VALENCIA, Calif., March 20, 2013 – Advanced Bionics
(AB), a global leader in cochlear implant technology and a company of
the Sonova Group, announced today that it received FDA, Health Canada
and TÜV approval for the global distribution of HiRes Optima™*
sound processing. The world’s newest sound strategy for cochlear
implant recipients, HiRes Optima delivers optimized battery life with
the same great performance as AB’s patented HiRes Fidelity 120™* processing. AB cochlear implant recipients using this new technology enjoy an average improvement of 55% in battery life, giving them considerably more time to hear their world before needing to change a battery.
As
part of a company-wide commitment to providing the best performance,
Advanced Bionics continually innovates sound processing technology to
help recipients experience as close to normal hearing as possible. AB
built HiRes Optima processing on the HiRes Fidelity 120 platform to
benefit from its built-in performance capabilities. As the industry’s
only sound strategy that uses 120 spectral bands to deliver five times
more sound resolution than any other cochlear implant system, HiRes
Fidelity 120 has been developed to reveal all the dimensions of sound,
from the rich layers of music to the subtle nuances of tone during a
conversation. HiRes Optima provides the same rich and detailed sound
with an improved battery life.
“Nothing on the market can
compete with the sound quality from our HiRes Fidelity 120 technology.
To deliver the same performance and substantially increase battery life
for our recipients is a great accomplishment,” said Hansjuerg Emch,
President of Advanced Bionics and Group Vice President of the Sonova
Medical Division within which AB resides. “HiRes Optima perfectly
represents the intense effort and engineering expertise that make AB the
leading innovator in our industry.”
Benefiting from the HiRes Fidelity 120 platform, HiRes Optima also delivers AB’s proprietary current steering technology.
Other implants use a single current source to stimulate only one
electrode at a time, limiting the number of potential spectral bands.
Like AB’s HiRes Fidelity 120, HiRes Optima has multiple current sources,
enabling two or more electrodes to be stimulated at the same time. This
simultaneous stimulation allows current to be “steered” between
electrodes, giving AB cochlear implant recipients the opportunity to
hear more pitches. Recipients using research software have demonstrated
the ability to perceive up to 450 pitches.1
HiRes Optima will be available for use with AB’s next-generation sound processor as well as Neptune™ and Harmony™ processors.
For
more information about HiRes Optima sound processing, or any Advanced
Bionics product, contact a local AB representative or visit AdvancedBionics.com.
Source: http://www.advancedbionics.com/com/en/system/footer/about_us/corporate_news/2013/hires_optima_worldwide.html
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Prevnar-13 vaccine
This past fall, a link from the CDC website was being shared on various CI-related facebook groups and such. The CDC updated their pneumococcal vaccine guidelines, and recommended that those who are getting a cochlear implant, or those who already have the implants, should get both the Prevnar-13 and the Pneumovax vaccines. I shared this link with my CI audiologist in email late last October, and she was going to bring it up at the next team meeting at the CI Center.
Well, last week I got mail from the center, and enclosed was the information on the updated vaccination recommendations for cochlear implant users. I then shot off an email to my primary doctor's nurse about this, and she had to do some research before finding another doctor's office that has the adult Prevnar-13 vaccine. She was able to get me an appointment with them.
Yesterday, I went to this doctor's office, filled out some paper work, and then got the vaccine. The nurse was wondering why I was getting it and asked if I was immunocompromised, so I told her it was because of the cochlear implant and the CDC updating the recommendations. Turns out she has a son with hearing loss, but he doesn't qualify for an implant just yet, but maybe a few years down the road. Anyway, I got the vaccine, and she covered the injection site with a Daffy Duck bandaid. Cool! Then I was on my way. Now I'm covered!
I may not like shots, but I most certainly do not want to take any chances when it comes to pneumococcal meningitis, so I was fine with getting this vaccine (even if it resulted in my arm being pretty sore).
Well, last week I got mail from the center, and enclosed was the information on the updated vaccination recommendations for cochlear implant users. I then shot off an email to my primary doctor's nurse about this, and she had to do some research before finding another doctor's office that has the adult Prevnar-13 vaccine. She was able to get me an appointment with them.
