tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52275569652504029272024-03-13T12:57:52.786-05:00Cacophony to SymphonyA teenage girl's journey through life, school, hearing loss and cochlear implants.PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-88572708290051965642014-03-24T11:24:00.000-05:002014-03-24T11:24:22.654-05:00CI Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My best friend came to visit this past weekend-- thought y'all would enjoy this photo!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-54559781350217333292014-02-13T16:14:00.001-06:002014-02-13T16:14:26.335-06:00Brag AlertMade it in my local newspaper! Check out the article at the link below!<br />
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<a href="http://m.starlocalmedia.com/planocourier/news/plano-teen-overcomes-deafness-wins-scholarship-to-dream-college/article_e910b9ae-94d3-11e3-97ca-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm">http://m.starlocalmedia.com/planocourier/news/plano-teen-overcomes-deafness-wins-scholarship-to-dream-college/article_e910b9ae-94d3-11e3-97ca-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-83655768355156951442013-12-24T08:38:00.002-06:002013-12-24T08:40:20.629-06:00A Semester in ReviewAs the year comes to a close, I thought I'd take the opportunity to catch up on my blog and let everyone know what I've been up to. A lot has gone on since I last checked in! Here's it all, both the good and the bad:<br />
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<b>August</b><br />
It was the week before I was set to leave for college, and I decided to go in for one last mapping so I could go off hearing well. I left hearing great, but on the way home another car ran a red light and hit me. It was a pretty frightening experience. My car was totaled, but luckily multiple witnesses stopped and gave me their contact information to verify my story. Unfortunately, I did hit my head and experienced a series of issues with my left (re)implant. The issues with static/crackling and cutting out started up again, but now they finally seem to be getting under control.<br />
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The following week I moved into my dorm and officially began my freshman year at Rice University. I absolutely love it and could not be happier. The campus is beautiful, my friends are amazing, my classes are interesting, and my roommate is incredible. I'm still in the whole self-discovery phase, trying to figure out what I want to major in and do with my life. Right now I'm considering majoring either psychology and/or sociology and minoring in neuroscience. As for my future plans, I'm still an open book. I'm considering becoming a nurse practitioner or perhaps getting a PhD in neuropsychology.<br />
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There have definitely been quite a few adventures and ups and downs (I'll spare you the details, but it ranged from technical difficulties with accommodations to a lice scare in my dorm), but I'm loving every minute of it. I've gotten involved on campus and volunteer each week in a program mentoring refugee children to help them acclimate to life in the US. I've made a diverse group of friends who are all so incredibly caring and supportive. While I'm happy to be home for the break, I also miss college!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a picture my parents took when they came to visit me on campus</td></tr>
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<b>September</b><br />
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I turned 19!<br />
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<b>October</b></div>
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My oldest sister, Lauren, gave birth to my sweet nephew, Eli Parker, on October 12th. Luckily, I had a couple of days off of school and was in town when he was born!</div>
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<b>November</b></div>
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I came home for Thanksgiving and found out that Zach, my beloved dog of thirteen years, had been put down. We grew up together, so it was hard not having him around anymore, but I know it was for the best. Here's a few of my favorite pictures of him through the years. The first is my sister Carly and I with him when he was a puppy, the next was when I was probably around 8 and he would have been 2, and the last was taken this year.</div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Meanwhile, Eli has been growing fast. Here he is over Thanksgiving, at 6 weeks old!</span><br />
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<b>December</b></div>
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My roommate and I are both pretty festive, so we decorated our room for Christmas and Hanukkah. It's not exactly a major event, but I thought I'd show it off :)</div>
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Stay tuned for some exciting CI related news for the new year. Until then, Happy Holidays and a joyous new year, from my family to yours :)<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-61957393398029413742013-08-09T15:24:00.004-05:002013-08-09T15:24:55.059-05:00My Experience With the Nucleus 6I posted a review of the Nucleus 6 on Cochlear Implant Online's website. <a href="http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/a-review-of-nucleus-6-by-a-nucleus-cochlear-implant-recipient/" target="_blank">Check it out!</a><br />
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In other news, I leave for college in a week. It feels like I've been waiting to go forever, but now that the time has finally come, I'm in total denial mode! I'm so excited for new experiences, but I guess you could say I'm less than wild about packing :)<br />
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Also, I am finally hearing well on my reimplanted side. It's not quite perfect, but it's getting close!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-70067459608393922232013-06-23T23:09:00.001-05:002013-06-23T23:09:36.753-05:00"Look Familiar?"My sister is a junior in college and majoring in communication disorders. Right now she's taking a summer Intro to Audiology class. She just sent me this picture of her study materials with the text message "look familiar?" and I couldn't help but laugh. I'm sure this list will look very familiar to many of you as well! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8ORJI5YC0Hs/UcfGfj3ZK4I/AAAAAAAAASo/DZ9TYa8Cyfw/s640/blogger-image-45939688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8ORJI5YC0Hs/UcfGfj3ZK4I/AAAAAAAAASo/DZ9TYa8Cyfw/s640/blogger-image-45939688.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I can still remember being a kid sitting in the soundbooth sick of hearing these words over and over!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-29243060178753436912013-06-19T00:03:00.002-05:002013-06-19T00:07:30.553-05:00I did it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few select photos from my high school graduation...My cord is crooked in the first couple (it took me a while to notice) which totally bugs me, but what can ya do!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9emmvY1xBo/UcE8CJuP7wI/AAAAAAAAASY/Mt49bhJR-rI/s1600/DSC05219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9emmvY1xBo/UcE8CJuP7wI/AAAAAAAAASY/Mt49bhJR-rI/s320/DSC05219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my dad, sister, mom and grandma!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister, mom, and I</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my sisters!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture of my mom and I afterward is blurry, but I still love it!</td></tr>
