Reddit again

It seems that Reddit has posted my vid again.

HI REDDIT!

And since all my mobile phone posts, I actually got myself an iPhone which doesn't have T-switch at all but I can hear well enough if the volume is up really loud. Still prefer sms's. But I love all the apps :)

Mobile phones

I sent out emails to various Federal Politicians, suggesting we have the same legislation as the US does, as regards to ratings for mobile phones.

I had one assistant ring me to tell me to contact Telstra. To go into a store and ask. OMFG, like I haven't contacted Telstra a billion times already to try and get information from them.

But they missed the point in my email. I want RATINGS on phones. Manufactures can't even tell me what handsets have t-coils in them. I want this information available for every handset, like they do in America.

If a politician can't understand that, then what in hell can be done about it?

More updates on mobile phones

Thanks to my dad's suggestion, I contacted Telstra's disability department about mobile phones for CI users. They actually gave me a specific phone that will work well with the cochlear implant.

Of course, the phone is their own brand, LOL.

But we have found this great site which lists phones with high compatibility with hearing aids:
Phone Finder

As that is American, now it's just a matter of finding out if those models are also sold in Australia.

Motorola Australia also has a webpage devoted to accessibility, including mentioning that all their phones are built with telecoil:
Motorola

So there is information out there!

Mobile phones

In the US, they have a M and T rating for cell phones. M for Microphone and T for telecoil and the higher the number, the more compatible with hearing aids/cochlear implants.

Unfortunately, Australia does not have this rating and our major Telecommunications company has fobbed me off TWICE (once online, once in a shop) as they can't help and don't offer to do any research in it.

Yesterday in the shop, I explained the Iphone (as an example) had terrible sound and I just a blank look with "but that volume is quite loud". Well yes, it might be, but it's not compatable enough with telecoils.

On the US Nokia site I actually found a list of Nokia phones with this high M/T rating, but which Australia doesn't sell.
So I email Nokia, explaining this rating and these phones and do we have anything similar in Australia.
I get an answer that Nokia does not keep records of these ratings and refer to the Nokia pages to search for a phone that suits your needs and preferences.

DUH, this is why I EMAILED YOU.

Obviously in Australia there is a HUGE gap where there is no information available on compatible mobile phones!!!

Mobile phone

Someone called me on my mobile yesterday, someone I don't know very well. I thought I struggled, he thought I did fine but I have a feeling that he was being nice :P
But later I rang a friend who I understood perfectly... but I was so taken aback by the greeting "Nikki!" instead of hello, hahaha. I need more practice with it, so much stuff completely throws me out!

Mobile phones!

Short version:
I have a Next G phone! Now everyone can call me!! YAAAY FOR USING A MOBILE!
(oh yeah, i have video calling now too)

Long version:
Went to the shops... there are 3 phone shops right next to each other... for all the complaints you hear about Telstra, it was the only full shop.
I waited 45 minutes to be served, thats how busy they were!

So when I finally got served, I had to explain I have the CI so I needed a NextG phone and I'd like to test it out to see if it worked. The guy was very young so I expected a bit of attitude or confusion at the least but he seemed to know exactly what I meant and pulled out a handset for me, set it up and told me to go outside the shops where he called and spoke to me and asked about interference. I tried 2 phones but sticking with the Nokia (mmm nokia).

And he was very helpful about plans because I explained I had no idea what my call usage was going to be, not using voice calls before and asked if it would be a problem to change... so he's got me some sort of deal where I can interchange plans with no problems if my call usage is high!

What a great helpful guy, I might write a letter :P

So I have called Mum, Garth (who said "is that it? thats why you've called, to say you can hear on the phone?") and Dane! YAAAY. I have to try and speak normally and not yell into it, haha

Point of this entry:
YAAAY PHONE CALLS!!!

Even more phone!

I just rang my audiologist to make an appointment and I could tell the receptionist is new because she had no idea who I was (there are 2 receptionists and both know who I am) and I don't think she ever heard of a CI before, rofl. So it was really funny trying to explain what I need her to tell my audiologist ;)

I rang a restaurant today to get a menu faxed to me for a work lunch tmw :) Awesome

When I was at mums the other day I answered the phone thinking it was Garth coz I told him to call me and it was someone else ringing for mum, oooops. But I managed and the person rang mum again later and she thought I did great on the phone. I'm glad she thought so because the only thing I didn't catch out of the whole conversation was her name, lol

More phone!

