What Are Bluetooth Enabled Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants Like?
Learning Time For All
Five and a half years after Charlotte was implanted, she just got an all new tech upgrade for her hearing aid and cochlear implant. First item we purchased was a new hearing aid that could be used simultaneously with her Nucleus 7 cochlear implant upgrade we wanted.
The audiologist had explained that the new hearing aid could be a bigger adjustment than the implant (only external hardware was being replaced - no surgery needed!), so we purchased the Resound Hearing Aid, which has not partnered with Cochlear for a seamless tech experience. She began wearing it this summer to give her time to get used to the new way it sounded. Char didn’t miss a beat.
The Resound is an adult aid vs. her old one which was a pediatric model. The Resuond doesn’t have all the flashing lights that help parents know the aid is on and working or needing batteries. It has chimes for Charlotte to listen to when turning on and getting low on battery juice. She is doing great at communicating with me about it, but at the beginning she thought that every time it turned on and she heard the chimes, it needed a new battery - so we kinda plowed through 7 or so new batteries before I knew what was happening - thankfully they aren’t too expensive.
The Resound hearing aid came with a bluetooth mini mic, since she a pediatric wearer (nice add on gift!), which we are choosing to not use in school for 1st grade, but may use to help Charlotte hear the TV better and perhaps on long car trips when she gets to sit in the back 3rd row (why this is a desire is beyond me! haha).
Since the teaching style is still so physically engaging and they move to stations and such, it could be very distracting for Charlotte to be hearing the directions her teacher is telling other kids. From what I’ve learned, the mini mic in class can become really helpful when they are spending lots of time sitting in their desks learning through listening and more traditional teaching instruction methods, which begin around 2nd grade.
Charlotte excited about her new hearing aid and mini mic
Charlotte pumped for her new mini mic that works with her bluetooth enabled hearing aid and cochlear implant
Plugging in her mini mic to charge
The Resound hearing aid kit that came with the mini mic
Cochlear Implant Upgrade Appointment
Char being super patient, as always when it comes to her Special Ears. Her audiologists are doing some program tweaks to her cochlear.
This is her new cochlear (with a temporary white battery because it didn’t dawn on me to have her new batteries charged - duh!) and her new Resound hearing aid.
This trip to VCU Audiology was relatively easy. Char was so excited to get her new cochlear and has been patiently awaiting wearing it for a few weeks since her new equipment got here.
I want to mention what AMAZING CUSTOMER SERVICE Cochlear has. We have some insurance changes happening and when I emailed their customer service this summer, I received a reply with a dedicated person helping me make this upgrade happen in the timeframe we needed. Cameron was a dream and will be getting an email from me shortly because I need to exchange some ear hooks. ;-)
practice makes perfect… or at least better
I think using the bluetooth capability will take some practicing for all of us, since it’s not super easy to confirm what is happening because the sound skips my ears and goes straight to Charlotte’s brain, really. At this cochlear appointment, about 5 minutes after I thought we were done with the iPad, Charlotte goes “What is that Waaa. waaa. Waaaaaaaa noise?”
We all looked at one another, and I turned on the iPad and I had left the sound machine app that we had been testing on playing the “mating whales” noises, and she was the only one who could hear them!!!! #momfail
Charlotte made me laugh today when she was telling me about her new processor. She said that her equipment was like camouflage because they were the same color as her skin, and were difficult to see.
- Charlotte’s Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Teacher who works with her twice a week
Screen Shots Of Connecting Char To The iPad
Educational iPad Apps
So, now that Char is all Bluetooth capable, what does that mean? I am honestly not big on screen time because the little girls inevitably get to junky YouTube videos of weird adult hands playing with My Little Ponies and Playdough or something. But, Charlotte has this cool tech and will be using it at school on iPads, so I want her to be comfy with it. Thus, I am giving a make-over to our family iPad with curated kids apps that will help her with reading and math.
To get started I asked her teachers for some thoughts and here is what I have received so far:
My newest favorite app is IXL. Your older kids likely use it for math at school, but the program actually begins with kindergarten, and covers all four main subject areas. Families can subscribe for a reasonable cost. There is a section which specifically targets Virginia SOLs, and has practice activities. It also has a diagnostic section which continually assesses a student's performance, and recommends appropriate practice activities based upon their previous errors. While it does have some reinforcement activities, it is not as "fun" as some other apps. It may be something to keep in mind for the future if you find you need additional practice activities at home related to specific SOLS.
- Recommendation from Charlotte’s Teacher of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing/ Exceptional Education Teacher
More To Come
I am sure there will be ongoing posts about Char’s new upgraded tech world, but I wanted to also share some thoughts from an adult perspective, in case you or someone you love might benefit from a tech upgrade, too.
thoughts from a deaf and hard of hearing adult with new bluetooth capabilities
My new Bluetooth capable hearing aid is pretty cool, as I can take calls from my cell phone or listen to music while mowing the lawn!
- Harry M.
This is from my friend who is unilaterally implanted and aided successful financial planner who graduated from University of Virginia and is on the AG Bell Virginia Chapter Board with me. He is one of my go-tos for questions when Charlotte can’t quite explain or I need to brainstorm. (Thank you so much Harry!)