Kcat was hEARd!

2010

2010-01-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

It was a NOISY new year's eve last thursday.. but I love it! I turned off my CI most of the time because the sound of firecrackers & fireworks are everywhere.. Though I can still hear the loud sound even without my CI.. Yeah, I can still hear the super loud sounds even before, but it's not too loud when i hear it.. Just 'tuk'.. But last thursday afternoon, people are already lighting firecrackers outside.. I haven't wore my CI yet because I just finished taking a bath so my hair is still wet.. Then i heard a "boog" and i was startled.. "BOOOG" "BOOG "BOOOG".. it's not just 'tut' but "boog".. and my heart jump every time I hear it.. haha!

anyway, I feel & know that this will be a great year.. because I want it to happen.. So I'll make t happen.. yeah. yeah. yeah. ;P

as what Dr. Chiong said: HAPPY NEW HEARS!

New Moon. Now hearing.. ;P

2009-11-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

When I watched Twilight last year, I only heard some of the loud scenes.

The meadow scene when Edward was throwing the trees.

The baseball scene with thunderstorm.

The ballet scene where the real action happened.

I also heard the music being played during the credits. Despite & In spite of the limited sound I heard. I was happy with what i it!

And finally, after the long wait (we're waiting for months for the release of the movie), we saw New Moon last Friday, Nov 20. And the best part is:

I HEARD EVERY SOUND. I felt like a baby who hears the conversation but doesn't understand a thing..

I wonder what my hearing will be like on the next sequel, Eclipse. We'll find out on June 2010. ♥

Improving.. With flying colors!

2009-10-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated this for a long time.. I'm so lazy! Anyway, what's with my hearing? Improving.. Really improving!

I just had 2 hearing tests yesterday (October 16) and I passed both hearing tests.. with flying colors! Dra. Chiong said my hearing level now is so great considering I have tumors in my brain.. It's so amazing!

Here is my Aided Hearing Test (in 3 parts)

my CI is low on battery that's why the sound i'm hearing is not so loud, i'm finding it hard to differentiate the sound from tinnitus that's why i also raise my hands even though there's no sound from the machine.. but i heard the sounds.. i passed!

and here's a video of dra. rina reyes-quintos talking about my hearing test result..

here the video of my other hearing test.. defining animal sounds.. i failed my definition of sound exam the last time.. but now, i got a score of 3 out of 4.. yey!

btw, thanks to Mr. Que, Mang Danny & Bunny.. i'm having sound therapy twice a week.. I'll talk about it next time.. :)

Defining Sound

2009-04-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Fail. I'm still not familiar with sounds..

4th Aided Hearing Test

2009-04-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Failed. Because I did the test after my maping.. I usually do it before my mapping, coz my brain isn't that stimulated yet right after adjusting the CI..

I passed the test but I failed the exam

2009-04-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

I had my 5th Aided Hearing Test, Hearing exam (definition of sounds) & Mapping last Friday, April 17.. My aided hearing test rating went higher.. The volume of the sound was lower this time, but I could still hear it.. I was even kinda hesitant to raise my hand coz I'm not sure if it's starting already coz the sound was so soft yet I can hear it..

So I can really hear now..

But..

I'm still not familiar with the sounds.. Yes I can hear it, but I don't know what I'm hearing.. And so I failed my definition of sounds exam.. I could hear every sound that's being played though.. But it isn't enough.. anyway, that was just my 1st try.. Hopefully I'll get it on the 2nd on May 11.. My brain is continuously adapting to the environment.. Patience..

Here's my 5th Aided Hearing Test & My Definition of Sound Exam plus here's my 4th Aided Hearing Test w/c i forgot to post last February....

Btw, Because I'm already hearing now.. I think my balance has improved a little.. I think. Because I could now be left standing ALONE without holding on anything or anyone & I could just stand for minutes.. Basta I don't feel like falling.. I think my vertigo decreased. I'm not sure.. I haven't been back on my therapies because Phil. Orthopedic Center is still under renovation.. I'll be back in May.. And they assess me & my balance..

5th Aided Hearing Test

2009-04-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hearing test. Hearing exam.

