Possibilities

Life is about creating amazing new possibilities. Today I create the possibility of maintaining a blog of all of my creative insights to inspire others in the beauty of the real world 🌎  love to friends and family there is not enough of it!

Long overdue update - new software launched on Naida q70/Roger intro

Firstly apologies to my loyal readers of this blog real life has taken over blogging so here goes with my long overdue update. 

A week before Christmas I had the opportunity to get my ci software upgraded at my ci centre in order to gain access to to a raft of exciting new features to available to Naida users. 

Sound relax - this has been set on all of my programmes except my Roger pen  slot which I require full sound access sound relax only kicks in when there is a continuous noise. The processor automatically reduces it. Sound relax for me is not that noticeable as this runs in the background and only is noticeable when I'm surrounded by lots of traffic. 

Echo block is on a separate slot and is great in echoey places such s stations or places of worship. Haven't been using this setting much as find the programme very aggressive. I think I prefer ultra zoom but never the less echo block is good to have in case it's needed. 

Wind block I find of some use and I have this on all my programmes but no noticeable day to day difference with normal listening. 

For me my software update has had some under the bonnet tweaks such bad as sounds overall have a softer/crisper like tone to them I am able to hear quieter and softer voices plus sounds overal seem that they are of a better sound quality a way to describe this is HD sound. 

There is no noticeable change to my battery life. 

Further benefits to come will be with easy call for my mobile which will stream calls directly to my processor without the need for my com pilot that's to come in a future blog update. 

I have also had the huge privilege thanks to my employer to own a Roger pen which has given me a huge confidence boost In following meetings at work and making phone calls when needed.

Roger has turned my hearing life around on the social front as most of the time able to hear better than my hearing peers in a noisy restaurant or around the family table. I have also attended a comedy Show hearing around 80% of the dialogue. Will share more Roger moments with pictures in a future blog entry.  

Aqua case vs Neptune which is better?

I took a 11 night cruise on board the Celebrity eclipse  on a cruise to Spain and the Canary Islands. This gave me ample opportunity to put my AB tech through its paces. 

So commenced the battle of AB's hottest waterproof devices were pitted against each other, but which one will emerge as the winner. First up its the mighty neptune 

Small in size and cleverly hidden from view thanks to Eric's CI wear shirt the only give away is the magnet attached to the side of my head!

Use of the Aqua case is clearly visible housing my Nadia processor, though lightweight this is still visible even with the use of the Ci wear shirt. Sound wise between the two, the use of the Nadia with the Aqua case sounds are noticeably better in sound quality over the Neptune which uses older technology. 

Use over both processors I found conducting conversations in the hot tub easier using the Aqua case than the Neptune due to improved sound management and clarity. 

There were no water slides on this ship so there was no whizzing down water slides which was a shame but I'm sure there will be other opportunities to do just that. 

This is still with the Neptune on a separate occasion . Overall I enjoyed being able to hear in the water as well as on dry land. There is no clear winner in my view between the two options both have their pros and cons. The next update will come in due course.  

Frolics in Blackpool Hearing and all

Visited Blackpool over the weekend of 8th to 11th August 2014 with some friends of mine. I ordered the CI wear shirt from Eric in America which arrived just in time for my trip.

 As you can see the shirt secures the Neptune processor well

And with no wires to show for it!

Shirt was comfortable to wear too. I used my neptune processor in the water-park on the Saturday. I did notice, however that I experienced "blocked ear" sydrome after being doused or after going under water, perhaps this is a characteristic of the Aqua mic?

At the theme park the next day, my processor was held securely whist going on the rides which was a bonus and didn't have to worry about the processor becoming dislodged.

Hearing wise, I think that my Neptune processor needs to have some adjustments made to it.Hopefully I can get this done in time for my next main trip. I also plan to use this configuration when I go to Thorpe Park in October.

I will update my blog once I have more to report, overall I enjoyed being able to hear in so many different situations. Thanks AB!

Naida report part 1

Monday 3rd February marked the end of an era and the end of a long wait for my upgrade to the Naida Ci. This is Advanced Bionics latest and exciting bit of new technology. It was out with the old 

Technology and in with the new!

As you can all see the new processor is lighter and thinner and looks so stylish on the ear. It has now been three weeks since my upgrade, so how am I finding things? Well, I am hearing sounds far more clearly but one of the Naida's highlights is ultra zoom. When I am sitting round a table in a noisy environment speech is amplified whilst unwanted noise is reduced. 

I have been finding trips to the cinema a joy as I am experiencing the same level of clarity there! No doubt it's still early days as I have a follow up appointment in March to fine tune some areas in my hearing. 

I will bring another blog update in due course. 

An Epic time hearing in and and around the water on board the Norwegian Epic

The Thrill of a water-slide and being able to hear!

I have recently returned from a fabulous cruise on board the Norwegian Epic from 14th to 21st July 2013.

Fun activities included Bowling, Karaoke, a spot of night clubbing and meeting new people.

Hearing wise with the Neptune  is still very different compared to my Harmony Processor which  has the use of the T-Mic rather than through the mic on the headpiece.

On board the Epic

I had questions from curious members of the public as to what I had clipped to my goggles, such as is that a video camera> or whats that? The Neptune looks different to a conventional BTE processor.

Sound-wise I was hearing general sounds from further away, when people we talking to me and were nearby I was able to hear clearly. With general background and environmental sounds, these were at times confusing and at times jumbled possibly due to the placement of the mic.

Hearing the sounds of splashing water and the sensation of sounds when going under water felt strange, as if someone had pulled a plug on you and sound was going down a plug hole!

My trials with AB's first waterproof processor is far from over, once I eventually get to try the T-com which is the Neptune's version of my Harmony's T-mic then the comparisons can continue.

I had a great time on board to Norwegian Epic and enjoyed meeting new people courtesy of Love it Book it.com. Having the use of the Neptune meant I could hear in the water as well as on dry land.

Thanks to the marvelous hearing technology I am using I was able to enjoy a trip starting out as a group of strangers and leaving with a few friends. If someone had come up to me 5 years ago and told me I would be able to hear in the water, I would I thought they were having a laugh.

The funky Studio cabin that was my home for the week

Ben takes hearing to water

My. Order of AB's swim cap arrived just in time for my trip to Brighton for mums 65th birthday weekend.

The hotel had its own pool which was the perfect opportunity to take my bionic ear into the pool.

After some fiddling around I managed to to clip my Neptune processor to my swim cap it was straight into the pool. Plunging under water set off a gurgling sound then went eerily silent till I resurfaced!

Carrying out conversation with my sister seemed the norm. The sounds of the bubbles when in the jacuzzi was loud.

I was also able to hear splashing and also the ripples of water. I spent an enjoyable 45 minutes in the pool!