Cochlear implant activation part 2

[MrKnifeFanatic]

I've been plagued with bad ear problems my whole life, and have lost a lot of hearing, but couldn't imagine being deaf. Glad to see this video, it is inspiring to see in this often hate filled world. Good luck and thanks.

[ffaall]

This is so inspiring! You seem really happy!

[Christian7thSF]

What I dont understand is how she has an accent if she never heard it before?

[nikkibic]

@Christian7thSF I was late deafened, I could hear when I was learning to speak

[fisburk]

im so happy for u !!!

[piggyfreak06]

Dubstep? :D

[nikkibic]

@piggyfreak06 If that is rap, that is not a type of music I enjoy very much ;) But that is personal opinion, not because of the hearing

[piggyfreak06]

@nikkibic lol no, i hate rap :p

dubstep is just a crazy genre of techno consisting of bassdrops and wubs. I can't imagine what it would be like to not be able to hear anything, then gain your hearing back, and listen to some crazy dubstep! xD

[akontje]

i am soo happy for you :D

[nikkibic]

@akontje THanks!

[xJammi]

OMG you are amazing,so happy for you,GOD this is a great video

[nikkibic]

@xJammi Thank you!

[xJammi]

@nikkibic No problem i think this is amazing :) this is the most touching video on youtube.

[ISmellLikeP00]

Hi i dont know where you are from but it looks like you're in the UK? anyways i would love to fly you here to america in california so we can go on a date by the beach and you can hear the ocean while we sip pina coladas

[nikkibic]

@ISmellLikeP00 I'm in Australia and I'm also married now ;)

[nikkibic]

@nikkibic Also, your username doesn't seem very attractive, LOL!!

[ISmellLikeP00]

@nikkibic ok my apologies. i was just messin about anyways lol sorry

[nikkibic]

@ISmellLikeP00 I figured you were, LOL

[Jonkopoppers]

@nikkibic no shit you are married a guy would be an idiot to let you walk away without talking to you !

[gmgunner]

That is amazing.

[dbldrummer100]

God Bless You!

[insomniax20]

I'm sure you couldn't wait to get away from her voice and listen to some good music!

[nikkibic]

@insomniax20 Oh yeah, there were much better things to listen to once I was out of the office!!

[Walnut500]

How does the voices of your family sound now with this implant compare how you remember the sounds from when you were 18? and if you were sitting in a chair in your room reading a book, and I would be standing in the door and said "do you want to go to the movies" you would be able to look up and hear my question perfectly and be able to answer? (im not hitting on you xD lol) I'm just curious about how this technology works.

[nikkibic]

@Walnut500 My family sounds exactly the same as I remember them :) And in that situation, I would be able to hear your question about the movies :D

[Walnut500]

@nikkibic really? that is really excellent, It's amazing what technology can give us these days. your activation videos made me smile, and im really happy that you are able to hear again.

I wish you lots of luck and lots of SOUNDS in your life :)

[xZombiePinUpGirlx]

SO amazing! God is so good, it's amazing what we can do now with science :) I hope you're used to the implant now fully!

[ASTiGBA]

cmon marry me.

[nikkibic]

@ASTiGBA already married, sorry ;)

[erkb96]

Isn't science awesome?

[nikkibic]

@erkb96 It sure is :)

[d1g1man]

wow, she is super pretty. I hope she gets her hearing back 100 percent!

[nikkibic]

@d1g1man LOL, thank you!

[elliotnicklin]

Awww Australia. I wanna go.

[nikkibic]

@elliotnicklin Australia is awesome :)

[danankers]

you so cute. I hope everything's still going fine

[nikkibic]

@danankers It is going beautifully, thank you very much :)

[danankers]

@nikkibic GREAT~!

[odinmp5]

@nikkibic congrats... can i ask you a question===? im a musician, so i was wondering,, how does it feel to experience music now? was there an artist you did not like before but that you like now? are you looking for new musical genres now?... cheers and greetings from south america

[nikkibic]

@odinmp5 I could listen to music with hearing aids, the CI makes it much much clearer and gives me a couple of extra instruments (ie, hi-hat) which I was missing out on before. So all the music I loved before, I have an even better appreciation of. I have a better appreciation of artists who can actually sing (ie, christina aguilera) because I can tell now that they are good. Couldn't tell the difference between a good and bad singer before!

[odinmp5]

@nikkibic wonderful..... did you knew that most people that have had their ears for ever, dont know and dont care about hi hats??? well... you deserve your ears and your wings!!!

