Neptune Tech Specs!

So, you can peek at this here, or hit that first button on the preview and see it full screen.

Important points that I noticed:

First, and very important...WE HAVE MEASUREMENTS!!! The processor is 1.04x0.74x2.5 inches....that is bigger than we had imagined.

It says there is a rechargable battery, that's good.

It sayd there are three program slots PLUS one for mic testing! WOO HOO! We had been giving up one slot for test the mics since Miss Kat was activated, so this will be nice.

It appears that the controls are removable. I think you are supposed set it, then remove that piece for wearing.

I read that there is a shirt clip, armband and lanyard as wearing options.

Also, it appears that there are two headpiece choices, one "universal headpiece" and one waterproof "aqua-mic" for swimming.

And most important, there are two pink options! (Along with nearly a dozen others.)

Neptune Tech Specs 20110420[1]

FOUND!!! AB Neptune brochure!

Okay, here's what I know. The entire processor is only slightly longer than a AAA battery or approximately the size of an iPod shuffle. It is a completely new style of implant. It is not a behind the ear processor. You can wear it anywhere; you can pin it to your shoulder or even pin it to a hair barrett. There is no information on a rechargeable option. It will be submitted to the FDA within a month or so. That's about all I have. They're trying to keep it mostly under wraps. Brochure follows:

Overheard! (Huge AB news!)

First let me tell a cute story and then we will get to what I hope is HUGE news!!!

I was talking to Miss Kat in the car on the way home from school last week. She was watching a DVD and was struggling to understand me from the backseat. She said "Hold on, I can't hear you because of the movie." She then proceeded to turn the volume all the way down and then said "Go ahead." What a smartie! She knew she was struggling, knew why, and then remedied it. (As soon as I was done, she turned the volume right back up.)

Ok, the reason for the post!!!! Check out this post on Hearing Journey! WATERPROOF PROCESSOR!!!! No information is really available at this time, but AB has trademarked a processor by that name and they have just relaunched their internal device along with a new website....maybe the cat is out of the bag and they will talk! I am so excited! Miss Kat and I went swimming yesterday and I was thinking about how annoying it was to have her not be able to hear me and I started thinking about looking into the ways to wear a CI while swimming, but maybe we can wait!

WOO HOO!

"Why do you have that?"

Today at (Mc)"Donald's" we had a great experience. Miss Kat was playing and she would ask the other girls "Want to play with me?". It was adorable. (And they all did want to play with her, how could you not?). But, anyway, she had been playing with a little girl for about a half an hour when she ran over to me and said "She wants to know why I have this" and pointed to her implants. So, I asked her, "Why do you have implants? What do they do?" She responded "When it's off, I can't hear, but when it's on, I can hear you." So, I told her, "Go tell her that!", and she did! I saw the little girl's mom smile as Miss Kat clearly explained exactly what she was wondering too.

I was so proud to hear Miss Kat explain her implants and (a tiny bit) her deafness. She was proud and matter of fact, and everything I could have hoped for.

This reminded me of something I saw the other day at school when I was picking her up. She was in gym and it was noisy. They were playing basketball, but then the teacher wanted to switch games. She started giving new instructions and Miss Kat was on the other side of the gym. I watched as Miss Kat walked over to the teacher and naturally positioned herself so she could hear and understand! WOW! She knew what she needed and (without prompting, instruction or anything else) made sure her needs were met! Self advocacy all the way!

I have noticed that Miss Kat REFUSES to not understand. She is unwilling to miss out. If she doesn't hear you, she asks for a repeat. If she doesn't understand, she tells you. If she isn't following a story (usually a movie), she will ask for clarification. I couldn't be more pleased about it! I never want her to accept missing out. She deserves to understand, and she knows it!

Chicken or the egg

I want to share a story I have been thinking about and ask for your opinions.

I know a little girl. She was born profoundly deaf. She was implanted with a cochlear implant at 18 months old. Her family chose to sign with her. She entered a voice-off ASL program at age 3. The program has no auditory therapy or support. She has spent 6 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week in a voice off ASL environment. Her family also uses ASL as the mode of communication with her at home. She wears her implant *most* of the time, but certainly not all. She gets MAPing but not therapy.

This little girl is the ONLY child implanted in early childhood who I have ever met who could not understand spoken language through listening. So, here's what I'm wondering: Does she not understand spoken language because she exclusively uses ASL or does she use ASL because she couldn't understand spoken language??

What a difference a year makes!

This first video was made in March 2009, about 4 months after Miss Kat's activation. The second was taped today, 18 months post. She is using the same book. In the first video I am signing the book to her off camera. In the second, she is reading it herself.

One year ago

One year ago, we had to wake up very early.

One year ago, my mom took the day off work to be with us.

One year ago, we sat in a waiting room.

One year ago, we put her hearing aid on, for the last time.

One year ago, we changed her into a hospital robe.

One year ago, we took her hearing aid out, for the last time.

One year ago, they wheeled her away, drowsy but happy.

One year ago, she woke up in pain and disoriented.

One year ago, she signed "I want Mommy", and I crawled into her hospital bed.

One year ago, she wore a bandage on her right ear.

One year ago, she received a cochlear implant.

One year ago, we began a brand new part of our journey.

"I NEED THAT!"

Miss Kat was getting off the bus today and she was in a big huff. She walked right over to me and handed me her CI. She told me "The blond girl who sits next to me was messing up by hair and my implant came off. I NEED that for hearing!!!" She was very upset. I went and told the little girl not to touch Miss Kat's CI and she said OK.

About 5 minutes later, I went to put the CI on her and it fell off her ear a little. She turned and glared at me. "Put it on! I want to hear!", she was all kinds of mad that it was taking so long!

Guess she likes it!