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Summer has officially started, and I am staying busy! I am working at a daycare a few days a week and going on a couple of trips towards the end of July. Also dealing with some not-so-fun medical stuff, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I move into my college dorm in just two months, and it is crazy to think about! I am so excited, but I'm getting anxious to find out who my roommate is. Still have quite a bit of dorm shopping to do, though!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-74271989765727213152013-05-30T21:56:00.001-05:002013-05-30T21:56:19.388-05:00ProgressI've had my reimplanted ear turned on for a little over two months now, and things are slowly improving. I have come to realize just how impatient I am! I have been going back to AVT and trying to get in the habit of do listening exercises. It's funny, when I got implanted the first time around everything was so exciting and new. I was eager to hear everything I could, and could not do enough listening practice. Now that I'm being reimplanted I guess you could say the excitement is gone and I just want to go back to hearing like I could before!<br />
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I've started realizing that I am totally being too hard on myself. I had a mapping today and did my fist set of testing with the new implant afterwards. My audiogram was at 10-15 dB across the board, and we also did single syllable word testing. Those were pretty difficult, and I'll admit to feeling defeated and absolutely certain I was getting every single one wrong. I was definitely surprised when my audiologist told me I had scored 74% correct! It's not where that ear was before (I've consistently scored at 90-95% previously), but it's not bad at all. I know progress was much faster when I got this ear implanted the first time, so I can't help but constantly compare. My AVT will tell me I'm doing great for two months out, and I can't help myself in saying "But last time I could talk on the phone just a few days after it was turned on!" I also looked back at an old post and saw that 4 days post activation when I went bilateral, I scored 60% on the same test (four days this time around I couldn't hear anything!).<br />
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I need to stop the constant comparisons and just accept the progress as it comes. I should not be getting discouraged when I am clearly doing well, I just need to not have such ridiculous expectations. The one thing that bothers me is that voices just don't sound right. I can understand them, but they don't sound the way they <i>should. </i>I can only hope that continues to improve with time as well. Actually, I can do more than hope. I can do some of that practice that I've been avoiding :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-29935213019722497792013-05-04T00:00:00.000-05:002013-05-04T00:00:51.093-05:00A Special ReunionI am in the midst of studying for my AP exams (last ones ever!), so I can't write as much as I'd like, but my school had a ceremony honoring the National Merit Finalists last night. We were able to bring a teacher who was influential in our lives. I chose to bring my speech therapist from my elementary school. She helped me develop clear speech, yes, but she also did so much more. She gave me the confidence to speak up for myself, and was also a tireless advocate, ensuring I received the services I needed. She was a guiding light for my mom and I in the early years, and provided us with a wealth of knowledge that helped me get to where I am today. Last night was the first time I saw her since I was in 5th grade, so it was really special! I got to give a short speech about her influence and thanking her as well as my parents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvHjwaQ_XZA/UYSUzxUNh8I/AAAAAAAAARI/xh89SobXYGk/s1600/nmf+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvHjwaQ_XZA/UYSUzxUNh8I/AAAAAAAAARI/xh89SobXYGk/s400/nmf+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my speech therapist from elementary school</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my wonderful parents!<br /></td></tr>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-8058966682841533722013-03-27T22:05:00.001-05:002013-03-27T22:05:42.316-05:00Bilateral: Take 2 (AKA My Bad Luck)Hello! I've been meaning to write an update since my surgery, but as you'll soon find out from reading the rest of my post, things have gotten quite hectic. You know how when you start off with one teeny problem, but then everything kind of snowballs out of control and you feel like if anything else happens, you just might lose it? Yeah, that's about the point I am at right now. It's been a bit of a rough ride!<div>
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I had the surgery exactly two weeks ago, and it went well! The surgeon said that there was some extra skin on the skin flap area that he went ahead and removed during the surgery, and that doing so could also help prevent any connectivity issues. The one thing I was delighted to discover when I woke up- my tinnitus (which I had gotten as a result of having that ear implanted the first time around) was gone! Unfortunately, so was my taste, but I was prepared for that, so I did not mind too much. The biggest problem I've had with recovery is vertigo and just being off balance in general. The floor seems to move whenever I do, but hopefully that will go away soon.</div>
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I missed school on Monday and Tuesday afterwards (I was off the week prior because it was my spring break), but I was actually feeling pretty good Wednesday (exactly 1 week post-op) and went to school. I was also activated that afternoon and had a check-up with my surgeon. I have to give a huge thanks and shout out to <a href="http://lonestarcouple.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Helen and Kemper of Lone Star Family</a> for their generosity. My ear and head were still extremely sore the night before I was activated, and I almost had to cancel activation because I knew there was no way I could wear the processor on my ear at that point However, it was suggested to get a long cable and pin the processor to my shirt while my ear was healing. Neither I nor my audiologist had one, but Helen was kind enough to lend me a long cable that they have, so I cannot thank them enough!! Activation was uneventful, and went as expected. I knew I'd be starting from scratch, but I secretly hoped I would be able to understand *something*. No such luck!</div>
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The next morning I woke up at 5 AM struggling to breathe with a severe pain in my chest that happened with each breath I took. Due to having some risk factors for blood clots which are even more likely to happen after surgery, my parents took me to the emergency room to ensure everything was okay. Honestly, by the time I got there the pain was less severe (it was far worse while I was laying down), so none of us were too concerned. My dad joked that it was "an expensive way to get out of going to school", which which gave me a little chuckle. I was lucky enough to have not one but three training students observing and attempting to treat me. I felt obligated to return the favor since I was the observer last year, but I will admit I was a *tad* concerned when the EMTs-in-training whispered to each other trying to figure out where the leads went to do an EKG as I was lying there with my chest completely exposed. It took a few tries, but they got it eventually :P</div>
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They did the EKG and chest x-ray, both of which looked normal, but then when the blood test results came back 45 minutes later, was one of the levels that can indicate a blood clot was elevated, so a CT scan was ordered. And that's where things got weird...</div>
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I don't know why or how it happened, but soon after the CT scan started, I began hearing an extremely loud sound in the ear I had surgery on, which can only be described as a propellor/airplane noise. I did not have the processor on in that ear, nor do I have residual hearing since the reimplantation. But the noise started, and continued, even after I was brought back to the hospital room which was far away from the CT and MRI machines (the CT scanner was in a room next door to the MRI.. I have no clue if this could have caused something). </div>
