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As someone with a cochlear implant who lives with the consequences of overly clever programmers who thought they'd "help" by filtering out noise and volume and

As someone with a cochlear implant who lives with the consequences of overly clever programmers who thought they'd "help" by filtering out noise and volume and whatever else... I really wish they wouldn't. This is a technology that makes me so angry some days that I sometimes wonder if it was worth getting implanted, even though I know it was.

Kluny 10y ago
Which one have you got? I know what you mean with the "helpful" bullshit. My conventional hearing aid, on my left ear, has this "smart" mode where it tries to detect speech vs noise, and change the volume or the directionality of the microphone to compensate. You end up with this wildly fluctuating volume all the time where it feels like stationary objects are coming at you. I had them turn that feature off asap. On the other hand, my cochlear implant (right side), has a directional microphone that's actually incredibly useful in noisy situations. Combined with the directional mic on the hearing aid, I can actually hear almost as well as a normal person in a crowded bar, after 20+ years of avoiding them because of how impossible they were to cope with. I strongly recommend it if you can get it - the Nucleus Freedom 6. I'm saving my pennies up to get a second one.
- sdrothrock 10y ago
  I have the Advanced Bionics Harmony BTE. Since my implant is AB, I wouldn't be able to get the Nucleus Freedom 6. I have an in-ear mic, which does wonders for reducing surrounding noises and also for letting me use a phone normally, but my main issue is with the software itself; I've had issues with it since implantation and they've always been pooh-poohed by audiologists at Hopkins, Tokyo University, and Toranomon. The biggest problem is that it seems to operate on some kind of averaging system -- when there's a noise that's louder than the recent average, everything just cuts out for a few seconds. This is especially noticeable in the morning, where I've just woken up and am trying to get to work, but there are cars and trains etc. making noise and making my hearing cut in and out constantly, which not only drives me up the wall but gives me a terrible headache.
  - Kluny 10y ago
    Yep, that's exactly the thing I'm talking about. You'd think they could hire one deaf person at their labs to road test the things, but... On my hearing aid it's a "feature" that can be turned off. Too bad you're stuck with it.
    - sdrothrock 10y ago
      I have had so many problems with the implant in general that are just brushed off as "well, you're unusual." It won't even stay on my head without me putting a few extra magnets on the headpiece.
      - Kluny 10y ago
        Weird, it sounds defective. Have they tried replacing the unit?
        sdrothrock 10y ago
        I'm on my 4th or 5th BTE now (since 2002), so... yeah. :)
        Kluny 10y ago
        That definitely sucks. Thanks for the headsup not to get one of those though!
rasur 10y ago
This is something I do wonder about, in this context. I don't have a CI myself, but my 6 year old son does, and I am somewhat concerned that he is-or-might be experiencing partial sound "blindness" (meaning: sure speech processing is adequate but there are surely some things that are processed away). I have a fair amount of experience in music/sound-recording environments and it makes me somewhat sad for him that he's still "missing out" (although obviously this is outweighed by the fact that he can actually hear and communicate now, but I'm sure you get what I mean). I'd get into the area myself, if I was in anyway useful with DSP code or C++.. May I ask, were your hearing issues (leading to the CI) a recent thing, or long-term? My main interest here is about using machine learning to assist people who do not know sign-language to understand signers rather than to "improve" the actual hearing process (because - personally - my S/L skills are abysmal).
- sdrothrock 10y ago
  Long term; I have progressive sensorineural hearing loss that was noticed when I was about two and had reached "profound" levels by the time I was about ten. Implanted in my left ear at 16. I actually made the decision to be a part of the normal public school system and never learned sign language, partially out of stubbornness, so I can't really help with SL-related questions, though I'd be more than glad to answer hearing/CI-related questions.
  - rasur 10y ago
    Thanks for the offer, but actually have access to plenty of CI-wearers (son at deaf school, lots have CIs.. go figure ;) )
- brothercolor 10y ago
  Interesting idea on using ML to help non-signers understand sign language. In this thread's context, the ML is designed to help people hear better. In visual contexts (which sign language lives in) would this hypothetical ML help low vision or blind people see better? Because people with 20/20 vision just need a sign language dictionary handy and some patience.
qu23jvp6 10y ago
> overly clever programmers who thought they'd "help" by filtering out noise and volume and whatever else I used to work at a CI manufacturer. Just thought you should know that this isn't what happens: all the features are developed by researchers or experts before even getting to the engineers, and go through clinical trials (usually several) to prove their effectiveness. They don't, and can't, add new sound processing on a whim to be 'clever'. If the sound processing on your device is making you frustrated you should definitely discuss it with your audiologist. A lot of features can be configured or disabled completely.
- sdrothrock 10y ago
  > I used to work at a CI manufacturer. Just thought you should know that this isn't what happens I didn't actually think it was; it's just a bit of annoyed snark because this has severely impacted my QOL for a decade. :) > If the sound processing on your device is making you frustrated you should definitely discuss it with your audiologist. A lot of features can be configured or disabled completely. Tried it several times; she was unconvinced that it was actually affecting me. Got a new audiologist; she was convinced that the setting couldn't be changed. Moved to Japan, got a new audiologist: convinced that I'm imagining it and doesn't think the setting can be changed anyway. I hear that a long time ago, people used to be able to buy the adapters to program their processors themselves.