Yesterday, I went to this doctor's office, filled out some paper work, and then got the vaccine. The nurse was wondering why I was getting it and asked if I was immunocompromised, so I told her it was because of the cochlear implant and the CDC updating the recommendations. Turns out she has a son with hearing loss, but he doesn't qualify for an implant just yet, but maybe a few years down the road. Anyway, I got the vaccine, and she covered the injection site with a Daffy Duck bandaid. Cool! Then I was on my way. Now I'm covered!
I may not like shots, but I most certainly do not want to take any chances when it comes to pneumococcal meningitis, so I was fine with getting this vaccine (even if it resulted in my arm being pretty sore).
Friday, March 1, 2013
Interesting....
I was almost at work.... I had just turned onto the street in front of the newspaper when I saw an ambulance in the distance. I pulled over to the curb (I was already out of the ambulance's way), and waited until the ambulance went by. I wanted to see if I could hear the sirens with my implant. Nope, not really. When it was right behind me, I heard the sirens, but it was really quiet and low pitched. Interesting! Anything that has a high pitched sound (like female voices and such), they just sound low to me. Perhaps my audiologist can try to fix that when I see her again in April. Even listening to certain music, music that was made when the artists were kids, they sound like they have low voices even though they actually had high voices at the time. I get amused listening to such music, knowing the voices were originally high but they sound low with the implant on.
As for the FM use with my Neptune processor... Well, I have discovered that the set up doesn't always work. If the Neptune doesn't recognize the MLx receiver, I have to fiddle with it, taking the Neptune apart and everything. Sometimes it takes a few rounds of disassembling, then reassembling, the Neptune and FM receiver before it finally works. Not something I want to do during English class, I have no time to be messing around! I haven't used the Neptune with the FM the last couple of weeks or so. I use the FM with my hearing aid, then the implant is just the implant with no FM input, and it works out I think. The set up just has been finicky. Don't know if it's the Neptune processor, or if it's the FM receiver, but it gets kind of annoying when it doesn't work when I want it to.
As for the FM use with my Neptune processor... Well, I have discovered that the set up doesn't always work. If the Neptune doesn't recognize the MLx receiver, I have to fiddle with it, taking the Neptune apart and everything. Sometimes it takes a few rounds of disassembling, then reassembling, the Neptune and FM receiver before it finally works. Not something I want to do during English class, I have no time to be messing around! I haven't used the Neptune with the FM the last couple of weeks or so. I use the FM with my hearing aid, then the implant is just the implant with no FM input, and it works out I think. The set up just has been finicky. Don't know if it's the Neptune processor, or if it's the FM receiver, but it gets kind of annoying when it doesn't work when I want it to.
Monday, February 4, 2013
ASL class visit
On Friday, I went to a local high school in the morning as the ASL teacher at that school had asked me to come by and talk to her class. I arrived a bit earlier than expected, but that was ok. She was thrilled to see me, and had to send out a student to retrieve the 2 students she sent out earlier to get me. Anyway, it was a fun visit! The class asked me questions about my being deaf, how did I become deaf, what sort of education I had growing up, etc. They were also curious about my CI experiences as well. It was just fun, and I'm glad I went. I'm always more than happy to talk of my experiences. The teacher likes to invite different d/Deaf individuals from the local deaf community to visit her classes, so the students can get to know more about them. The classes also have the choice to attend the few deaf socials that are held each month (typically all year round there is deaf bowling; then either deaf ice cream or coffee depending on time of year), so they can practice their ASL skills with the deaf community and improve them. I'd be more than happy to visit with the class again (or any other ASL classes in the community) when I have the time.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Oohh technology...
Been 2 weeks of school so far... for the most part it's going well enough, although I do get a bit frustrated here and there. Frustrated with some of the math, trying to make sense of it. Seriously, fractions are NOT my friend! Also, the captioning set up for English is weird. Seems like I encounter some sort of issue with the set up during each English class. Last Monday, it was working fine for a few minutes, then boom nada. Turns out I didn't have the microphone charged. Ok. Last Wednesday and Friday, everything seemed to run smoothly enough, with hiccup here and there (the transcriber would disconnect the call on Skype, call me back and then it's running smoothly again). This past Wednesday, it seems like there was some trouble with the internet connection? The disabilities coordinator at the college had the IT department put in a blue network cable into the classroom so I could use it to connect my laptop to the internet instead of relying on wireless (the wireless signals in the room is very weak). Set up worked fine at first, then we ran into issues, but got everything working again. But today, nada. No luck right from the start. We tried everything, reconnecting, restarting the laptop, no such luck. I sent an email to the disabilities coordinator about the troubles, and told him if we keep encountering problems that I just may not want to keep using the captioning service. It's just not worth my time or the trouble, to have an issue arise and then having to spend time troubleshooting and trying to figure out what's going on, distracting me from the discussions going on in the classroom. I may be able to get by in that class with the FM only. The transcriber isn't able to hear the other students in the class when they have something to say, so either way I still miss out on what the students are saying. If I continue to encounter problems next week in English class with the captioning, I'm calling it quits with the service. It's a great service when it works well, but if I'm just going to be encountering issues every so often, forget it.