2009-04-16T04:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't been updating this blog.. I'm so lazy! but I promise to update this tomorrow after my aided hearing test, mapping & hearing test, as in exam! Yes there is such thing as hearing exam.. Haha. It's a definition test, but I'll be defining what sound I'll hear.. If it's talking sound, dog barking, bell ringing, etc.

I'll ask my companions tomorrow to take a video of me while I'm doing the exam..

Wish me luck! :)

Soundtrip

2009-01-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

My current status on my plurk is:

I'm listening to Twilight Movie soundtrack right now.. I can't understand it, but I can kinda define the beat, if it's slow, fast or loud.. ;) I can say if Bella's Lullaby is on.. Haha.

Louder..

2009-01-08T07:50:00.001-08:00

from underkcat: 1st Wednesday of the month/year

It's the 1st Wednesday of the month yesterday.. So we went to Megamall for Fr. Joey Faller's healing mass.. I've been attending it since July 2007.. When I'm free every 1st Wednesday of the month, I make it to a point to attend Fr. Faller's healing mass.. I can't hear what's going on, though sometimes my mom states to me the important words Fr. Faller mentions during his homily.. I can't hear the mass.. But I'm praying with Fr. Faller.. I'm praying with everyone inside the chapel.. and he prays for me, for us.. Join forces ang lahat.. :)

A month and few days after my 1st healing mass with Fr. Faller, I got to stumble upon ABI (Auditory Brainstem Implant), a device which can make me hear again.. Kaaliw.. Ang bilis ng endorsement kay Lord! Haha. ;) I really want that ABI, but as always, God's will be done.. If it is for me, then it's for me.. But it's not.. Coz God wants something better for me.. The Cochlear Implant!

And now I got the COCHLEAR IMPLANT.. Though it's not fully paid yet and I'm still raising funds.. ;)

Anyway, my New Year was a blast.. as in a blast, literally.. Haha. ;P Coz I heard every sound of the very noisy firecrackers & even the music on our videoke party.. Yey! Yey!

But..

After New Year, there seem to be something wrong with my CI.. The sounds I'm hearing isn't defined anymore, just sounds.. and there's no music, just sound.. softer sound.. Even my voice is soft to me.. I don't like it.. Because those were not the sounds I got used to.. Hehe. ;P I even texted Ms. Kaye and told her what seems to be the problem.. She said that I should observe it well, and if it persists, she'll map my CI and re-program it..
The next day, it's still the same..

Until..

Wednesday, around 12noon (the mass starts at 12pm, and we came a bit late.. hehe).. I was on my place where all the people on wheels are.. ;) Then I heard a sound.. It's a talking sound.. It's Fr. Faller.. Then music.. It's offertory.. Music.. My CI is back to normal! I even made a low coughing sound so that I could hear my voice.. Haha! It's really back! My voice is the loudest of all the sounds I'm hearing.. My CI's Back! My CI's back! Woohoo!

After Fr. Faller touched & prayed over me..

tacK: pwedeng mag-comment.. (Hahaha!)

and then I told them what happened during the mass..

----

after the mass, we passed by this man at the atrium..

...and I heard the music!

MUSIC

2009-01-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

Before 2008 left, the year gave me a very nice farewell gift..

We had a Videoke Party at our place on December 31 til New Year.. An hour before 12am, I noticed that I'm hearing something different.. So I moved closer to the tv and put my ears in front of the speaker.. MUSIC! I'm hearing music! I don't understand it and it's soft, but it's music! Not just sounds.. but music!!!! I was so happy I hurriedly called my mom.. I even texted my doctor & audiologist to give the good news, wish them happy new year & thank them.. I didn't understand a thing, but I know it's music! I can differiantaite music from sound.. Woohoo! I'm super super happy! I kept on listening in front of the speaker the whole time.. Haha!

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

3rd Aided Hearing Test

2008-12-30T07:55:00.000-08:00

December 18, 2008
PGH - Ear Unit

My hearing level is now included on the SPEECH BANANA.. yey! That means I can really really hear already and it'll be clearer very soon.. I also need to practice reading aloud so that my brain would be familiarized with the sounds of every word..