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Yeah, so I'm not proud of I, but I kind of lost it. At this point I was terrified not only because I didn't know if I had a blood clot in my lungs, but now I've got this noise in my head and I started growing increasingly anxious that somehow in the process of going in the CT scan, something messed with the implant. My mind started racing and I grew increasingly upset as I thought of the idea of having to endure surgery yet again to have to get it replaced (this was my 7th surgery, and I'd hoped it was my last). It didn't help that the ER doctor's response to the whole thing was simply "That shouldn't happen. A CT machine is just a big X-ray." No, it shouldn't but it DID!</div>
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Thankfully, the implant still works fine. The sound I am hearing has not gone away. Oh, and as far as why I couldn't breathe? Turns out it was pleurisy, fluid on the lungs, which they treated with an antibiotic.</div>
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That finally went away this weekend, and then this week I've come down with a sinus infection. My nose is stopped up, and I am sneezing constantly, which probably isn't good since I was instructed not to blow my nose or sneeze for 4 weeks.. And I'm having a strong feeling of pain and pressure over the implant area, which I am thinking is due to the general stuffiness. It doesn't help that the progress with this implant is painfully slow. I know it's only been a week. It's to be expected. But I was kind of hoping that like the last time that ear was turned on, I would be able to hear on the phone the next day. No such luck, hearing is a struggle and I can't understand anything out of it yet. Having a hard time hearing in school, which I am already extemely behind due to missing so much of it last week. Trying AVT practice exercises, but so far comprehension is next to nothing without speechreading.</div>
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You could say it's been a rough two weeks...</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-45999749589788529712013-03-09T15:42:00.001-06:002013-03-09T15:42:21.667-06:004 Years Later- Another SurgeryAfter changing my mind a ridiculous number of times, I will be having my left ear reimplanted on Wednesday, 4 years (down to the week) after it was originally implanted. It will be replaced with another Freedom device. Apparently there's a new straight array that new patients are receiving, but they aren't giving it to reimplanted patients (wouldn't want to change things up too much!). This certainly isn't my first choice way of spending Spring Break, but I will be happy to have it all behind me. If all goes well (knock on wood), I am scheduled to be reactivated a week later on March 20th.<br />
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Just thought I'd pop in and share the news!<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-25398587563155774952013-01-20T23:03:00.001-06:002013-01-20T23:03:17.784-06:00Court Rules in Favor of Medical Student with Cochlear ImplantI found this to be really encouraging. The student sued Creighton University for failing to provide CART access and interpreters, forcing him to take out over $100,000 in loans to pay for them himself. Hopefully this will set a precedent for future students with hearing loss in college/medical school/grad school. For more info, here are a few links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Fed-appeals-court-says-deaf-med-student-can-sue-4196478.php" target="_blank">Article Overview</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/Document.aspx?id=1648" target="_blank">Summary from AG Bell's Website</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/uploadedFiles/Advocate/Legislative_issues_and_efforts/Legislative_Updates/OKCourtRuling.pdf" target="_blank">Detailed (but lengthy) document about the court decision</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-48054770202633957152012-12-28T04:16:00.000-06:002012-12-28T04:16:15.171-06:00College-Bound and Crackling SoundsI'm getting bad at this whole blogging thing. I'm sure no one wants to hear my excuses about how busy I've been and whatnot..So, since it's 3:30 AM and I have bronchitis and can't sleep, you will get a full-blown update. Lucky you :)<br />
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I don't quite know where to begin. I'm sure those of you who actually still read are sick of hearing about the whole college process (I know I am, haha!), but this will be my final update on college/schools for a while! So basically, last March I had an academic conference with my school counselor. All the juniors have them, it's basically to discuss future plans, colleges, the works. I mentioned that I was particularly interested in a school, and she basically shot down my hopes and dreams by telling me it was out of my league and I had no chance of being accepted. She said it nicely and with a smile, but it stung! I had already made plans to visit the school over my spring break the following week, and I certainly wasn't going to cancel them. I went and tried so hard not to fall in love with it with this newfound knowledge that I had no chance of being accepted... I couldn't help myself. Like a hormone-crazed tween girl obsessed with Justin Bieber (or One Direction, or whatever pop sensation you so choose), I dreamily began picturing our future together despite the fact that it was out of reach. Well, just a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from the aforementioned dream school. I'm kind of embarrassed to say it because I make fun of people for being emotional, but I cried hysterically... Want to know what first line of the email said?<br />
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<blockquote id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356687843791_5190" style="color: #454545; display: block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 1em;" type="cite">
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1356687843791_5316" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Congratulations! On behalf of the Committee on Admission, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the Class of 2017.</i></span></div>
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So, moral of the story: you never know unless you try! And ignore the naysayers, they always seem to have plenty to say! <br />
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It's nice to know where I'll be attending and to finally have all of my hard work payoff. I really do think it's a great fit for me and I can't wait until the fall. It's a small school- my college graduating class will likely be a couple hundred students smaller than that of my high school graduating class- but I think it's just what I need. My parents are also relieved because it's not across the country, but I am glad that it's not too close either- it's about a 4.5 hour drive from where I live. Thus concludes my talk of my college search!<br />
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On a completely different note, I have been having issues with my left (second) implant lately, and things are not looking too great. I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday, and he thinks I may be in the early stages of a soft failure. I have been hearing crackling/popping for the past few months, and we have changed out all the external parts multiple times, to no avail. For now, it's a wait and see deal. I am still hearing very well, and the crackling is intermittent. Sometimes I am able to go all day (or even a few days at a time) without it occurring. It's possible that it's just a fluke and it will all settle down over the next few months, but it is also more likely that it will continue to worsen or possibly even completely give out on me. I am going to have an integrity test done next week, but my surgeon does not expect there to be any usual findings, as oftentimes in soft failures all testing shows that the implant is functioning fine. I will not be considering re-implantation surgery until it gets to the point where I feel that it's interfering enough with my hearing that I am no longer receiving the full benefits of being bilateral. Right now, that is certainly not the case. When I went in yesterday, I had a hearing test done and my left ear tested at 92% on single word recognition, which is pretty darn good! I am also having problems with a sharp, shooting pain under my left implant that has started up in the last few weeks. It only lasts for a few seconds at a time, but it is debilitatingly painful when it occurs- it's brought on if I move my head or face suddenly. The cause of that is more of a mystery and not really treatable with anything other than anti-inflammatories.My surgeon suggested leaving the processor off for a few days to see if it helps (this is just a short term solution, of course), and since I've pretty much just been at home cooped up with my sick self and my dog, that is what I am doing. If anyone has any experiences/knowledge to contribute on either of these issues, please do comment. I really value the knowledge that my readers offer because you all know so much more than I do!<br />
