Blog 3. Tests.

A few weeks later I was invited to attend the Bristol ENT unit to assess suitability for the implant.  Under NHS rules fairly strict criteria are applied before an implant can be granted and this was the beginning of that process.  An audiogram was produced for each of my ears showing a hearing loss of 90 decibels in my best ear.  It was accepted that I had no significant hearing in my worst ear.  I was asked to respond to questions on a clearly identified theme using my hearing aid and felt that I managed quite well.  Then came a surprise.  I was asked to respond to similar questions but not to look at the speaker. I couldn’t make out a single word.  I simply hadn’t realised just how much I had become dependant on lip reading and watching facial expressions.  So the audiologist mouthed sentences silently on a stated theme and, to my surprise, I was able to make out what was being said.   My speech recognition was very poor without additional visual support.  Very true, I had not used the phone for years and although I could communicate fairly well on a one to one basis,  face to face communicating in a group situation was very difficult.  I hadn’t been able to listen to the radio for many years and without subtitles TV was also off limits.  I was told that there would follow a private clinical meeting to discuss my suitability for an implant and I would hear in due course.  I was informed by letter that I would need to attend for further assessments leading up to the operation. The next would be an MRI scan.