Adult CI Users Day - Telephones

Last Saturday, I went to a workshop at the Ear Foundation! Like before, we had 30 minutes of any choices of session we chosen. I went to:

Richard - Talk more about Advanced Bionic Cochlear Implant.

This session was very interested. We talked about the futures techonologys and also ask any questions about the AB processors. It good to hear that they looking at future processors that have smaller batteries and also more choices of colours (i'm excited, and want them). They are now looking at making a pink processor! Wow, it be good.

Andrew - Talk about equipments they you could try when using the phone/mobile

I liked this session, I tried out this bluetooth device which I tried out for the first time. The blue device called 'Geemarc CL Bluehook ' which you can buy from 'Connevans' As I tried it, you didn't need to change hooks or anything, you only had to turn you setting to a loops channel and place the hook over your ears. While I tried it, Andrew tried phoning me and I only had to press answer on the phone and then just listen through the blue tooth device. It sounded quite good because I were in the same room he sounds robotic and because I were lip-reading him while he were talking there were a bit of a delay on the voice I hear. So, I decided to go out the room and see if I could hear him then. Sue were out of the room with me and andrew were in the other and decided to ask me a question to see if I could get what he said. He asked me " how long it took you to get to the Ear Foundation" I heard what he said and ask sue and she nodded yes, and I answer back. It was great to hear out of that and now I am thinking of buying one once I have more practise with talking to other people on the phone.

Maria - Telephone Commuication tips

This session was all about how to communicate better on the phone and how to make the better of it. It was good practise by using these useful role play scripts. I tried out talking on the phone to Maria while she was out in another room and had to listen out what she said and talk to her back. I managed to do it and while following the scripts, I manage to pick out some of the words in the sentences. It a good way of learning.

Here one script and give it go!

Sam; Hello?

John: Hi! Its John. Can I speak to Sam please?

Sam: Hi John! It's me! How are you?

John: Fine thanks. Are you coming over on Thursday?

Sam: Yes. What time do you want me?

John: How about 8pm.

Sam: That;s Great. I'll bring a bottle of wine.

John: Sounds better by the minute.

Sam: See you Thursday then. Bye

John: Bye.

Using this Scripted conversation really does help and the more practise you do the better you'll get. I am now practicing more and hopefully i'll get better at it.

Anyway after a successful day at the Ear Foundation, some of us decided to go out for a Chinese meal to help celebrate Abi's birthday. We all had a great evening and are now looking forward to the next upcoming Ear Foundation dates!

Me and Debs who also has an AB processor

Fun in the Snow!

Today, where I live has a big snow fall. We don't normally get that much snow that often and today has been a biggest snow fall we had in years!

Its amazing to see how muc noise we make while we're walking on the snow. all we hear is crunching sounds on every footsteps we made.

Richard and I had some fun in the garden and made a few snowman, check them out!

CI Fashion

As most of you know, I am a huge fan of fashionable clothes and that I like to make sure everything matches and look right.

I also like to make sure I match my CI colours to my clothes too. I know, I'm crazy but I love it.

Advanced Bionic do quite a lot of colours, but there are some colours they don't do like, Pink, Red, Yellow etc

So, after my favourite colour case broke 'purple' I had other colours but it wasn't enough to match and I had these plain colours which I haven't yet used because they were boring to me.

Somehow after telling dad that I wish AB would do more colours, dad came up with an Idea and said I know just what might help you. Dad suggested us to go an Art & Craft shop and buy some plastic sprays of the colours I wanted and he said they he will spray it and see what the results would be. I thought It was a good idea and had to ask my mate manda if she know where the shop is.

After visiting the shop, I brought Pink, Red, Gold, Yellow, While, Bright Green, Light Purple spray which coz about £2 each per a can and decided to spray the boring plain colours I had and what I have not yet used and guess what? It worked! Dad sprayed a nice pink colour on one of my CI covers and It looks just how they make it. The pink matches the top Im wearing and now I finally have a pink, red, gold, yellow, bright green, light purple covers alone with all the other colours I have. You see below on other pictures that I like to match my CI colours to what I am wearing:

New family member! Argh! How noisey?

Hey all, I haven't forgotten about the blogs, I am still around. I have been soooooo busy just laterly and last week was the most exciting and nervous week for our family. My sister had given birth to a baby boy and called him Dylan. Yep, I am now 'Aunty Katie-Louise! argh! that makes be feel old but I please to welcome him into the family!

