The video I shared on my facebook page went viral and many people were congratulating and praising me.
Many strangers shared my video and marveled at the wonderful blessing and amazing moment of hearing for the first time.
But that is not true. I only showed 30 seconds of the whole 2 hour process of the swtich on.
I only showed the moment it came together, the moment it hit me and yes the moment that felt like a blessing for me.
But one important thing I want to make clear is that, I’m not completely deaf and hearing for the first time. I have some hearing, no matter how little, and my right ear is better than my left.
After the operation to implant the cochlear, I loss all hearing in my left ear. For the first time, I experienced complete deafness and to tell you the truth, it was terrifying.
But losing my natural hearing was the only con of getting the cochlear implant.
I heard, for the first time, sounds I couldn’t hear clearly before, such as high pitch sounds and really soft “ss” sound. This is regardless of the fact that, the cochlear is picking up sounds on a low level because they need to increase the volume with time so I can smoothly adjust to it.
Although the hearing level is not really loud, I now can hear more clearly and automatically my brain has been processing all those new sounds. My family have even noticed an slight improvement on my speech, after a few days!
Even some of my friend’s and family’s voices sound more clear now. Even voices on the TV!
I was surprised by my own voice the most. I spent most of the day after the switch on comprehending, “is that how I sound like!?” Hahaha.
More importantly, I found myself WANTING, to wear them! Even though it’s very overwhelming and I’m getting tired all the time, I want to wear the cochlear implant.
It never happened with my hearing aids. Apart from being easier to wear and less hassle, the main difference I found is that with hearing aids, all they do is raise the volume. But it doesn’t make the sounds clearer. It’s like raising the volume on the stereo but there’s still static on the radio. It’s not tuned right.
With the cochlear implant, it’s like the sounds, although they sound electronic or stereo like, they are processes straight into my brain.
Direct picking up of sounds.
I know I still have a long journey ahead, to keep turning up the volume of the cochlear so I can effectively get used to it.
But many have asked how it feels and I couldn’t really find the right words. I hope this post help shed some understanding. It’s still a learning process for me.
I spent the whole day after the switch on, speechless. And the next few days, with tears of gratitude as I tried to process all these new sounds, and the new journey ahead.
Even now I have not fully comprehended it, nor the fact how many people are touched by my story and video.
Thank you everyone for you wonderful support and response. It means a lot.
And to my supportive family, and friends who are like family, thanks for being there on the biggest day of my life, and always.
Finally, I want to thank the wonderful service and staff at SCIC and my audiologist Rachel for all their help in changing my life for the better.
Last but not least, All praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds and may he send blessings upon Prophet Muhammed and his family.