on cyborgs and sound

[kareina]

Some of you might remember that, when I first moved here, I had my ears examined by our shire's only home-grown laurel & viscount, who is an ear surgeon in real life. I had been told by my Australian audiologist some years before that while hearing aids do help, my hearing problem couldn't be helped by surgery. However, when one has a friend who is an ear surgeon, one has to ask. At the time of that appointment he confirmed that surgery wouldn't help my problem, and we got me my new hearing aids, which I am quite happy with, particularly as I also got a bluetooth adapter which lets my phone talk directly to my hearing aids, so for the first time in my life I can easily carry on a phone conversation (even so it may take years before I get over my deeply instilled belief that email is far superior to phone calls!)

Much to my surprise, when his Excellency recently returned to our shire after a few months of living in Uppsala, where he had been doing training under the country's foremost ear surgeon, he let me know that he has learned of a new technology that may help me. Having an implant that lets me hear better is very appealing--it would be kind of cool to be a cyborg, on such a small scale. There are some details to work out before we decide if I am going to do this, but it is a fascinating prospect. There aren't many people I would trust with a knife on my flesh, but I have seen his high skill in arts and sciences--anyone with the motor control to produce such beautiful works of art also has the motor control to do delicate surgery.

Comments

[fjorlief.livejournal.com]

What a fascinating concept - I will be very curious to find out what you decide. I must say that I agree with you that email is superior to telephone. I much prefer writing, or even online "chat", to phone conversation. For me, phonecalls happen too quickly, with so much less of the non-verbal communication, and when writing there is enough time to actually digest the words sent, and to compose a reply that has half a chance of meaning what I intend. (It is fortunate that I feel this way, since much of my distance communication with dear G is via messaging, he has no phone service where he lives.)

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

[darttn.livejournal.com]

Definitely keep me posted on this one! Technology can be wonderful, especially if it corrects an impairment. Given enough time, we will be in the future with 'star trek' and others who just wave a wand and fix whatever ails you.

Love you
Mom

[catherinelaurel.livejournal.com]

now that is good news, hope things work out where you can have the surgery and really improve your hearing. Having worn glasses for 58 years, and now not doing so (except for reading) I know what a change for the better that would be for you.
Good luck.

[memegarden.livejournal.com]

Oh, good luck with that! I'm sure it would be grand to not have to fuss with hearing aids all the time.

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

Hubby has upper hearing loss (nerves don't work) and can't be fixed by surgery. Hearing aids help a bit, but he says everything is actually rather muddled. I'd be interested in hearing about what you learn :)