Part IX - 8 Month Update
December 2005
After 8 months with my CI, I must say - I DON'T FEEL DEAF!!! I'm back at work, teaching high school Algebra again in a regular classroom. The kids, faculty, and everyone else have been great. I really feel that being back in the classroom has been the best rehabilitation I could ask for. I've had no choice but to learn to deal with background noises.
Currently, I use auto-sensitivity in the classroom and often turn on my lapel microphone when I am walking around to different students during class work time. The cafeteria was the most challenging part at first, but using my Beam setting has really helped. I'm learning what setting works best in each situation, and I'm understanding so much. Sometimes I mess around with the students by acting like I can't hear them when they ask for things like a free day or no homework; we have a lot of fun with this! I really think they've learned a lot through me.
Things have gone so well with my first CI that I have decided I definitely want a second one. I can't afford it on my own, so I'm hoping to get my insurance to pay for it, but that's a battle for a whole other website!