I have never really been with young babies since switch on. I have never actually heard them cry in person apart from seening them cry on tv etc. I mean, I can't believe how much Dylan has been crying over the past week - He would only cry if he wants feeding, changing or if any of us disturb him in his sleep. It the first time I heard cry and I'm glad I am able to hear my cute little nephew which was a pleasure to hear!

After hearing Dylan cry alot, I do tend to turn my implant right down or go into another room for a bit till my sister or his dad sort him out. I find it a bit hard to ignore which I am gonna try my best to get used to it.

I must say, I am sooooooo glad I don't hear anything at night time with I put my own implant to bed, though I do feel sorry for the others. hehe

Signed Video Songs

Thought it be nice to share some signed videos by BSL (British sign language) users! Have fun watching and listening ;-)


Sugarbabes - 'Hole in the Head'



Will Young - Evergreen


Whitney Houston - I Have Nothing

online Video & Audio chat - new CI moment!

Last night I went to my friends house who lives about 5 minutes away. While I were over at her house. Kara and I decided to go online and try out skype and oovoo video chat with Jennifer (Amanda's Stepmother)

we planned to go online at a certain time as USA and UK hours are different, Kara and I were so keen to learn ASL and so that Jennifer could be our online ASL teacher.

It was 7:30pm and 11:30am over there - When we manage to sort the video chat and saw Jennifer. When Jennifer first saw us on the video chat, Kara and I were signing away and the first thing Jennifer said was "woah, I don't even have a clue on what you are saying" we both laughed as it would be the same for us if Jennifer signed in ASL.

As we got going, Jennifer taught us the Alphabet, Animals, Numbers and some everyday signs. It was really interesting to learn, I mean, BSL (British Sign Language) and ASL (Amerincan Sign Language) are completely different and we both wanted to learn ASL and learning ASL would help us when we both go over USA this summer to meet other deaf. As we tried them, some were quite difficult and some were quite funny!

While we were practising, Jennifer said she could hear us laughing and giggling away and she asked if she could hear her. We couldn't hear Jennifer because out laptop was set as mute. Not many deaf people would have it on and wouldn't bother changing it. So, we both decided to put the volume on and as we did it, we didn't realise that the volume was on full and when Jennifer said hello, we both was shocked and put our hand over our ears. It was sooooo loud and kara had to turn it down quick. When we heard Jennifer talking we could also hear alot of background noise coming from where Jennifer is. We could hear, Jennifer typing to us, wind as she was outside and cars passing by as she mentioned she lives on a corner and also we could hear goldy her cute little dog

That was all new to me, I never heard from a laptop in a video call. I would normally use it and would signing away to my friends on there but never had the audio bit on. I decided to say "Hello" and Jennifer could also hear me too. I was impressed when she said it was clear :-D Jennifer also decided to sing to us to give us a listening practise. She sanged Twinkle Twinkle little star, lol It was good but sooooooo funny because she wanted to make sure no-one was walking past, haha.

Not only that Jennifer were talking to her Husband, Gonzalio. While Jennifer were talking to Gonzalio, we were listening and her accent was sooooo American. We manage to pick out some words on what she said and typed it and Jennifer said that was right.

After that, joseph also joined in the video chat too and we could hear jospeh talking too. We were able to tell there two 2 people talking as each voice sounded different.


So, what a brilliant evening and another new C.I moment along with some fantastic Sign and look forward to doing the video chat again sometimes.

To those that don't know Jennifer, she also has a blog about cochlear implant as her stepfdaughter has one check out there blog - http://jenniferbrunoconde.blogspot.com/

I.T Independent (new C.I moment)

Every Tuesday at university I have an I.T (information Technology) lesson. Every lesson we have a task to do and every task we do, we bound to print something out.

so, Last year at college, I wasn't able to hear the printers printing and my work. If i was to print something and instead of me walking to the other side of the class room to check if it is printing, I just ask my interpreter who is with me if they could hear it and when they do, I walk over to collect the printed work.

This year changed has changed. I do have an interpreter in lecture with me and instead of me asking if she/he could hear the printer, I listen out for myself and when I hear it I go over and collect it.

so, more independents and it great to hear the printer *thumbs up*

The only thing I don't like about I.T lesson is when you sit down doing you work and while your doing the work, all you could hear is everyone typing and tapping the keywords. It tend to annoy me,but its good to hear it, and I am aware what it is. I just trying to learn how to avoid these sounds while doing work without cheating (taking the implant off)