[HafaHaole]

Congrats on your new hearing...how is it going after all this time? Still working????

You're cute btw =P

[nikkibic]

@HafaHaole Why thank you ;) I have recently done a blog post on how it is now (the link should be in my video information). It is going wonderfully :)

[Magicjax]

I so relate. I was deaf since I was 17. I'm 40 now and got my CI last year. Thanks for the video. Unfortunately I didn't video my activation.

[mickjt84]

Nikki. So, i'm guessing you got used to it then. How's everything going now? Still sounding unnatural?

[nikkibic]

@mickjt84 It sounds natural enough to me now :)

[TehNarrator]

That girl is impossibly cute!

[TheMassAnnoyance]

How did You lose Your hearing? If You don't mind Me asking?

[nikkibic]

@TheMassAnnoyance The Dr's don't know, it just started deteriorating when I was 18 years old :(

[Rommelicious1]

Must be amazing to be able to hear again. Take care and enjoy!:D

[Harregarre]

Great video, too bad so many people don't read earlier comments. Just one tip; don't listen to Lady Gaga since that may actually revert the whole process. :P

[HUMMFREAK]

The dislikers are blind?!

[Vogelhuisje94]

How do you know how a Chipmunk sounds?

[nikkibic]

@Vogelhuisje94 I was late-deafened and I was thinking more of Alvin and the Chipmunks, the cartoon (which I heard perfectly as a child)

[Pandapwnegee]

You can hear, but you still talk like your deaf...why?

[nikkibic]

@Pandapwnegee I was deaf for a number of years.. my speech improved after a few weeks after switch on

[DrSickOfLove]

love the life you live and live the life you love.

[ilusiusentertainment]

Incredible what they can do these days. This is such a feel good movie!

[BioNRGy]

Science

It works, bitches.

[theamazingfletch]

number of deaf people cured by prayer: 0

number of deaf people cured by science: Rising every day

[joedalton77]

@theamazingfletch spot on

[PhazerNL]

dumpert

[Qedia]

Dumpert

[DhrPinokio]

dumpert

[wpepie]

thats should be very weird for you to hear for the first time, but i wonder how you can speak so good.

[nikkibic]

@wpepie I lost my hearing at the age of 18 onwards, I learnt to speak before then

[GlennnD]

wow so wonderfull ! Tears in my eyes !

[bsolidgold]

@nikkibic P.S. will you marry me?

[nikkibic]

@bsolidgold LOL, already married, sorry ;)

[bsolidgold]

@nikkibic glad you're happy :) Take care.

[bsolidgold]

@nikkibic so happy for you!

[tykjen76]

<3 science.

[loophole64]

How could she know that his voice "sounds robotic" if she's never heard anything before?

[nikkibic]

@loophole64 I lost my hearing when I was 18.

[STiTypeUK]

@nikkibic boom... in yo face! i love ignorant posters that ask questions as if they know about the of the author of this video.

[Supermassively]

@STiTypeUK Shut up.

[STiTypeUK]

@Supermassively u mad? haha

[Supermassively]

@STiTypeUK You retarded? Down's Syndrome must be a real bitch.

[STiTypeUK]

@Supermassively says the person who tried to initiate a fight over what appears to be nothing. contrary to what you believe in your feeble little mind, i did not steal your tin foil hat.

[Supermassively]

@STiTypeUK I don't give a rat's ass about starting a fight. You're brown-nosing the uploader and contributing nothing to the discussion.

[CMETRIQUE]

Science, bitches! IT WORKS!

[DJStresskip]

DUMPERT

[iiiiiiRYiiiiii]

Thumbs up if you think this girl is a BABE!

[benben071]

The audiologist sounds like Sid from Ice Age

[MrAapenkind]

life is so good

[nikkibic]

@MrAapenkind Sure is :)

[poekie2008]

the smile on your face when hearing sounds is priceless!

I've to say you're a very beautifull girl to see also ;)

[nikkibic]

@poekie2008 Cheers ;)

[nicholaswright2006]

I thought she was going to use the computer to make the really loud noise...glad she didn't...:P

[nikkibic]

@nicholaswright2006 She could'ved played a song for me, haha!!

[KevinCarey]

that audiologist is kinda annoying, I am so glad you can hear again :)

[Loralye2]

Nikki... As someone who was born with a chronic disease in both ears, I received my first hearing aid at the age of 16! I'm supposed to wear two... One in each ear! Because of the disease, I can't wear a hearing aid in my left ear. I remember when I first switched on my hearing aid for the first time!!! (I'm almost 49 now)! I am not a candidate for the CI surgery, but still thus one hearing aid has forever changed my life! It's not two hearing aids but I am so thankful for being able to he

[laurielatorre]

I can't wait for my c.i. to be acivation on March 16th! many people in my family don't know sign language. so communicate is my priorary #1 to understand communicate & able read lips better before learning other sounds. so exciting! :) congrats on getting yours turned on!

