Erin Fortner

I can hear again!

It’s been 11 months since I lost my hearing due to surgery to remove an acoustic neuroma brain tumor.

3 weeks ago, I had surgery to place a Osia 2 implant and today I got the external processor that allows me to hear.

First impressions 👇🏻

The microphone on the processor is strong and picks up sound very well. It's not the same as natural hearing. The sound is kind of like hearing sound picked up by a mic through earbuds.
The mic works so well that I pick up the sound of my hair rubbing against it. If I turn the volume down, I'm no longer able to hear my hair. I may consider keeping my head shaved and wearing my hair pulled back so I don't have that problem.
Though I pick up sound on my left side, I hear through my right ear. This may sound obvious since this is what this implant is supposed to do but it's a strange sensation.
The magnet is strong but the implant can easily be dislodged. I accidentally knocked it off when I tried to put my hair behind my ear and lost it under my car seat. It comes with a hair-clip tether which I will always use because I'd be terrified of having it fly off and not be able to find it.
I can stream audio directly from my iPhone to my Osia. So, I can watch shows, listen to music, or take phone calls without headphones. This was the thing I was most excited about. What I didn't anticipate is that other people can also hear the sound coming from my processor.

I'll update more later on as I learn to live with this new gear.

One year ago today, the left side of my face went numb.

Never a good sign.

In the year that followed, I was diagnosed with a large acoustic neuroma brain tumor, had two brain surgeries, and became single-sided deaf on my left side.

There's been loss, sure, but I've gained so much more.

I have my life back.

Tonight, I conquered a climbing route that I've been trying to top for weeks.

I can't think of a more fitting way to commemorate this day.