Now, as for the FM set up... I went back to the audiologist the 14th... The ML10i came in, and we got that attached to my hearing aid. Tested it with the Smartlink+, and it worked great! We tried fussing with the old MLx receiver for my Neptune yet again, and got no results. So we were quite stumped. The audiologist even spent some time on the phone with Phonak for some help as well. Oh well, I was sent on my way with the Smartlink+ and the new receiver attached to my hearing aid. We were starting to think perhaps the old receiver just isn't compatible with the Smartlink+. But during the week, I played around with the FM system some more at home, and boom I got it working! Excellent, now I didn't have to worry about needing to get a new receiver afterall!
Today, I'm usig the FM set up with my ipod, and it's fantastic. I connected the ipod to the Smartlink+, and music is playing in my ears without my needing to wear wires. Oh how nice it is to be wire-free! I love it! I don't need a separate set up for each ear device anymore. Sweet!
Now, as for the FM set up... I went back to the audiologist the 14th... The ML10i came in, and we got that attached to my hearing aid. Tested it with the Smartlink+, and it worked great! We tried fussing with the old MLx receiver for my Neptune yet again, and got no results. So we were quite stumped. The audiologist even spent some time on the phone with Phonak for some help as well. Oh well, I was sent on my way with the Smartlink+ and the new receiver attached to my hearing aid. We were starting to think perhaps the old receiver just isn't compatible with the Smartlink+. But during the week, I played around with the FM system some more at home, and boom I got it working! Excellent, now I didn't have to worry about needing to get a new receiver afterall!
Today, I'm usig the FM set up with my ipod, and it's fantastic. I connected the ipod to the Smartlink+, and music is playing in my ears without my needing to wear wires. Oh how nice it is to be wire-free! I love it! I don't need a separate set up for each ear device anymore. Sweet!
Update: The College's IT person checked the connection in the classroom, and even moved the network cable to a different desk. It seems my laptop was sharing the connection with the teacher/classroom computer, but now I should have my own network connection separate from the classroom computer. Will try it out on Monday and see how that goes, and hope the set up works better.
Friday, January 11, 2013
No luck with the FM today
Well, this morning was a mess with the FM. Phonak sent the wrong receiver for my hearing aid (they sent the ML11i instead of the ML10i), and they also sent the SmartLink transmitter instead of the Inspiro. They said the Smartlink is more sophisicated, and the Inspiro is old and outdated. Whichever, I can accept the Smartlink.
We also tried getting the FM to work with the Neptune processor. No-go at all there. We kept trying different things, audie even called Phonak for some support. Nada. After the appointment (she kept the Smartlink, and I'll see her again Monday afternoon so we can be sure everything works with the proper receiver for my hearing aid). I went home, and got out the old HandyMic transmitter and played with it to see if I could get the FM working with the Neptune. Again, nada. What?! I had it working in very late Oct./early Nov. when I tried it out with the T-Comm for the Neptune; plugged the MLx receiver into the Neptune controller, plugged transmitter into my iPod and music was flowing to my ear! But today, I got absolutely nothing. So I'm wondering if there's something going on with the Neptune, at least with the controller. I've taken the control off, put it back on and saw the green light flash saying it was synced to the Neptune, but I still was getting nothing. So I'm stumped.
I did email Allison about this, as well as the Wyo/Colo AB clinic specialist, see what they have to say. Just weird. If I end up just using the FM with the hearing aid only, and using the CI for hearing what's going around on around me in the classroom (like students saying something during a discussion or whichever), that might work too. But it would be nice to have the FM working for both ears. Hmm......
