how a deaf fluteplayer gets to hear again

[Berti66]

if you came here, thinking this must be a joke, I am sorry to disappoint you.
it is not

I must be the only fluteplayer on chiff who is deaf.
Till my fourth I was able to hear and then lost most of my hearing due to unknown causes. It remained stable till three years ago, I do have a hearing loss of 110/ 115 db (right/ left ear) compared 90/100 few years ago.
With an hearing aid, I have been able to help myself reasonably well up till three years ago when more ear trouble started to pester me.
It turned out not possible to solve these, and I feared the worst of it.
I have met my deepest fears, and looked them into the eye.
Yet, I carried on, thanks to my chiff friends............who have always tried to help me along the way.
You all know who you are!!! I love you!!!

A deaf flutist, you think.
YES it is possible.............and it is all the fault of a dear friend of mine who I met slightly earlier before the troubles started to happen.
I was a whistle player first..........got to hear the sound of the irish flute and I went home in love.
That was it! And that I wanted to learn........

Got a dixon three piece which was replaced with an keyless aebi last year.
An aebi Bb was added to that few months ago.
I finally found a teacher january this year, and all those years I have struggled on trying to get the knack on ITM.
Learning by ear was not for me and YET I managed to learn tunes and only now few days ago finally managed to play along with a cd.

When you REALLY want, you can learn ANYTHING and I am one of those being proof of it. If you are one of those few chiffers who know me, you know what I mean.
I might never get as good as any of you, but I will carry on and try to get as good as I can.
The passion only has grown, the more I learned.
My favorite player of the moment is Harry Bradley.
I hope to meet him eye to eye one day.

In three weeks time, my life is about to change.
I will get surgery on my right ear and receive an cochlear implant.
For more info, see www.bionicear.com
The magical date will be october 9, and then four to six weeks until I receive the processor and will be activated to hear.

It is going to be a long way back to hearing.
Like a baby has learn to hear and understand what it hears.
But I love my flute.
It will help me through the rehab period of one year, and my life will never be the same again.
I will be able to hear the birds sing again.
I will FINALLY be able to get to understand ITM better and learn more than I have been able to till now.

In november, I will continue posting here, with the progress.
Meanwhile I will keep working hard learning tunes and practicing.
And dream about my next step up: a keyed flute and get to play in a session, follow workshops maybe!

Why am I sharing this with you?
Because of the love of ITM and to show, when you follow the advice I was once given, you can come a long way.
It was: follow your dreams.

Berti

[Lambchop]

Thank you for sharing! You made my evening. I'm glad I checked into C&F tonight!

I will keep you in my thoughts during your upcoming surgery, and I hope you will keep us posted!

[Alan]

Hear hear!

Wonderful news Berti and very inspirational.

[Denny]

I will be able to hear the birds sing again.

ya play flute now...you can sing with 'em!

Thanks for sharing,

[BillChin]

That is good news.

It is amazing how much hearing aids have advanced tech-wise.

[Berti66]

well it works real different from an hearing aid. brings the sound directly to the hearing nerve instead of through the middle ear.
but it IS an hearing-aid.........

berti

[Innocent Bystander]

Inspirational, Berti. I hope the operation goes well.

[jim stone]

Great. I'm just about functional with a hearing aid.

[Whistlin'Dixie]

Berti, I am just so happy for you

It will open a whole new world!
Cheers!

Mary

[claudine]

Good luck, Berti

[chas]

Good for you, Berti!

My daughter's elementary school has a program for deaf and hard-of-hearing kids. A couple of days into kindergarten, she came home talking about cochlear implants (not exactly typical conversation for a 5-year-old). I asked her how she learned about them, and it's because two kids in her class had them.

I hope all goes well for you, Berti. I know how passionate you are about the flute, and how much fun you'll have being able to hear Harry in his full splendor. Definitely keep us posted!

[fearfaoin]

I once read an article written by a man who had lost his hearing as
a teenager, and eventually gotten a coclear implant. He got several
software upgrades to his digital implant, trying to get music to
sound like it did when he was a child. He said it got progressively
better with every update (usually, companies focus on human voice
for hearing aid functionality). So, if you have trouble hearing flute
tones, see if they have a software update! Maybe you can help test
the new software, and help better the world of hearing repair...

[Berti66]

thank you all! it is heartwarming to read your posts.....real encouraging!
forgot to tell that I am in touch with a guitarist who had a hearing loss and now has an implant. last friday we had a first play together, it was cool, especially for a first time.
so I have some clues music is gonna work much better in a few months time.....the more I practice on the rehab, the better the results.

if anyone has suggestions for training your ears (literally) esp music wise, feel free

fearfoin, the name of that man was michael chorost and he wrote a book, called "rebuilt".l
it is a great story and real inspiring.

oh yeah I am happy!
berti

[fearfaoin]

fearfoin, the name of that man was michael chorost and he wrote a book, called "rebuilt".l
it is a great story and real inspiring.

Thanks, I'll look that up!

[anniemcu]

Wonderful, on all sides! Wonderful that you have managed to pursue playing the instrument you love, wonderful that you have found friends who support you, and wonderful that you have a chance to hear again. Just Wonderful!!