[nikkibic]

@laurielatorre Good luck on March 16!! Not far away at all!! :))

[TheGlockaholic]

And if your husband doesn't break his nose Nikki first, I would like a shot at breaking his nose. I'm so sick of little immature punks disrespecting women. As anonymous as you think you are on the internet derpenstein, some of us have means of finding out who you are. I think you owe her a sincere apology you little piece of shit.

[nikkibic]

@TheGlockaholic They did apologise!!!

[SensibleMusician]

awesome. congrats!

[SHIZZLE63]

IF I SPEAK IN A REALLY LOUD VOICE, I CAN GET REALLY ANNOYING

[resolution1]

YAAAAY!

Wish you the very best:)

[hancocklicata]

H0EYHEMP | December 11, 2010 | 8 likes, 0 dislikes

while removing cochlear implant, Doctor found green MOLD growing inside cochlear implant metal plate. I'm lucky to be alive today!!!

[rickster348]

what a sweetheart, Good for her!

[mjtunstall1976]

best luck of the hard work in listening through the CI however i am still waiting for a phonec all about my operation to have mine too and i am looking forward to hearing more sound than the hearing aid provided

[therabbitrevolution]

can they put in one of those ipod docking systems?

[nikkibic]

@therabbitrevolution There is a cord that plugs directly into an iPod :)

[suzbailey23]

@nikkibic There is?  That's awesome!

[KWIIfan]

Hey nikki... How has your journey with the CI now since it's been three years? I go in for my activation 8-10-2010.. Nucleus 5 ..

[nikkibic]

@KWIIfan Good luck with your activation! I am still thankful for mine everyday :)

[cooklucas43]

i get to experience this again next week...

had my first implant in my left ear when i was 3 yrs old and 13 yrs later i got another surgery last week and i get my cochlear activated this week=]

[nikkibic]

@cooklucas43 Good luck :)

[discpad]

Which CI center do you use? Also, is this an AB or Nuke?

[nikkibic]

@discpad I'm in Australia, I had a private surgeon and audiologist. It's a Nucleus Freedom in the video, I've been upgraded to the N5

[discpad]

@Nikki: You're lucky to have a private audie; and even luckier to have insurance to cover most all of the cost of your CI.

Are you going bilateral anytime soon; or are you giving bimodal (CI + HA) a good try? People either seem to really like -- or really despise bimodal... Sort of a "Love it or Shove it" experience.

Which CI center did you use? FWIW, there's one surgeon in Melbourne who is world-class.~

[nikkibic]

@discpad I'm not considering going bilateral, I think my hearing aid gives me better 'depth' perception. I'm also waiting on science to re-grow cochlear hairs for more natural hearing ;)

My surgeon is Dr Stuart Miller in Perth

[discpad]

@nikkibic It's a shame you didn't come to the Hearing Loss Ass'n of America convention 2 months ago in Milwaukee, as hair cell (re)growth was the hot topic.

The consensus was basically, it's still at least 10-20 years away; and "saving" an ear is not a good idea, as neuropathy will come into play, i.e. the extra decade or two from stimulation will more than offset any mechanical damage.

[nikkibic]

@discpad Oh wow, that is so interesting, I might see if I can google the convention, see if I can get more information on it :)

[fogcat1]

congratulations to you sweetie! :)

[police110]

God bless you hun 

[myunionrep]

cooooooooool

[o0oLuckyStaro0o]

So now everyones voice sounds like a chipmunk?

[nikkibic]

@o0oLuckyStaro0o Not anymore, only while the brain 'learns' sound. In my case, that was a couple of weeks.

[o0oLuckyStaro0o]

@nikkibic Whew, I don't think id get used to that if i ever needed one haha. :)

[Juberoos]

My dad was a cochlear implant recipient in the 80's. He was born hearing but gradually became profoundly deaf as he grew up. He too did not like the CI. I had to laugh when Nikki said everyone sounds like chipmunks. Thats what my dad used to say.

[nikkibic]

@Juberoos Oh, I like the CI now, just not in the first 5 minutes ;) I think they've improved the technology since the 1980's, I hope your dad gets some benefit from it :)

[Juberoos]

@nikkibic Unfortunately he passed away a long time ago. :( But I am glad that the technology has improved for future generations.