We also tried getting the FM to work with the Neptune processor. No-go at all there. We kept trying different things, audie even called Phonak for some support. Nada. After the appointment (she kept the Smartlink, and I'll see her again Monday afternoon so we can be sure everything works with the proper receiver for my hearing aid). I went home, and got out the old HandyMic transmitter and played with it to see if I could get the FM working with the Neptune. Again, nada. What?! I had it working in very late Oct./early Nov. when I tried it out with the T-Comm for the Neptune; plugged the MLx receiver into the Neptune controller, plugged transmitter into my iPod and music was flowing to my ear! But today, I got absolutely nothing. So I'm wondering if there's something going on with the Neptune, at least with the controller. I've taken the control off, put it back on and saw the green light flash saying it was synced to the Neptune, but I still was getting nothing. So I'm stumped.
I did email Allison about this, as well as the Wyo/Colo AB clinic specialist, see what they have to say. Just weird. If I end up just using the FM with the hearing aid only, and using the CI for hearing what's going around on around me in the classroom (like students saying something during a discussion or whichever), that might work too. But it would be nice to have the FM working for both ears. Hmm......
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Preparing for college
College classes start on Monday! Ack! I'll be taking Elementary Algebra, English: Basic Writing II, and Medical Terminology. I want to go for the radiography program, but of course I need to get some classes out of the way first. So I'll be taking classes for the next year before I can apply for the Radiography program if all goes well.
The disabilities counselor has the college has been a great help, helping me get registered for classes and such. On Monday I met with him in his office, and he got me set up with the ACS Captioning service, and checked out a RevoLabs Xtag microphone to me to use for English class. I will use Skype on my laptop to "call" the person that will be doing the captioning for me, log in at the ACS Caption website so I can see the captioning, and the instructor will wear the microphone (this is how the captioner hears what's going on). It's a pretty useful program and I am really happy the college offers this. No interpreter needed! And after class is over, the person who did the captioning will email me the transcript so I can refer back to it! Excellent! The counselor also requested a network cable be available in the English classroom so I can use it with my laptop for better internet connection instead of relying on the WiFi.
Tomorrow morning, I'll be going to my hearing aid audiologist's office to get my Phonak FM system. I'm sure there will be some programming going on, adding an FM setting onto my hearing aid and all. I'll be sure to wear my Neptune processor tomorrow so I can test the Phonak MLx receiver on it with the Inspiro transmitter to make sure it works, along with the hearing aid's ML10i receiver as well.
When I go to campus on Monday, I will definitely be loaded with techology.
Better make sure I have spare batteries in my backpack for my ears!
English is only 3 days a week, so I won't be needing to bring my laptop on campus every day, which is good. My laptop is 17 inches, so it's big and heavy. The math course is mostly done on the computer, and there are occasional video lectures but I've been assured the videos are captioned.
This is what my schedule looks like:
The disabilities counselor has the college has been a great help, helping me get registered for classes and such. On Monday I met with him in his office, and he got me set up with the ACS Captioning service, and checked out a RevoLabs Xtag microphone to me to use for English class. I will use Skype on my laptop to "call" the person that will be doing the captioning for me, log in at the ACS Caption website so I can see the captioning, and the instructor will wear the microphone (this is how the captioner hears what's going on). It's a pretty useful program and I am really happy the college offers this. No interpreter needed! And after class is over, the person who did the captioning will email me the transcript so I can refer back to it! Excellent! The counselor also requested a network cable be available in the English classroom so I can use it with my laptop for better internet connection instead of relying on the WiFi.
Tomorrow morning, I'll be going to my hearing aid audiologist's office to get my Phonak FM system. I'm sure there will be some programming going on, adding an FM setting onto my hearing aid and all. I'll be sure to wear my Neptune processor tomorrow so I can test the Phonak MLx receiver on it with the Inspiro transmitter to make sure it works, along with the hearing aid's ML10i receiver as well.
When I go to campus on Monday, I will definitely be loaded with techology.
- Laptop
- Phonak FM unit
- RevoLabs Xtag mic for captioning
- Hearing aid
- Cochlear implant
Better make sure I have spare batteries in my backpack for my ears!
English is only 3 days a week, so I won't be needing to bring my laptop on campus every day, which is good. My laptop is 17 inches, so it's big and heavy. The math course is mostly done on the computer, and there are occasional video lectures but I've been assured the videos are captioned.
This is what my schedule looks like:
- Monday - Math, English
- Tuesday - Math
- Wednesday - Math, English
- Thursday - Math
- Friday - English
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