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One last thing- If you emailed me, chances are I got halfway though composing a long, thought out email, saved it as a draft, and never finished it. You can be mad at me, I feel awful about it, but I shall resume replying to 2 month old emails while I have nothing better to do over these next few days(not that I have 2 online courses I need to be doing in order to graduate or anything... You know where my priorities are!)<br />
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To those of you who read to the end of this ridiculously long post, thank you! You deserve a medial or some cookies or something. Now it's 4 AM and I am just rambling... I should probably try to get some sleep...Thanks for reading :)<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-16204038114221357642012-11-05T21:57:00.001-06:002012-11-05T21:57:01.682-06:00Spam WarningJust dropping a quick note to let me readers know that the email address I use to send/receive emails for my blog was taken over today and sending spam. I have changed my password and I believe I have fixed the issue, but if you receive any fishy emails from that address, please do not open them or click on any links! Thanks!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JlVMoiFyr9M/UJiKdzlSXtI/AAAAAAAAAQg/7c-HaPERjU8/s1600/vote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JlVMoiFyr9M/UJiKdzlSXtI/AAAAAAAAAQg/7c-HaPERjU8/s200/vote.jpg" width="200" /></a>I'll leave you with the picture from me voting early last week, as well as with the happy news that I have been accepted into 2 schools so far, both of which with large scholarships :)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-5748766864254530752012-10-03T14:24:00.001-05:002012-10-03T14:24:02.963-05:00College GuideA little over a year ago, I posted about wanting to create a College Guide specifically for students with hearing loss. It got put on the back burner for a while, but Rachel and Elizabeth from CI Online expressed interest in the project, so it got restarted. I am proud to present to you the Ultimate College Guide for Students with Hearing Loss, and many thanks to the friends who contributed their stories and thoughts. It is ever-evolving, so if you have something you'd like to contribute, please let us know!<br />
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<a href="http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/life/college-guide/" target="_blank">The Ultimate College Guide</a><br />
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On a related note, I have been school and college applications have been taking up just about all of my time. I guess that's what I get for applying to eleven schools! Wish me luck :) I was also notified that I'm a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition, so with the added excitement comes additional work... Not that I'm complaining!<br />
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I turned eighteen about a month ago, and I must say that I do not feel like a "real" adult yet. Maybe once I'm out of the house the feeling will kick in! I'm definitely excited to be able to vote in this upcoming election-- it's nice to feel like my thoughts and beliefs count.<br />
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Happy Fall! Don't stop reading, as I'll be back for more updates shortly!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-42942180159339961372012-07-20T06:00:00.000-05:002012-07-20T06:00:02.218-05:00Guest Post: How Tinnitus Affects Hearing Health<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Below is a guest post written by John O'Connor who told me, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #454545;">Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss. My father and grandfathers along with various other family members and friends suffer from hearing loss. I feel that there is a general lack on understanding around the issue and it is right to try and spread awareness." Enjoy!</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New studies show that there may be more health
benefits from the statement, “Get your beauty sleep.” Poor sleeping habits may
make it difficult to cope with certain types of hearing loss. For instance,
tinnitus is characterized by ringing, hissing, clicking or buzzing in the head
or ears. Poor sleep habits make it difficult to cope with the condition. People
with tinnitus may need to get more sleep to improve hearing. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are There Any Studies to Prove This Finding?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several studies have been conducted. The most
notable study was conducted at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital. The study
conducted between 2009 and 2011 included 117 patients. The studies showed that
the symptoms of tinnitus and the patient’s emotional state worsened with
insomnia. Tolerance levels decrease when a patient’s sleep decreases. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Patients may, subsequently, begin to experience
depression, anxiety or annoyance. Treatment of insomnia seemed to alleviate
some symptoms related to tinnitus. Since more than 36 million Americans have
tinnitus, <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/tinnitus/article.htm">there is
extra incentive to find relief for sufferers of this type of hearing loss</a>.
Lack of sleep is not the only condition that affects tinnitus sufferers. Loud
noises, ear infections, Lyme disease, hyperthyroidism and fibromyalgia may all
affect tinnitus sufferers.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What Causes Tinnitus?</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The exact cause of tinnitus is not known, but it
can be a result of acoustic trauma. High intensity sound could cause the
acoustic trauma to the ear. The ringing of the ears is a common symptom of
tinnitus. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Acoustic trauma is defined by any event that
delivers excessive sound energy to the inner ear. The event may be permanent or
temporary based upon the severity of the noise. After an exposure, oral
steroids can help the inner ear to recover. Many people take oral steroids
after a loud rock concert to reverse the effects to the acoustic trauma. If the
exposure is long, the damage may be permanent. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One-third of 30 million people in the United
States have hearing loss due excessive noise exposure. Since noise-induced
hearing loss can be prevented, people must do all they can to prevent hearing
loss. Prevention of hearing loss will lead to an overall better quality of life
that is free of frustration and annoyance. If the damage is permanent a
reliable option, after speaking with your doctor may be the use of <a href="http://www.earq.com/">hearing aids</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of risking losing hearing, people should take the necessary
precautions to preserve hearing. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Protect Your Hearing, Protect Your Health</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many people take hearing for granted and neglect
to make the necessary changes in their lives to prevent permanent damage.
