Saturday, April 25, 2009

Feedback Driving Me Crazy


I think the feedback from the hearing aids has officially beaten me. I hate to admit this, but the feedback is so loud and annoying that I find myself putting the aids in later in the mornings and taking them out earlier in the evenings. When we go to church I don't even take the hearing aids. Then I worry that her auditory nerves aren't being stimulated enough. My emotional state has been pretty good lately, but this week I'm back to feeling sorry for myself. I hate that my baby has to wear hearing aids, I hate the loud feedback, and I hate that the hearing aids aren't even really helping much. Even after completely maxing out the volume on her high powered digital hearing aids, she still doesn't respond to ANY environmental sounds!

To all you experienced D/HOH mommies: Any suggestions on dealing with the feedback? We've tried the Otoferm and we've tried double dipping and triple dipping the ear molds. I read about using Comply Soft Wraps at the end of the sound tubing INSTEAD of ear molds. Anyone tried this option?

6 comments:

  1. I don't have any good suggestions for you. It's annoying, it sucks, and you're right about decreased motivation when you see no results. The good news? CIs have NO feedback!!! Don't worry too much about not stimulating her auditory nerves because she's not wearing them for a few hours! It will take a lot more time than that! You need your sanity too... hang in there!

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  2. I agree with Lucas's Mom! I just used to tune the feedback out, and if I was really annoyed I would just turn the one off that had the feedback. You don't have that much longer to go, and as Lily can hold her self up better and better the feedback will get better!

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  3. You can do it! Just focus on making sure the time she has them in, is fun and filled with language.

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  4. I must say I dont miss that part of the hearing aids. Nor the constant trips to clinic to get new moulds. Yes CI's definitely quieter. But then when my Mary chucks them off I cant find the processors. At least I could track down the hearing aids from the squeal. Oh well what is life without the challenges.
    Check us out on http://deafgirl-missmary.blogspot.com/
    I shall be following your Lily's progress.

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  5. Oh how I remember these days! Cornhuskers worked wonders for us. And when it wasn't working and I couldn't take it anymore, I would leave the one in that wasn't squealing as much. I figured one was better than none, and like you, wasn't too quick to put them on in the mornings either! Keep on going! Like Lucas' mommy said, CIs have no feedback and Lily will have hers before you know it!

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  6. Ugh. I have no advice for you, just empathy! Hang in there.

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