Kluny 10y ago

Which one have you got? I know what you mean with the "helpful" bullshit. My conventional hearing aid, on my left ear, has this "smart" mode where it tries to detect speech vs noise, and change the volume or the directionality of the microphone to compensate. You end up with this wildly fluctuating volume all the time where it feels like stationary objects are coming at you. I had them turn that feature off asap. On the other hand, my cochlear implant (right side), has a directional microphone that's actually incredibly useful in noisy situations. Combined with the directional mic on the hearing aid, I can actually hear almost as well as a normal person in a crowded bar, after 20+ years of avoiding them because of how impossible they were to cope with. I strongly recommend it if you can get it - the Nucleus Freedom 6. I'm saving my pennies up to get a second one.

sdrothrock 10y ago
I have the Advanced Bionics Harmony BTE. Since my implant is AB, I wouldn't be able to get the Nucleus Freedom 6. I have an in-ear mic, which does wonders for reducing surrounding noises and also for letting me use a phone normally, but my main issue is with the software itself; I've had issues with it since implantation and they've always been pooh-poohed by audiologists at Hopkins, Tokyo University, and Toranomon. The biggest problem is that it seems to operate on some kind of averaging system -- when there's a noise that's louder than the recent average, everything just cuts out for a few seconds. This is especially noticeable in the morning, where I've just woken up and am trying to get to work, but there are cars and trains etc. making noise and making my hearing cut in and out constantly, which not only drives me up the wall but gives me a terrible headache.
- Kluny 10y ago
  Yep, that's exactly the thing I'm talking about. You'd think they could hire one deaf person at their labs to road test the things, but... On my hearing aid it's a "feature" that can be turned off. Too bad you're stuck with it.
  - sdrothrock 10y ago
    I have had so many problems with the implant in general that are just brushed off as "well, you're unusual." It won't even stay on my head without me putting a few extra magnets on the headpiece.
    - Kluny 10y ago
      Weird, it sounds defective. Have they tried replacing the unit?
      - sdrothrock 10y ago
        I'm on my 4th or 5th BTE now (since 2002), so... yeah. :)
        Kluny 10y ago
        That definitely sucks. Thanks for the headsup not to get one of those though!

rasur 10y ago

This is something I do wonder about, in this context. I don't have a CI myself, but my 6 year old son does, and I am somewhat concerned that he is-or-might be experiencing partial sound "blindness" (meaning: sure speech processing is adequate but there are surely some things that are processed away). I have a fair amount of experience in music/sound-recording environments and it makes me somewhat sad for him that he's still "missing out" (although obviously this is outweighed by the fact that he can actually hear and communicate now, but I'm sure you get what I mean). I'd get into the area myself, if I was in anyway useful with DSP code or C++.. May I ask, were your hearing issues (leading to the CI) a recent thing, or long-term? My main interest here is about using machine learning to assist people who do not know sign-language to understand signers rather than to "improve" the actual hearing process (because - personally - my S/L skills are abysmal).

sdrothrock 10y ago
Long term; I have progressive sensorineural hearing loss that was noticed when I was about two and had reached "profound" levels by the time I was about ten. Implanted in my left ear at 16. I actually made the decision to be a part of the normal public school system and never learned sign language, partially out of stubbornness, so I can't really help with SL-related questions, though I'd be more than glad to answer hearing/CI-related questions.
- rasur 10y ago
  Thanks for the offer, but actually have access to plenty of CI-wearers (son at deaf school, lots have CIs.. go figure ;) )
brothercolor 10y ago
Interesting idea on using ML to help non-signers understand sign language. In this thread's context, the ML is designed to help people hear better. In visual contexts (which sign language lives in) would this hypothetical ML help low vision or blind people see better? Because people with 20/20 vision just need a sign language dictionary handy and some patience.

qu23jvp6 10y ago

> overly clever programmers who thought they'd "help" by filtering out noise and volume and whatever else I used to work at a CI manufacturer. Just thought you should know that this isn't what happens: all the features are developed by researchers or experts before even getting to the engineers, and go through clinical trials (usually several) to prove their effectiveness. They don't, and can't, add new sound processing on a whim to be 'clever'. If the sound processing on your device is making you frustrated you should definitely discuss it with your audiologist. A lot of features can be configured or disabled completely.

sdrothrock 10y ago
> I used to work at a CI manufacturer. Just thought you should know that this isn't what happens I didn't actually think it was; it's just a bit of annoyed snark because this has severely impacted my QOL for a decade. :) > If the sound processing on your device is making you frustrated you should definitely discuss it with your audiologist. A lot of features can be configured or disabled completely. Tried it several times; she was unconvinced that it was actually affecting me. Got a new audiologist; she was convinced that the setting couldn't be changed. Moved to Japan, got a new audiologist: convinced that I'm imagining it and doesn't think the setting can be changed anyway. I hear that a long time ago, people used to be able to buy the adapters to program their processors themselves.