Everyone should have a strategy to preserve their hearing. Hearing is one sense
that most people cannot afford to lose. Take the necessary steps to protect
hearing today. </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-89205680883150429252012-07-15T06:00:00.000-05:002012-07-15T06:00:03.220-05:00Good Customer ServiceMost of the time, my cochlear implants make it so that the person I am conversing with has no idea I am deaf. Occasionally, however, conversations are a struggle. One such incident occurred when I went to order lunch at a bakery a few weeks ago. It was noisy and the cashier seemed to see no reason to speak any clearer than a mumble. The interaction was painful as I struggled to catch onto a single word that was said.The cashier made the situation much worse, making sarcastic comments about me not being able to hear him. Flabbergasted, I told him I was hearing-impaired, but his rude attitude continued. Embarrassed and angry, I took my food and left.<br />
<br />
On the drive home, I was fuming. Why should I have to apologize for my hearing loss? And why should I allow someone to make me feel inferior just because I struggle to hear them? The AG Bell Convention was just a few days away, and I was in full-on advocacy mode. I went to the company's website and filed a complaint with the local restaurant.<br />
<br />
A few days later, the manager at the location I went to contacted me and apologized profusely, stating that the employee was reprimanded and that his behavior would not be tolerated. Then, they asked for my email so they could send me a coupon.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTC-Fe5e0x8/UAJ5-Fn7K3I/AAAAAAAAAQU/ij8oNYOWj_s/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTC-Fe5e0x8/UAJ5-Fn7K3I/AAAAAAAAAQU/ij8oNYOWj_s/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sure enough, they sent me not one, but two coupons for a free meal! Now that's what I call good customer service. Good move, Paradise!</div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-69701584523936113622012-07-12T00:10:00.000-05:002012-07-12T00:10:13.053-05:00Is it offensive to find people with disabilities doing ordinary things "inspirational"?I found this article to be really interesting. I'd like to hear what my readers think! Here is an excerpt from it, and the link to the entire thing can be found <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rampup/articles/2012/07/02/3537035.htm" target="_blank">here.</a><div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Let me be clear about the intent of this inspiration porn; it's there so that non-disabled people can put their worries into perspective. So they can go, "Oh well if that kid who doesn't have any legs can smile while he's having an awesome time, I should never, EVER feel bad about my life". It's there so that non-disabled people can look at us and think "well, it could be worse... I could be that person".</span></span></i><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In this way, these modified images exceptionalise and objectify those of us they claim to represent. It's no coincidence that these genuinely adorable disabled kids in these images are never named: it doesn't matter what their names are, they're just there as objects of inspiration.</span></i></div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 12px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But using these images as feel-good tools, as "inspiration", is based on an assumption that the people in them have terrible lives, and that it takes some extra kind of pluck or courage to live them."</span></i></div>
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Stay tuned for an update on my life shortly!</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-77240599726193282992012-06-22T00:12:00.000-05:002012-06-22T00:12:12.977-05:00MusingsMurphy's Law of High School: You will be one of the few people stupid enough to stay up until 4 AM to see the results of your SAT II Subject Test... and you will also be part of the "small percentage" of people whose score was mysteriously not released online. Yeah, I knew I would regret waiting up..<br />
<br />
I am pleased to report that I've been doing really well hearing-wise lately. I know most of you are able to go once or twice a year for mappings, but I have never been so lucky. It usually ends up being once or twice a month for me, so it seems like I'm constantly at the audiologist. It's been a month and a half since my last mapping, and I'm still hearing well, so that's good news. I was actually at the dentist today and I surprised myself that I was able to hear every single word spoken to me clearly, even with the hygienist wearing a mask and the noise of all the dental equipment. Even 5 years later, it's the little things that make me grateful that I am able to hear!<br />
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I am enjoying my summer. I'm working on getting an internship at a daycare to keep my free time occupied. Who needs to rest anyway? I am also working on applying to colleges. I am almost finished with my first application essay, and I've been on a few campus visits. I've managed to narrow down my list to 19 schools, but I'm still trying to decide on another 5-10 to take off. I have an idea of which school would be my dream school to attend, but there are so many great schools, it's hard to scratch any off my list. Those of you who've been through the process (with or without hearing loss) feel free to share any advice with me as I embark on this stressful journey :)<br />
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I actually had my first college admissions interview the other day! I was insanely nervous, but the interviewer was extremely friendly and casual. It went well, and I didn't even mention the fact that I had a hearing loss or cochlear implants; I had no trouble hearing. We had a pleasant conversation about my aspirations to go into medicine and my motivations for doing so, as well as opportunities the school had available that I'd be interested in. I actually thought the interviewer was a current student, but I found out afterwards that she's the assistant director of admissions! Yikes! I'm just glad I didn't know ahead of time, or my nerves might have gotten the best of me.<br />
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Also thought I'd share a tidbit of good news. A few weeks ago I was notified that I am a store winner for the <a href="http://www.kohlscorporation.com/communityrelations/scholarship/index.asp" target="_blank">Kohl's Cares Scholarship Competition</a> for community service. Store winners don't actually receive scholarship money, just a gift card, but I'm hoping I have a shot at advancing to the next level. Even if I don't, it was also exciting winning something and getting a congratulatory letter and certificate in the mail!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-53633495715468585982012-05-27T23:17:00.002-05:002012-05-27T23:17:40.578-05:00Miss me?Yes, I have been AWOL. Mostly because, well, I don't have much to say. Bet you never thought that day would come, huh?!<br />
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Hearing and implant stuff is going well. Had my 5 year anniversary of getting my first implant last week. I can remember it like it was just yesterday, but it's also hard to believe that it was only five short years ago that I was stressing over whether or not to have the surgery, what it would be like to go completely deaf, and what the right decision is for me. Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back I would not change a thing. I have no regrets about my CI journey whatsoever!<br />
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Been pretty busy with life as of late. My oldest sister got married a couple of weeks ago, and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the wedding was the night before the start of my AP exams. I managed to enjoy myself, and it was great being surrounded by family, even if it meant not studying as much as I would have liked.<br />
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Now, all I have to do is get through my exams and SAT II/SAT Subject tests this week, and then summer will commence! I am excited for everything coming up! I'm going to the AG Bell Convention (will I be seeing any of my readers there?), volunteering at the hospital again, narrowing down my list of colleges, and working college applications. Then I'll be a senior! In September, I'll turn 18. Can't believe I'm going to be an adult! I may also be taking a couple of other small vacations.<br />
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Well, that's about all I have to say for now. Let me know if you'll be attending the Convention in Arizona!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-55617081233391756762012-03-31T23:01:00.000-05:002012-03-31T23:01:36.815-05:00Big Changes- Bye bye, CI's!All of you know that high school has been filled with its ups and downs for me. Fortunately, it seems I'll be finished a year earlier than originally expected.<br />
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I am proud to announce that I have been <b>recruited to attend Harvard University for the fall of 2012.</b> I didn't even have to apply. Apparently the admissions officers came across my blog and were so impressed that they chose to admit me. I don't even have to finish all of my high school credits!<br />
