felt I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. The surgery was performed on Tuesday the 19th June, 2007 and on Wednesday 11th July 2007; my processor was activated at SACIC.

The moment of truth

My activation (switch-on) went really well and exceeded my and my audiologist's expectations. I was overjoyed, my hands trembled. At first there was a power surge and that sounded scary - just like a bunch of Indians going off doing the rain dance. The first sounds I heard were like a washing machine but that settled down after 5 minutes. I was soon able to differentiate sounds and pitch at various frequencies which showed an excellent start.

Many sounds were different in those early days. Hearing my wife Haze's and our son's voice was different - higher pitched than I was used to. Paper money rustling (wish I had more) sounded like buzzing, I'd never heard my wife Haze sniffle but I was able to understand her without lip reading. There were sounds I had never heard; the computer keyboard clacking and I was surprised to hear how noisy two computers are. But the sound of crunching empty chip bag was cool although going to the toilet for a leak was very loud. (Niagara falls). When we went to a Café for lunch I found the sound of people chatting very noisy and scrambled and the coffee machines, as well dirty dishes banging, were loud.

Impact of Cochlear Implant

The main benefits for me from the cochlear implant are restored detection of everyday sounds in the hearing environment, improved face to face communication, the ability to understand speech through hearing alone. I noticed that the first thing I was able to do was listen not lip read. I scored 98% on speech recognition and discrimination tests when prior to implantation the assessment showed I only scored 0-1% with hearing aids in both ears. I now have the ability to listen to car radio and television, hear people behind my back and enjoy music. Things I could never have done before.

Since my first implant has been so successful I have discussed the possibility of having my right ear implanted and this may happen sometime in the future depending on funds. The cost of replacing batteries is expensive but it does not outweigh the joy of getting real hearing back

Being able to hear and listen to my family and my two young boys has been phenomenal and priceless. I loving having the extra sound and exploring more sounds around the universe. I am glad I made the decision and take my hat off to the bloke, that invented the cochlear implant Professor Graeme Clark, as well as the hard working audiologist team at SACIC - three cheers for you.

Going bi-lateral

I received my first cochlear implant on my left side on 19th June, 2007 and on Wednesday 11th July 2007 my Cochlear Implant processor was activated. I had great success and it was absolutely amazing to hear and listen to voices and environmental noise. The first thing I was able to do was to listen and not have to rely on lip reading. Post implant I scored 98-100% first time on speech recognition and discrimination tests. Prior to the assessment I only scored 0 -1 % with hearing aids on both ears. I found too that my greatest success with the cochlear implant was the ability to listen to music, the car radio and television and could even understand people talking behind me.

By the next year, I was seriously considering getting my right ear implanted. This was an easy decision as my right ear has been profoundly deaf since birth. I was aware of the long rehabilitation ahead and looking forward to the challenges that awaited me. I received my second implant on my right side on 11th November 2008 and on 01st December 2008 my CI processor was activated. The switch on was a success and I am learning to cope with new sounds in the right ear and an improved sense of direction of sound but it has still been a huge learning curve. What was more amazing was to be able to hear and understand four to five words at a time and a 10-15 short sentences with 95% success.

The sounds at switch on (bloody awful) were robotic and a "jingle bells" type theme with lots of high pitched squeals and whistles were what greeted me at first. Some sounds were like two squirrels fighting. My poor brain is trying hard to adapt to hearing new sounds. So far I am loving it as I was expecting to hear these types of sounds and exploring more new sounds around the house and environment.

It has been said that no two cochlear implant switch on's are alike - both are completely different and I must say, from my own personal experience, I agreed fully.

My audiologist explained to me the pros and cons of bilateral implants prior to implantation. Hearing with two ears is referred to as 'binaural' hearing. Binaural hearing allows us to fully engage in the world by providing a better ability to determine which direction sound is coming from, and better performance when joining conversations in noisy situations.

The best thing about getting the second cochlear implant has been restored detection of everyday sounds in the hearing environment, improved face to face communication and the ability to understand speech through hearing alone. Pre implant, spending time with family and friends had been rewarding but exhausting. Now that I am fitted with bilateral implants, I focus less on trying to hear and more on other activities, leaving me feeling more energized than before. The main benefits of bilateral cochlear implants are

I have been writing an online 'blog' about my bilateral cochlear implants journey

Check it out

I am active member of Cochlear awareness network.

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