[nikkibic]

@LVL100000 I was late deafened and considered profoundly deaf but yes, there was some natural hearing when I got the implant. This was destroyed during the operation so there was no hearing at all in that particular ear.

[Incognonymous]

Look at her face, she looks like a little girl on Christmas morning.

[DOSUMPIN1]

how dose she know what a robot or a chipmunk sounds like if she couldnt hear

[nikkibic]

@DOSUMPIN1 I was late deafened, ie, I went deaf at 18. Before that could hear.

[DOSUMPIN1]

@nikkibic Oh i started to notice a trend in watching videos on activations it seems that the people that are born deaf regret getting the ci and the people who went deaf later all have the moment of happness. I dont get why people who are deaf would worry about what their peers think when they get the ci more than being able to hear music. I could not live with out music. I would get one for that alone.

[nikkibic]

@DOSUMPIN1 Switch on is not instantaneous hearing. People who have heard before 'learn' the sounds faster as they remember them. Deaf people take much longer to learn and may never understand speech, or get the same amount of enjoyment from music as hearing people.

[shotojojo1986]

Dude shes hot.

[nikkibic]

@shotojojo1986 Why thank you... i think, lol

[Kieriko]

great video. Great video. It's very beautiful to see people having back the gift of hearing sounds.

[nikkibic]

@Kieriko It is awesome :)

[iwantsomthingtoeat]

@nikkibic You're hot meng. 4R3ALaddsssddddd

Your activation day videos are very touching and I appreciate you sharing them with all of us. so thank you

[frankensteinhernbat]

this is amazing

[QuicksilverdotFX]

I'm kinda disappointed... You have subtitles on the other video but not this one? =\ I understand nothing!

[nikkibic]

@QuicksilverdotFX I only subtitled the other one a couple of weeks ago and it took hours.. we have yet to find the time to do this one :/

[nikkibic]

@QuicksilverdotFX It's captioned now :)

[QuicksilverdotFX]

@nikkibic Awesome! I appreciate it very much. ^_^

[obc993]

awwwwww 

[mattdub]

This made me cry.  So awesome!

[derpenstein]

So this chick can now hear me say "you're hot, let's fuck!"

[nikkibic]

@derpenstein  I'll also hear the crunch when my husband breaks your nose :P

[margotgh]

@nikkibic hahaha, go girl, you rock!!!! Your video made my day, and your comment now makes me laugh out loud... and I'm happy that you could hear that too. :D Congrats!!!

[derpenstein]

@nikkibic whoops I didn't stop to consider you might have posted this vid yourself. In other words didn't think you'd read that comment. No disrespect, congrats on the hearing augmentation!

[nikkibic]

@derpenstein No worries, it was funny ;)

[punchingjudy]

@nikkibic Oh this made my morning. Bwahahaha

[InFromTheVoid]

to bad there are not caption on here for deaf people doing research....just saying :)

[nikkibic]

@InFromTheVoid It's currently being auto-captioned

[hooya13]

Best wishes - hope all goes well.

[nailclippers3]

I lost my hearing gradually with the help of turning my stereos too high and also where i work is a noisy environment.Apparently these implants do actually help the deaf ,i heard normal up until i was about 20 or so ,so i already knew what words sounded like so i didnt have to be trained how to pronounce words.With the deaf being turned on its awhole new world for them.

[teflondon91]

I've been to about 50 concerts in my lifetime usually of excess of 110 db and never heard any hearing loss that i know of? did i ruin my ears? maybe i will know in 50 years... but i think it agreat invection for people who have hearing loss.

[77pintoboy]

When i first had my implant turned on ,everybodys voice sounded like talkboxes something like youd hear in that song "Funkytown",,,,Very happy for this girl also,congrats to you ;)

[teflondon91]

lol really, can you tell the difference bewteen musicial notes?

[nailclippers3]

I sure can.Ive still got hearing in my left ear which helps me with bass but lost a lot of hearing in that ear.

[teflondon91]

how did you loose your hearing.. i just learned about these devices today thru an electrical engineering friend who is designing something similar... I was happy to hear these are helping people. Do they work for people who are fully deaf?

[lynseybancroft]

when i was 14. i try hear test i hear funny sound first time sound chipmunks ha!! few days l8r was beta hear no sound chipmunks!! that good ha!! bless ya hun u happy!! xx

[kingtexas1]

Amazing! God bless you. Chipmunks?...hehe

[RhiRhi82]

Chipmunks are coool!!