Today was Logan's activation day for his second implant. It, of course, wasn't as dramatic as turning on the first one, but it was still a big day for us. Everything looks great and the surgery was a success, but Logan isn't too keen on this new ear. He will wear just the new ear for about two weeks to get his brain to start relying on that side as well as the right. The problem we run into is that with only his new implant on, it's like starting over from the beginning--meaning he can't process sounds or language quite yet--which is very frustrating for him. He has adapted very well to hearing the sounds and voices around him, so when he was not able to quite understand the sounds that were going in, he became upset. He told us that he didn't want to wear the new ear because it was "too loud". The audiologist told us that the volume was at a comfort level, but that was just Logan's way of trying to express that he couldn't make out what he was, or wasn't, hearing. We were talking to him, asking him questions and he had a sad, confused look on his face as if he were slightly scared and nervous that he had lost the understanding he once had. Without an implant on, he knows that he doesn't get any sound, so I think it confused him that even with an implant on, he wasn't registering the sounds.
We brought the pack of Bat-Man stickers with us to the appointment and put the stickers on right away. He now has a "Spider-Man ear" and his new, "Bat-Man ear", he now has double the super hero power!
We had to coax him a little to keep it on the rest of the night, but we know things will get better. We are eager to see what this next year has in store for Logan!
It was a little surreal for me to see him with both implants on...
mapping (programming) the new implant...
7 comments:
Yeah for Logan! What an exciting start for 2009!
From what I see, you have a cooperative boy, so although it won't be easy at first, I am sure he'll learn to love his new ear as well.
Love the Spiderman/Batman idea!
Happy New Year and Happy Hearing!!!
How exciting! good luck to Logan. You guys truly are amazing!!!
That is so exciting! I'm so glad to hear all is going well for him and his new implant! He's is the cutest kid!!!! Happy New Year!
I love how you are detailing all of this experience so well. Logan will definitely appreciate it someday! What an awesome kid he is, good luck with the new ear transition, hopefully it will go quickly and smoothly, one brave boy you have for sure! Happy New Year!
I would be frustrated and scared too...sweet little guy! You can't blame him! Thanks for sharing...it still brings tears to my eyes!! Love you guys!
Awesome! Way to go Logan...I know that it is probably hard to listen to your daddy's bad jokes and now you have to hear them in both ears!! Just kiddin, love you guys! Congrats on the surgery!
oh, it was so sad to see the confusion in his sweet eyes. it is going to be a long 2 weeks isn't it?
it makes me wish we just gave alexander 2 at once.
this will be an amazing year for Logan. with 2 implants, 2 supportive brothers and 2 loving and amazingly talented parents he will be happy
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