Had some f*****' great news yesterday !!!

[Mondy]

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As some of you on this board may know, my hearing is eff you see kayed !!! I can't hear all the top high frequencies, which means that I can't identify the subtle differences between consonant sounds.

Well, wehn I was younger, I had been going to hearing tests where they'd have a little boat full of wooden figures. When I heard a sound, I'd have to take a figure out of the boat, and put it on the teddy bears head.

At 15, they were still making me do this test, but there was no results from it. No change, nothing they could do, so, in essence, no point.

In the end, my Mum kicked up a fuss and suggested that maybe I was a little too old for this test now, and that was there ever the likelihood of anything getting done ?

At this, I was seen by several specialists who poked and prodded me and held tuning forks at differing positions around my head, only to tell me that there was nothing that could be done for me. If they gave me a hearing aid, then it would amplify the ranges I needed to hear, but would distort the ranges I could already hear, thus confusing me all the more.

They suggested that in 10 years time, maybe something would be available.

Anyway, here I am, nearly 15 years down the line, and using my private healthcare, I went to see a specialist. To cut a long story short, they can do something. The advances in digital hearing aids means that they can isolate which frequencies need amplifying and leave the ones that don't.

Only fear now is that as I was born with this, and therefore have not had these high frequencies ever stimulated, then my brain might have just given up and may not respond as well as someone who had this hearing, but then lost it. However, he was optimistic.

But he was amazed at how I have got where I am in life and also in my career with such a steep decline in high frequencies. He said that he could understand someone of my age not having something done if I was in a 3rd World Country, but not in the UK. He said that I must be excellent at reading other forms of communication (context, expressions, tones, etc.) and as my hearing starts to drop halfway through the frequencies used by the telephone, he is amazed that I have been able to use one of them.

But I was in floods by the overwhelming belief that something could be done after all these years. But it was the understanding. He just described all the worries I must have without me telling him. Things like having to ensure I am at the front and away from air conditioning units when someone gives a presentation. Ensuring I am in sight of someone's lips in a noisy environment so I can read what they say, etc., etc.

And it appears that all these things that I am constantly concentrating on everyday, just to make sure I can get through the day, stand a very good chance of going away with these hearing aids.

The exciting thing is that I am going to be able to hear things I never have heard before. So, although it will be very disorienting for me at first, once I get used to it, it's going to be really exciting.

Fuck, I might even be able to tune a guitar by ear !!!

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Like the specialist has said, he's basically going to give me a box with a toy in it that is going to open a whole new world and make my life easier.

I can't wait !!!

He also is going to send me to a geneticist to find out the likelihood of me passing it onto our children because all the males in my family all have this defect. Believe me, family get togethers are a nightmare. Everyone going, "Eh ? You what ? Say again ?" [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

But here's to the future !!!

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[El_jalepeno]

I thought you were going to say that they were giving you the boat with the little sailors on it...

Congrats! Here's to Mondy and his bionic ear [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[Mondy]

Heh, when I walked in for the hearing test, there was the little boat sat there. I had to keep cool...

If she'd have said, "Now when you hear a beep, take a figuring out..." I'd have shoved the bloody thing up her arse sideways. And no guys, I really don't mean in any form of sexual sense !!!

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[ericgtr]

Great news mondy, keep us up to date with the results!

[CanyonCarver]

We can rebuild him.. better, faster... [img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

That's great fucking news, Mondola. What a drag this must have been this whole time... Keeping my fingers crossed for you pal.
Did your ear condition result in some sort of speach impediment? I'm curious, since you had to learn how to speak, only hearing some frequencies...

[wahwah]

brilliant news mate![img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[Mondy]

Yeah, I speak Northern. No-one fucking understands me !!!

Erm, possibly. I did used to have a lisp, but I worked hard to overcome that. Also, I do tend to mumble a bit as well, and I reckon that's because of it. But generally there is no problem. I do tend to speak loudly because of it though.

But it's a fucker on the phone when someone gives me their phone number, or tells me the password, or postcode, or anything that is a string of consonants.

Forget it. I just tell them to send it me in an e-mail, or use the alpha bravo tango thingy alphabet...

I can't wait if it works. The wife is shitting her pants though. She realises the days of muttering under her breath at me are soon to be over !!!

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[CanyonCarver]

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[Rocker35]

Great news mate [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]
Keep us posted as to how things progress!!!

[wahwah]

[ QUOTE ]
mondola said:
Yeah, I speak Northern. No-one fucking understands me !!!

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[/ QUOTE ]

No, you speak North WESTERN and thats why no one understands you marra...ecky thump![img]images/smilies/icon_lol.gif[/img]

[Sunnie]

That's really good news. Let us know how it works out.
My son also has a hearing problem, he cant hear certain high pitched frequencies, like an egg timer, the phone, the smoke detector, etc. The only thing with his problem he also has tinitis. (i believe thats what its called).
He will be seeing the specialist here pretty soon also.

Good Luck to ya. Oh have you ever heard birds singing? That is so cool the first time. I know someone that also had a hearing problem. They were almost in tears the first time they heard 'em.

[Moguitar]

Congrats..Hopefully it all works the way you want it to.

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[strat78]

am i to understand that you have not yet had the pleasure of hearing the wonderfull vocal stylings of brittany spears? its a beautifull world out there sonically. [img]images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]

[img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img] congrats!

[Mondy]

Hey hey hey !!!

I got the letter through to make an appointment with the geneticist (always makes me think of Star Trek 2 : Wrath Of Khan when I say that word. You remember the two scientists that had the Genesis project ? Well, a real loose connection, but anyway....)

And, get this. I've got a hearing problem yeah ? So the bloody hospital ring me up and leave me an answer phone message !!!

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Of all the ways to contact me, they choose the one where I have to rely on my ears !!!

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Anyway, they said I can come down whenever I like and they will take mouldings of my ears ( [img]images/smilies/jot.gif[/img] Clean ears out beforehand MONDY !!! [img]images/smilies/jot.gif[/img]).

So, once I actually get a spare moment at work, I will go and get the mouldings done, and I will ring up and make a Star Trek appointment with the Geneticist...

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[Stiglar]

that's awesome mondola .. make sure you keep us posted about whats goin on !