SPEECH BANANA

2008-12-28T23:40:00.000-08:00

My level of hearing on my audiogram has already reached the SPEECH BANANA! My hearing have improved and soon I would already understand sounds.. My audiologist, Ms. Kaye advised me to practice by reading aloud so my ear/brain would be familiarize with words.. It's a good thing I have Twilight Saga audiobooks.. Hahaha! :P

Edward. Edward. Edward. ♥ ♥ ♥

2008-11-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

I watched Twilight yesterday and I heard these some of these scenes:
Meadow scene - when Edward was throwing the trees..
Baseball scene
Ballet studio scene
and the background music playing inside the cinema while we're inside the CR..

Since my 'Remote Battery Pack' is broken(?), Med-El will replace it on Friday.. I'm currently using my 'behind-the-ear battery pack' for my CI and the battery's watt I'm using for this is kinda low that's why I can only hear loud sounds right now..

Hearing..

2008-11-14T03:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry for updating just now.. I'm so lazy.. Talaga!

Here's my hearing improvement so far:

- I'm already familiar with Michelle's (my cousin & one of my oldest longest bestest closet friend) voice but not the same as how I'm already familiar with my mom's voice.. Basta, I'm kinda familiar with her voice na since she's my ka-chismisan everyday.. Ayun, my brain knows her voice na.. Haha!

- I know if the sound is low or high pitch, soft or loud, long or short..

- I can define near and far sound.. I can tell which is which as long their difference is distance..

I'm often asked: 'Can you hear already?'
yes, I can hear already.. I can't understand what I'm hearing though.. I'm just hearing sounds (probably noise for you).. Hehe.

I know my mom's.. voice

2008-10-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

my brain already recognizes my mom's voice, i think..

This morning, my NFF (New Found Friend) Armin paid me a visit.. While he was chatting with my mom, I kept on turning sideways since I'm on a computer chair, then I look down so that I won't see who's talking.. So I was playing guessing game.. 'maybe my mom is talking', then I'll look at them and I'm correct! I looked away again but my mom is so talkative! The sound I'm hearing is still the same.. Then there was a change in the sound.. 'maybe Armin finally talked', and he is talking when I raised my head.. I don't recognize his voice but I'm already familiar with the tone of my mom's voice.. We tried it again this afternoon, this time with Janna.. It wasn't 100% successful since the tv is distracting.. But yes, I think I recognize her voice already.. I still can't understand though.. soon.

"KAT!"

2008-10-09T08:11:00.001-07:00

Did someone called my name?

Eavesdropping

2008-09-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

My mom and JayJay were talking while I was busy eating my lunch.. I'm busy. I'm eating. Besides, I think I already know what they're talking about.. Of course I heard everything, but I didn't understand though.. Then hurriedly swallowed the food in my mouth so that I could speak..

tacK: sinabi mo ba 'Ooooo' kani-kanina?

Ha! I got it right! I heard it right! I was eavesdropping.. Haha!

Not too Loud

2008-09-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

My head was hurting a bit this afternoon.. It felt like there was a needle pricking me slowly.. It's tolerable, so I just ignored it.. Then my mom told me that she's so pissed with our neighbor because they're so noisy.. As in NOISY like screaming, cursing and playing LOUD irritating music.. Then I said: "Kaya siguro" Ayun! My brain was shocked with too loud irritating noise since my brain is still adapting to the sound of the environment.. Na-shock siya! Of course I'm so OK now.. I could hear the thunder and it looks like the rain won't stop soon.. That means, I can't go out tonight! Argh! I was supposed to go out with Lea & Pau.. Hay!

There's a storm

2008-09-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

I heard that!

photo from:
http://www.lathamstudios.com/rebeccasblog/blog/wp-content/images/NationalParkThunderstorm.jpg

Aided Hearing Test Part Two

2008-09-21T02:04:00.000-07:00

September 19, 2008
EAR Unit, PGH
Before my CI Mapping, I had another aided hearing test.. The sound is not as loud as the 1st one.. It's more mahinhin but i heard it! And so I PASSED! With flying colors!

Cochlear Implant.. Success!