I love the phone now! I seem to be making a habit of updating everytime I use the phone succesfully, lol.
Todays phone story: Nikki emailed Garth to ring somewhere and book a table for her. Garth takes a long time to email back. Nikki gets impatient and calls Garth on his mobile. Garth is too busy to make phone calls for Nikki but expresses surprise at how well she can follow the conversation while he's on the mobile. Nikki likes mobiles because people talk DIRECTLY into the mouthpiece.
Anyway, Nikki tries to call Mum to get her to call for a table reservation but Mum isn't home. Doh. So Nikki calls herself! And she did really well, she got all the information she wanted. Nikki rocks :P
(The WHOLE POINT of me getting the CI was so I could use the phone again! God, I am so happy about it, I managed to do well enough to USE THE PHONE. That is the ultimate CI success, IMHO).

Phone!

I just had a work-related phone call! OMG, I understood what they said and helped them and everything!! And she had an ACCENT!!!!!

ARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

*dance of joy*

More work phone

I emailed my dad this morning telling him my brakes are making awful scraping noises and would the mechanic fit me in tomorrow? Apparently brake noises are REALLY BAD so he called the RAC for me. RAC came and listened to brakes and looked at them and said "drive it STRAIGHT to the mechanic".

My mechanic is a legend. He said I could go in right away and he will fix it then and there, even though its his last day before closing down for the year.

So I was gone for about an hour and a half! So came back to work and rang Dad and he couldn't believe how quick it was fixed. And how well I did on the phone, he thought it was much easier than dealing with the situation over email. I thought so too. Was especially pleased to have someone other than dad answer the phone and still understand everything!!

Work phones

I sent mum and email yesterday so I thought I would call her and let her know I emailed her so she could check it (because I am very impatient and I like replies RIGHT NOW). So I called her from a work phone, partly to say "hey, check your email" and partly to see how I manage the work phones.

I am the only person in the library without a phone, I'm sure they've done this with good intentions so people don't call me but I can still talk to mum!! This phone rocks, its better than my home one. So I ended up having a conversation with her and understood everything!

So this morning my boss (who sits across from me and probably heard every word I said yesterday) asked would I like a phone. So I am getting a phone! YAAAY! Now I can call mum and dad, yaaay!! I might even try answering a work call to see how I go! whooo!

3 month checkup

Yesterday was my 3 month check-up at the audiologist since my Cochlear Implant was switched on. I did a hearing test and it has been a very long time since the lines on my audiogram have been that high ;)

She asked how it was going, its all good... she doesn't think I'll need to come in at the 6 month mark because I'm doing so fabulously and I'll see her in a year! Sounds like she'll pass on my email address to people having CI assessments so they can talk to someone who has recently had it done, yaay!

I think I've reached a stalemate when it comes to the CI, I think I'll always need subtitles with the TV and the phone is difficult.

Phone!

Exciting news : I was at Mums last night and I called my Aunt and had a conversation… on a NORMAL PHONE. Without ANY volume control! And I understood her!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!

More tests

After I finally got to the Audiologist, it was explained it would be a quick appointment and I didn't even get hooked up to the computer!

More speech tests, more blitzing. She is SO pleased at how I'm going.
I asked about rehabilitation/therapy and she said I don't need it, I'm doing fine as I am. It's just a matter of exposure now.

I also asked am I just doing really, really well or if my progress is normal. She said its not unexpected with my history of hearing aid use and they tell people it'd be months before understanding speech so expectations are low.

"Now we'll test the phone" she says. I said I tried testing the phone with Mum before, I couldn't understand a thing. "Does she have a cordless?" Yes...apparently cordless phones are really terrible.
She also said it helps if I know what is being said and while I'm practicing phone use, to get the call-ee to read out my speech exercises and me work them out

So WE practiced that (she went into another room and called) and I got it! OMG, USING THE PHONE! I even got all the stuff like 'ok, I'll read them out now' and 'thats great, I'll come back in a sec' !!!

Sooo.... who has a corded landline and wants to call me and read out nursery rhymes (or something familar) for me to practice with?!! :P