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As you all know, the costs of attending a school such as Harvard are astronomical. It is for this reason that I am announcing that starting next week,<b> I will no longer have cochlear implants.</b> It's been a neat experience to be able to hear, but the world is just too noisy for me anyway. I am selling all four of my processors, so please contact me if you are interesting in buying one (or all) of them. I will be having surgery to have the internal implant removed, and I have <a href="http://www.grandprofile.com/Myspace_Comments/Holiday_Comments/April_Fools_Holiday_Comments/images/April-Fools-5.gif" target="_blank">a company that is willing to buy them </a>back from me and refurbish them so another person will get the chance to hear.<br />
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It is with these funds that I am hoping to scrape together enough money to pay for my first year at Harvard. I am not sure how I will pay for the remaining years, but if anyone is in need of a new kidney, feel free to contact me, and perhaps we could negotiate an exchange between the organ and some money for tuition.<br />
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I hope that you will all be supportive of me as I endeavor on this life change. I encourage you to keep in touch with me and <a href="http://www.grandprofile.com/Myspace_Comments/Holiday_Comments/April_Fools_Holiday_Comments/images/April-Fools-5.gif" target="_blank">check out my new blog</a> in which I will account my adventures at Harvard.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-75085681921437955502012-03-16T18:03:00.003-05:002012-03-16T18:03:50.170-05:00Rookie MistakeSo, a couple of weeks ago I got to observe in the OR for a week as part of the program I was participating in. The first day was disastrous, to put it mildly. Once the masks went on, I felt completely lost. The equipment was noisy, the doctors and nurses mumbled, and the operating room doesn't exactly have the best acoustics. I left frustrated and feeling defeated.<br />
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When I got to school, I ran into one of my teachers for the course (not sure if I've already explained this before, but some weeks we're in class and other weeks we're observing at various sites). She knew I was nervous about being in the OR and not having any visual cues to help me hear. She stopped and asked how it had gone, and I admitted that I had felt completely lost and wasn't really sure what to do.<br />
She suggested I try bringing the FM in and telling one of the nurses about my CI's and having her wear the FM. It may come as a surprise, but I don't typically tell the doctors and nurses at my site about my hearing loss and implants unless for some reason it comes up in the conversation. I'm usually able to keep up just fine, and since I only stay at each place for a week at a time, it's really not that big of a deal. Plus, I'll admit, a tiny part of me is afraid of them thinking less of me because I can't hear as well. I know, I know, I'm all for advocating for myself, but I'm afraid I'll be viewed differently for some reason.<br />
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Anyway, the next day I decided to suck it up and tell them about my implants and ask to use the FM. It worked out great, and the staff was far more receptive than I would have ever imagined. The surgeon was more than happy to wear the FM, and said it would be just another microphone to wear (since he was already wearing one to record the procedure). He interacted with me a lot and made sure I understood what was going on. It was great, and I left feeling absolutely delighted.<br />
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The following day was off to a rough start before I even arrived at the surgery center. It was pouring rain, and I was running late. No sooner had I walked into the building than I heard that dreaded beeping sound. The battery on one of my ears had died. I was slightly annoyed, but also grateful that I had another ear I could rely on.<br />
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I always have multiple packs of disposable batteries in my purse, pockets, car, etc. However, in recent months, I have transitioned to rechargeable batteries because my map was just too powerful to handle the disposable, thus causing the sound to cut in and out constantly. And of course, I never thought to carry around a spare rechargeable (or a controller that houses disposable batteries). There I was, one eared, but still relieved I had brought my FM. I turned it on, and I used it for all of 5 minutes when it mysteriously stopped working. This isn't anything out of the ordinary, and I've since given up using the FM at all because of its constant issues.<br />
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<a href="http://comerecommended.com/files/2012/02/man-question-mistake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://comerecommended.com/files/2012/02/man-question-mistake.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, I did my best with one ear, and I somehow lucked out being around doctors who seemed to speak more clearly than others I'd been around before. It wasn't ideal, but there wasn't much I could do. I planned to go home during lunch to switch out the dead battery, and I figured I could make do for the first half of the day. I arrived at school and was taking a test during my first class. Suddenly, I heard a series of beeps followed by complete silence. The other battery had died too. By this point I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry at my awful luck. I went up to my teacher and told her that if she had to tell me anything, she'd need to write it down since I couldn't hear at all. She was super nice about it, but it felt strange not being able to hear. I almost felt... naked? After I finished the test, I drove home and switched out the rechargeables, and I haven't had the issue again. However, now I never leave the house without backup rechargeable batteries!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-54533112513254146932012-02-18T16:18:00.003-06:002012-02-18T16:18:51.557-06:00Expectations SurpassedFourteen years ago, the journey began.<br />
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My mom listened in a daze as the audiologist threw around words like "decibels" and "audiogram". The audiologist pointed to a graph with scribbled X's and O's. She placed her finger on the line marked zero. "This is the level that most children hear at," she said, and then dragged her finger down to the line that said seventy, "this is the level your daughter hears at."</div>
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My mom did not understand.</div>
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"Wow," my mom thought to herself, "look how good her hearing is!"</div>
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The woman continued. She spoke of hearing aids, of me never speaking 'normally' and never attending a typical school, let alone perform at the same level as my hearing peers. That was a word she seemed to like, the word "never". That, along with "can't" and "won't"</div>
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In tears, my mother dragged me out of the doctor's office, vowing to never return to a place that told her what her daughter was incapable of achieving.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q4cY7Im_6Y/T0AXTRyVRfI/AAAAAAAAAP8/R-Ze0V8JDI8/s1600/carandme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Q4cY7Im_6Y/T0AXTRyVRfI/AAAAAAAAAP8/R-Ze0V8JDI8/s320/carandme.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me (right) with my older sister back in the day</td></tr>
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Last week, I woke up at four in the morning to see how I performed on the SAT. My body filled with a mixture of dread and excitement when I saw the words "Your scores are available!" on the screen.</div>
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I clicked on it, and I saw this:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m88gz-p8iSI/T0AcvNiJEkI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Bs13yJzhxVg/s1600/sat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="57" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m88gz-p8iSI/T0AcvNiJEkI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Bs13yJzhxVg/s400/sat.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The score for each section is in the center column. A perfect score on a section is an 800. You add the scores up for the composite score, which is out of 2400.</div>
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I got a 2260, as you can see. I'm not sure if I screamed. I certainly let out a gasp. I know scores don't mean everything, but it's nice to have cold hard proof that I can point to and say, <i>"You could not have been more wrong about me."</i></div>
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Just to put it in perspective:</div>
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<li>The national average score on the SAT is a 1500. (<a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/college/good-sat-score-act-score.aspx" target="_blank">Source</a>)</li>
<li>The average SAT score for Harvard falls in the range of 2070-2350. <a href="http://www.satscores.us/" target="_blank">(Source)</a></li>
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Yes, I am deaf- deaf to those who doubt me! And with that, I ask you not ever let a so-called expert control your future.</div>
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-44769681429587372892011-12-27T11:20:00.000-06:002011-12-27T11:20:50.835-06:00Coming out of hiding...Well, it's been a while. I don't really count my last post as a real post since I gave absolutely no updates about what's been going on with me, so it has really been about four months since I've last posted. Hard to believe, isn't it?<br />