2008-09-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the copy of my progress report which Ms, Kaye emailed to Dr. Brackman few weeks ago..

9 August 2008

Dear Dr. Brackmann,

Greetings!

I am writing to inform you of the performance of Maria Katrina “Kcat” Yarza on our mapping sessions. Kcat was implanted on April 8, 2008 at the Manila Doctors Hospital under the hands of Dr. Charlotte Chiong and after 6 weeks of waiting for the lesion to be completely healed, Kcat was ready to be activated in a procedure called “switch-on”. Switch-on of the implant was done at Ear Unit last May 16, 2008. Telemetry report at switch-on was within normal levels, mapping was done and no adverse reaction to implant function was noted. Since switch-on, telemetry results remained constant within normal levels.

Kcat's map has been relatively stable since June. Her current MCL levels as per her last mapping were set at approximately 120 to 130 cu and Aided Test done last August 14, 2008 showed 40/ 65/ 75/ 80/ 95/ across frequencies.

Relying on objective measurements, it was noted that very little change occurred over the past 2 months and MCL levels have consistently fell within the range of 120- 130cu. This range is relatively high compared to other settings but considering the special case of Kcat, since we cannot observe significant difference in a minimum level, we want to see the benefit she would get in a maximum level the implant could give.

In view of the above, we are currently working on her ability to discriminate and fully understand speech. Since switch-on, humming sound is consistently occurring but as mapping goes on, she can now detect low or high pitched sounds, identify environmental sounds, can repeat low pitched consonant-vowel sound like /ba/, identify male vs. female voice and by hearing these sounds it helps Kcat to locate where the sound is coming from and aids her in Lip Reading.

Best Regards,

Karen Ruth O. Lacanilao, MclAud

----
my mom emailed Dr. Brackman as well is here's his reply:

Dear Madge:

Thank you for the progress report on Maria Kathrina. I do hope that she will benefit from her implant. Please do keep me informed of her progress.

Sincerely yours,

Derald E. Brackmann, M.D.

So, who wants a cheeseburger?! Haha!

Sound. Sound. Sound.

2008-08-30T03:12:00.000-07:00

I think the sounds I'm hearing is a bit clearer.. but it's still not clear.. Labo.. Basta sounds.. I hear every sound.. If it's noisy, it's noisy.. If it's silent, it's silent.. Ganon.. We always play 'name that word'.. I don't get most of the words right but my answer is not far from the real answer.. Example: the word is 'masaya'; my answer would be 'maya' Basta ganon.. Though there are times I get the whole word correct.. You should give me a cheeseburger for that.. Haha!

Btw, I changed I my template because because my previous template with the cat design had a bug.. I cannot login to this blog.. I'll also make a header.. I'm still lazy.. :P Ayun.. Plus I also put an entrecard widget on the sidebar.. Trip lang.. There..

Wait, wanna know my favorite sound? It's whenever I place my glass on the table.. Haha! La lang.. Aliw lang ako.. Uhmm.. Coz it has a sound! Haha! :P

ITO is the right spelling of 'eto'

2008-08-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

After brushing my teeth..

tacK: tapos na!

My mom was still fixing something in the kitchen so I decided to just practice and played with my voice and hearing..

tacK: ta-pos-na.. ta.. pos.. na..

Then my mom came with my water for gargling then she talked behind my ear..

Mami: eto na..
tacK: it?
Mami: eto
tacK: under 'i' dapat yun.. (ito is the real spelling haha! :P)

Basically those are the kind of speech sounds I'm currently hearing.. I still don't hear the exact word.. I just get a part of it.. It's tone.. Number of syllables.. It's not clear yet.. but I'm already so happy with it.. Soon, I'll be able to hear clearer.. always in God's time!

Syllable

2008-08-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

I asked my mom what's for merienda.. Then she talked behind my ear/CI..

Mami: kamote.. kamote..
tacK: a?!

Then after a few minutes, she said it again..

Mami: kamote.. kamote..
tacK: e?!

Next scene..
While I was busy in front of the computer, my dad talked behind ear..

Dadi: Pangit ka..
tacK: pa?! pe?! basta p..