Cochlear Hearing Health Fair

Hello All

Do you want to learn more about Cochlear Implants?   Houston is having a cochlear hearing health fair on January 29th.  I will be there to share with others the delights and joys of being a bilateral cochlear implant wearer.

  

“My hearing was

restored with a cochlear implant!”

Meet cochlear implant users

Attend education and information sessions

Meet with doctors and audiologists

Struggling with

your hearing aids?

Learn how cochlear implant users have

gained more than just their hearing!

Cochlear and the elliptical logo are trademarks of Cochlear Limited.

Call for more information or to register:

1-877-HEAR-THIS (432-7844)

2 ears vs. 1

Hello All

Hope everyone is ready for the new year!

This article appeared in my Cochlear Americas newsletter.  I totally agree 2 ears are better than one.

In the past as a former hearing aid user, I always wore both hearing aids even though I had hardly any hearing in my right ear.  Why, it helped me to locate sound better.

As a bilateral cochlear implant wearer, I always wear both!!!!!  It is like having surround sound on your head.  The listening experience is way better. 

If you are hesitant about 2 ears vs.  1.  I suggest you read the article and serious consider having “2 ears.”  You will love it!!!!!  Trust me!!!!!

Are Two Ears Are Better Than One?

Our bodies are designed to hear sound in stereo, using two ears to receive sound from the world around us. Just as we use two eyes to see the whole picture, we use two ears to hear the whole story. This process of hearing with both ears, called binaural hearing, helps us filter important sounds from background noise and quickly identify the direction of incoming sounds. People who hear through both ears may perceive sound to be louder and be able detect smaller differences in loudness and pitch. The ability to detect loudness and pitch differences often aids in better speech understanding in both quiet and noisy environments.¹

For people who are hearing impaired, hearing through both ears can be achieved multiple ways:

• two hearing aids
• one hearing aid and one cochlear implant
• two cochlear implants

 

Hearing with both ears, also called bilateral hearing, can be an advantage in many everyday activities. For example, it may help when crossing a busy street or listening to your family at the dinner table.

The ability to hear better in noisy places such as a classroom or workplace, may improve performance at school or on the job.

If you are considering a bilateral hearing solution for you or your child, talk with your hearing healthcare professional about your options.

Book Susanna today to speak at your next event, www.susannamdussling.com

Susanna’s book:  www.sunnyandhercochlearimplants.com

As always, have a sunny day and a sunny new year.

Susanna

The Nucleus 5

Hello Everyone!

Spring is here! Which means we are in contest season in Toastmasters.  I had participated in a contest and I had a blast.  I also had a chance to enjoy several contests as an audience member.  It is a real learning experience to hear great speakers and learn from them.

Well,  I presented at the CyFair SuperSpeakers this past Monday.  I gave a speech titled, “The NUCLEUS 5”  In this speech, I shared many features and benefits of the Nucleus 5 and I involved the audience.  It also had humor and was conversational.

I enjoyed presenting and I was delighted when I received many compliments afterwards on the presentation.  The icing on the cake was my “Best Speaker” award.

Cochlear Implants are the best thing that ever happened to me!  As always, Have a sunny day.  Susanna

My Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implant Story

Hope!!!

I was born profoundly deaf with sensorineural (nerve-related deafness) hearing loss.  At the age of 3, I began to wear hearing aids.  My left ear was my hearing ear (I could understand speech and sound in this ear) and my right ear was used predominantly to help me localize sound because I couldn’t understand speech in this year.  I grew up in a hearing world and I was mainstreamed in public schools.  I went on to college and a professional career in retail management.  I encountered many challenges because of my hearing loss; however, I did not let the hearing loss or hearing aids stop me from accomplishing what I had set out to do! And I did succeed in many endeavors with lots of hard work, determination, and a positive attitude.  About 4 years ago, my life took a drastic turn.  I suffered “Sudden Deafness” in my left ear.  Now, I was truly deaf.  I was depressed and miserable.  At the time, I was working in retail management for a leading dept. store chain and I was wondering “how am I going to work?” I worked with people and the public.  I made a decision to obtain a cochlear implant; I figured I did not have anything to lose.  I continued to work, the store cut back my duties and a long six month later, I was implanted with a left CI.  It was not instant success for me.  I hated the CI at first, why? Well, I could not understand anything with it and the noise was unbearable.  I continued to wear it, because I really did not have any other choice.  With lots of listening exercises done on a daily basis, and coping stragedies, I was ultimately able to have success with my left ear CI.  It took about 3 months before sound was clear and speech was understood.   Eventually, I was able to appreciate the CI because it was actually better than my hearing aids. Mind you, I am thankful for the hearing aids! Since I did so well with the Left CI, about a year later, I obtained a right CI.  The rehabilitation process was actually a lot easier.  I guess, because my brain already was trained from the left ear. I can actually understand speech and talk on the phone with my right ear CI, something I was never able to do with my hearing aid.  Life is grand with my personal “surround sound system.” I am very grateful for my cochlear implants.  To me, they are truly the greatest invention and I want to share it with the world!