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Things have been busy. The school year started off okay. I went through a rough time for a while... I was just in a really bad place. I made some changes and re-evaluated what was important to me, and I'm making a conscious effort not to let myself get stressed out and anxious over things that are completely insignificant in the long run. I've felt so much better since.<br />
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My clinical rotations class has been going really well, and I absolutely love it. As much as I've been enjoying it, I was secretly hoping to get the chance to see some crazy, exciting thing happen. Lesson learned: be careful what you wish for! At one of my last sites of the semester, I got the amazing opportunity to do CPR on a patient during a code. I swear, it was just like Grey's Anatomy and all those other medical shows! I watched as the doctors and nurses worked on the patient for hours doing everything possible to save her. I felt so invested... It was the first time I ever got to touch a patient, let alone keep her heart beating! By the time I left, it was clear she would not make it. I was devastated, and I got in my car and sobbed. The whole thing was just heartbreaking, especially since when the patient initially came in, she was conscious and the doctors were hopeful that there would be a positive outcome. There are just some images that will remain forever etched in my memory. The lone tear rolling down her cheek after she was intubated and unable to speak. Her husband and his repeated, hopeful inquiries, "She'll be okay. She'll come out of this fine, right?" Her lifeless face as the doctors desperately pushed more and more medication into her veins, hoping her heart would beat on its own again. Her husband, wandering down the hall, dazed and crying when he realize everything might not be okay. As difficult as it was, I learned so much from the experience. And I suppose if I continue to pursue a career in medicine, I will have to face the bad outcomes as well as the good.<br />
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On a happier note, this video made me *very* excited. I'm so glad to see that UC-Davis is going to such lengths to accommodate its medical students with hearing loss, and I hope all schools take note! I actually got to meet and speak with Amanda at the AMPHL conference this summer, and I have no doubt she will go far in her career and in life! The video is captioned!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AwDvgFrbY5w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I am so glad I am on winter break. I ended the semester on a high note, getting A's in all of my classes. I also got my PSAT score back. I scored a 217 out of 240, which is in the 99th percentile for juniors. Yes, I am bragging, and I am proud! I worked darn hard for that score!<br />
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I went to California last week for my older brother's wedding, and I also got to meet up with one of my friends who I got to meet at LOFT over the summer. I had a great time! I'm back home now and taking advantage of the free time. My amazing parents gave me a Nook for Hanukkah (and e-book reader produced by Barnes and Noble, for those of you unfamiliar), and I have been reading away. I feel like a little kid again, staying up until 4 AM reading :) Yep, I had a unique childhood!<br />
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One last thing.. I recently came upon this great article while reading my local newspaper. It's about a woman who works as a closed captioner for the Dallas Cowboys stadium. She is also heavily involved in the hearing loss and cochlear implant community.<a href="http://cacophonytosymphony.blogspot.com/2011/12/cowboys-stadium-closed-captioner.html" target="_blank"> Give it a read! </a><br />
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Happy holidays to my dear readers who are left! May you have a happy, healthy, and safe new year!<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-9833537105154966082011-12-27T11:17:00.003-06:002011-12-27T11:17:43.697-06:00Cowboys Stadium closed captioner article<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: 34px; line-height: 40px;">Cowboys Stadium closed captioner both an employee and fan</span></div>
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Closed captioner Lisa Davis reviews a script several hours before the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the New York Giants. On game days, she's usually at the stadium for seven to eight hours.</div>
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By JEFF MOSIER</div>
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Staff Writer</div>
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<a href="mailto:jmosier@dallasnews.com" style="color: #005689; text-decoration: none;">jmosier@dallasnews.com</a></div>
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<span class="label">Published:</span> 23 December 2011 09:58 PM</div>
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ARLINGTON — Roger Emrich is the public address voice for most fans at Dallas Cowboys home games. But for a certain segment of the crowd — particularly those with hearing loss — Lisa Davis is the team’s true voice.</div>
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A Cowboys fan since high school and closed captioner at Cowboys Stadium, Davis spends every home game in Arlington trying keep up pace with the action. Fingers flying at an average of 200 or more words per minute, she captions the pregame announcements and events, PA announcements during the game, halftime entertainment and postgame interviews.</div>
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In the simplest terms, Davis, 39, is paid to go to Cowboys games and type exactly what she hears. The job is often trickier than it sounds, she said, but just as fun as any fan might imagine. And a dream come true when she received the news by phone that she was hired.</div>
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“I hung up and probably screamed as loud as I could,” Davis said. “It was like hitting the football fan lottery.”</div>
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Davis — an independent contractor — started captioning Cowboys coaches’ shows for TV in 2006. And since Cowboys Stadium opened in 2009, Davis has captioned the Super Bowl, boxing matches, rodeos and more. Her typing appears on handheld devices available at the stadium and some video screens there.</div>
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Outside the sports world, she has captioned church services and government contractor meetings, cooking shows and college algebra classes, Martha Stewart programs and a presidential speech.</div>
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However it’s her work for one of the world’s most-famous sports teams that has given her a degree of fame inside her industry. A feature story in the May Journal of Court Reporting profiled Davis along with other sports specialists.</div>
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Davis said she received some praise from inside that community for her work at Super Bowl XLV. Nervous about the highest-profile assignment of her career, Davis said she counted on the national anthem as perhaps the only moment to catch her breath that day in February.</div>
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Instead, pop star Christina Aguilera flubbed the words and left Davis scrambling to keep up with the botched version. Davis remembers her typing screeching to a halt as she thought to herself: “That’s not how it goes.”</div>
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Davis never considered any option other than typing it just as Aguilera sang it.</div>
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Captioners are trained not to clean up language.</div>
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“They get what the hearing crowd gets,” she said about her audience. “They don’t want special favors. They don’t want to be edited. They don’t want to be babied.”</div>
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Esther Kelly, a hearing-loss resource specialist for the Deaf Action Center in Dallas, said that kind of passion is why she has hired Davis for 15 years.</div>
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“She cares not just about the job but about the people that need the captioning,” Kelly said. “She’s wholehearted for the people.”</div>
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The only time Davis turned down a major event at Cowboys Stadium was when a college football game conflicted with a gathering sponsored by hearing implant maker Cochlear.</div>
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She said her work with Cochlear and the Deaf Action Center are the few jobs that generate the same kind of passion she has for the Cowboys.</div>
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She never expected her sports fandom to contribute to her career path while growing up in the Dallas area and graduating from Wylie High School. Davis’ father worked for the Justice Department, so she imagined herself as an undercover narcotics officer or FBI agent.</div>
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Her father wasn’t supportive. “No daughter of his was going to get shot at,” Davis said.</div>
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Instead, he talked her into court reporting. It’s a good-paying career that would allow her to keep a foot in the criminal justice system, only without the gunplay. Davis said captioners are paid about $45 to $200 per hour depending on the type of work.</div>
