Most Monday mornings I go to a small men’s group at the local restaurant, Soda Pop Junction, also known as Big Johnny’s Burgers, around 7:45. It’s meant to be a bible study of sorts, with a guide book, but we rarely get through a single question in a morning. The group comprises men from all walks of life, with a single exception, all immigrants to Lynnville, and representing about 9 different churches. Which is a feat considering the group is usually between 8 and 12 men.
I joined the group a little over a year ago when invited by a fellow I did not know but whose wife my wife knew.
At that time, the group was being led by the gentleman that started the group, Charles, and is advancing in years. I couldn’t understand more than 10% of anything he said, despite having 2 hearing aids regularly reprogrammed so I sat at the table directly opposite him so I had a better chance of lip reading.
After I had my implant turned on in January this year (2026), I decide to move and sit next to Charles so that I would not rely so much on lip reading and instead focus on listening with the implant. I have kept my hearing aid in and turned on for all of these sessions as I would not have been able to understand and participate in the discussion otherwise.
Until yesterday.
Yesterday, I decided to remove my hearing aid during the “round table” part of the conversation when everyone gets an opportunity to provide their insight to the questions.
I had to concentrate, but I am very impressed, very blessed, and very happy to be able to say that I was able to understand about 90% of the conversation relying just on my left ear, which has about 30% comprehension, and my Envoy Acclaim implant.
It’s not without its challenges. There is the constant Donald Duck effect that seems to effect everything at a “surface” (higher frequency) level, but beneath that, if I listen carefully, there is a deeper (more bass) level at which I can readily comprehend what is being said. Sometimes, to make sure I’m not just concentrating on my left ear hearing, I will plug my left ear. It definitely makes a difference, but I can tell that I am hearing significantly better with the implant than back in January.
I remain excited for the future.
God bless.