What an exciting day! I got my Baha sound processor! Hearing loss can be caused by outer, midder or inner ear problems. Because I don't have ear canals - my outer ear is the problem. That is why a cochlear implant (which is for inner ear problems) won't work for me.
Baha is an alternative to a traditional hearing aid. The Softband is an elastic band with a Baha sound processor connected to a plastic snap connector disc sewn into the band. The band is adjusted to the size of my head with Velcro. The plastic snap connector disc is held against the skin behind my ear, or at other bony locations of ,y skull, through the pressure from the band. The sound travels from the sound processor, via the disc through the bone to my inner ears that are functioning just fine. Later, when I am about 5 or 6 and my skull is thicker they can take the sound processor off the band and snap it directly to my skull via a "snap". You can see pictures of another little girl that got the surgery and what the snap looks like at this website:
http://chargesyndrome.info/baha.html
My softband is pink and the processor is a medium brown color. You can see it behind my right ear in the picture above. By wearing my Baha I can hear within normal range. At first I was a little unsure in the doctor's office. I stopped fussing and froze when it was turned on. For the 45 minutes we were sitting in the doctor's office I was very quiet - just taking it all in. When Mommy put me in my car seat to get me ready to leave the Baha got bumped and caused "feedback" and I started to cry. Mommy took it off for the drive home and my nap to give me a break and then put it back on in the evening during my play time. A few times I got scared in the first few minutes with the doggies barking and playing with squeaky toys but later I played with my own toys and I forgot about it.
Right before bedtime, Mommy took it off in prep for bath time and let me roll around a little. I immeadiately turned over on to my tummy and started pulling my legs up underneath me a little. Mommy was so excited since for so long I HATED tummy time! I really am growing up!
Peyton Nicole Smith
Peyton,
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to see you will finally be able to hear things. Now you can hear what your aunt Kristin's excuse is as to why she is ignoring her friend Shannon!!!! All I can say is it had better be a good reason!
Glad to see that all is well with you and your family. Talk to you guys soon.
Shannon