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After years of schooling and practice, Davis worked on just one trial and was bored and didn’t want to deal with the daily horrors at the courthouse.</div>
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Unexpected path</div>
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The Americans with Disabilities Act showed her a different way to make a living. That federal law boosted demand for captioning in classrooms and at business meetings, conferences and conventions. The Federal Communications Commission also started phasing in requirements for closed captioning of all new programming on television.</div>
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Scott Purcel, the Cowboys’ director of broadcasting, said there was greater demand for captioning but the “quality wasn’t always what I was expecting.” As the father of a hearing-impaired 8-year-old, Purcel is particularly attuned to captioning and the gap between the good and bad.</div>
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He said he’d only use her or someone she’d recommend at Cowboys Stadium.</div>
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“I brag when I go to other stadiums about having a better captioner,” he said.</div>
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Davis’ work is ultimately a serious job. She sits in an area adjacent to the stadium’s TV control room and watches every play on a bank of monitors. Although she’s just a few yards from a coveted view of the field, Davis can’t stray from her stenography machine.</div>
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As PA announcer Emrich calls out downs, players and penalties, Davis types the words verbatim — just as she does his announcements of stadium contests and entertainment. A game for her is often a seven- or eight-hour day, starting long before kickoff and finishing with any post-game activities.</div>
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Despite the concentration required, she still finds plenty of time to unleash her inner fan. The long-stated rule against cheering in the press box just down the hall doesn’t apply to her little piece of the stadium.</div>
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Just like a Cowboys homer in front of a TV set, she roots for players, claps, urges fans to get loud and groans when things go wrong.</div>
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“OK, we need halftime right now,” she said as the Cowboys led the New York Giants by just two points at the Dec. 11 home game. “I don’t want to see that again.”</div>
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Unplanned challenges</div>
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Not many of her jobs give her the chance to cheer.</div>
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While still “wet behind the ears,” Davis captioned some breaking-news coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing for WFAA-TV (Channel 8). She did similar work for news coverage of the 9/11 attacks.</div>
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Jobs like that are not only emotional but pose a professional challenge.</div>
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Moments after the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Davis said her boss told her to stick with one spelling of Murrah until someone could call and determine what was correct. She said she had the same problem with captioning tornado warnings and other storms in Oklahoma, where many cities have Indian names that are difficult to figure out phonetically.</div>
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“You have to think how it’s spelled as it’s being pronounced,” she said.</div>
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But in some cases, different combinations of keystrokes might spit out a word or spelling that’s unexpected. The stenography machine captioners use doesn’t include every character, so some letters are created by multiple keystrokes. On top of that, captioners create their own shortcuts for names and terminology that might come up.</div>
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In an instant and under pressure, they’ll often have to work through what’s essentially two layers of coding to make sure the words appear precisely as they were said.</div>
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Davis said one of the few things that made her throw up her hands in frustration was working on a local youth music show. That was soon after rapper Snoop Dogg popularized the slang language that replaced the endings of words with “izzle,” creating a sort of hip-hop Pig Latin.</div>
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Mid-tempo country songs tend to be far easier to caption than bouncy rap or dance numbers. Davis said that was nothing, though, compared to trying to caption an auction — an attempt that wasn’t entirely successful.</div>
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Davis figures that technology — such as Apple’s Siri voice-recognition feature — will one day catch up with her profession.</div>
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“Technology is advancing every minute so I know that eventually, something’s going to happen somewhere,” Davis said. “But I also know that it’s also not near” professional standards of recognition.There are still problems, she said, with filtering out crowd noise and nearby voices and accounting for accents and even changes in pronunciation because of a cold.</div>
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In a real-life version of John Henry’s battle against a steam-powered hammer, Davis pitted herself against voice-recognition software. Viewers could see her work and the computer’s work projected side-by-side.</div>
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“We went to head to head, and I’m happy to say I kicked its butt all over the screen,” she said.</div>
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To hit speeds of 200 to 400 words per minute, captioners create shortcuts for common names and terms. Cowboys Stadium captioner Lisa Davis has an extensive library tailored for her work there. Some require unusual spellings to avoid conflicting with existing shortcuts. Here are a few of those:</div>
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TOEM TOEM = Tony Romo</div>
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WAS NAS = Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (note: Recently waived)</div>
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LOERJ = Line of scrimmage</div>
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QB = Quarterback</div>
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LAUB = Linebacker</div>
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KAUB = Cornerback</div>
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RAUB = Running back</div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5227556965250402927.post-568884938888290062011-11-07T15:21:00.000-06:002011-11-07T15:21:00.631-06:00Dear Abby<br />
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I spotted this in my newspaper this morning. I can't recall encountering this type of reaction before, but I can see how some people could respond ignorantly. Have any of you experienced this before?</div>
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<span class="body.sans.bold"><b>Dear Abby</b>:</span> My 16-year-old son, “Victor,” is hearing-impaired. He wears hearing aids in both ears. The aids are small and not easily seen.</div>
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Recently we were in a new doctor’s office, and the nurse was talking to my son but looking in another direction. When I explained that Victor is hearing-impaired and couldn’t hear her, she replied, “Oh, I know teenagers — selective hearing.” I said, “No, he is hearing-impaired and wears hearing aids.”</div>
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The same thing happened at summer camp. My husband said Victor has a hearing problem, and the counselor responded with, “So I need to smack him on the side of his head to get him to listen?”</div>
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My son has informed people he wears hearing aids because he can’t hear well, and he still gets the same smart-alecky retorts. Have you any suggestions?</div>
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<b>Not Being Flippant<br />in Pennsylvania</b></div>
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<span class="body.sans.bold"><b>Dear Not Being Flippant:</b></span> Oh, yes. The nurse in your doctor’s office was tactless. If she didn’t apologize for her comment, you should have mentioned it to the doctor so he could educate her not only about hearing loss, but also about diplomacy. As to the ignorant camp counselor, your husband should have immediately reported it to the camp director.</div>
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After reading your letter, I consulted Dr. Rick Friedman at the House Ear Clinic in Los Angeles, who told me that approximately one in 2,000 children is born with hearing problems. (There is a genetic component, and hearing problems can run in families.) Being subjected to loud noises can also have a negative impact on hearing, and Dr. Friedman said studies are being conducted to determine to what extent.</div>
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Thanks for reading!</div>PinkLAMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07825368166013129243noreply@blogger.com1