Thirty-four years ago, when Ginger received her first cochlear implant in her left ear, living with a sound processor was very different from the new CochlearTM Nucleus® 7 Sound Processors she now enjoys.
“My first processor was large and bulky, and I wore it in my bra,” Ginger recalls with amusement. “My girlfriends got a kick out of the blinking red light that sometimes showed through my clothing. In 1987, it was harder to program the implant, so the appointments lasted two days and were long, tiring and intense.”
Since those early days, Ginger has upgraded her processors numerous times, taking advantage of the latest sound processor available for both her original Nucleus 22 implant in her left ear and the second implant she received in 2002 on her other ear. She was excited to hear that the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor was now compatible with her 34-year-old implant.
“In deciding to get a new sound processor, it was just the desire to keep up to date with the technology and to continue to improve whatever hearing I could get,” says Ginger who, at 67, still works as a technical writer working for a government organisation and preparing funding proposals for not-for-profit organisations.
Being able to take accurate minutes during face-to-face and online meetings has been a definite advantage of the improved hearing Ginger has experienced since upgrading her processors to the Nucleus 7 Sound Processor. Ginger finds that now, rather than rely on lip reading, she “can take notes without looking at the speaker.” She also enjoys her online book club get-togethers, without the need for additional wireless devices.
The improved hearing experience has enabled Ginger to understand talkback radio conversation and the lyrics of music more clearly, particularly when she’s listening in her car. “I’m enjoying the radio a lot more.”
Phone calls had always been difficult for Ginger after her hearing significantly deteriorated following contracting measles as a child. Before receiving her cochlear implant, she had to rely on her secretary at work and family at home to take calls and relay the conversation to her. Now, with the direct streaming capability of her Nucleus 7 Sound Processors, Ginger enjoys talking on the phone regularly with her many friends and her five grandchildren.
“I love the Bluetooth technology. The sound comes directly into both ears; I can hear on the phone unbelievably well … I was just blown away,” says Ginger. With her Nucleus 7 Sound Processors paired with her compatible iPhone, Ginger can make calls, as well as listen to music, TV and other entertainment without the need for extra devices.
As a widow who lives on her own, and even more so during the recent COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Ginger has found it important to keep in contact with family and make medical appointments by phone. With her Nucleus 7 Sound Processors, Ginger says: “I don’t have to rely on other people. I’m totally independent.”
In adjusting to her new sound processors, Ginger says to be patient. Once she had read all the Cochlear materials, it only took Ginger a few days to adjust to the new technology and understand how she could best benefit from it.
“The latest technology is amazing. I had awesome results on my hearing tests after upgrading to the Nucleus 7 on both ears. I’m so grateful to the team at Cochlear for always looking out for their patients and finding ways to enhance their lives.”
Find out more about the Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor and ask your clinician if you would be eligible for an upgrade.
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© Cochlear Limited 2021.
Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always read the instructions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.
Views expressed are those of the individual. Consult your health professional to determine if you are a candidate for Cochlear technology.
The Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor is compatible with Apple and Android devices. The Cochlear Nucleus Smart App is available on App Store and Google Play. For compatibility information visit www.cochlear.com/compatibility
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