Gerry Finnegan

Many thanks Malik. I am going through numerous assessments with the NHS team here in Belfast. Most of it is reassuring, but of course there are some lingering concerns. In the meantime, I am trying to get more involved with sign language as a complement to the CI and make me feel more integrated with the D/deaf community. I will continue to search within the Forum for more info and feedback from CI users.

Hi (again) everyone. If you look at my previous posts over the past couple of years (!!!) you can see that this latest attempt is surely going to be THIRD TIME LUCKY as I am determined to get back up to speed on my BSL course, as well as become more active on this Forum. Just a bit of an update. I'm now 76, and lined up for an NHS Cochlear Implant (CI) probably in the next 6-9 months. I with the support of my daughter and wife, want to use this 9-month window to better prepare myself for my transition to becoming a CI user and a more active/dynamic member of the D/deaf Community. I'd like to be in touch with those who may have recently adapted/transitioned to CI. Also, I've always been keen on languages and in addition to English I am interested in BSL, French and Irish/Gaeilge. I'm also a member of a local writing group who are highly supportive of my D/deaf status. Anyone else in the Community who likes to write? - fiction, non-fiction, poetry. etc. Looking forward to re-connecting, warm regards to all - Gerry Finnegan (GerryF)

I have had a problem with Part Three on the online course, and it prevented me from moving on to the next stage. I wanted to clear each level sequentially. I became discouraged about having to learn a whole range of occupations and locations, and was disappointed that "retired" was not included among them. By now I think it would be WORK+ME+NO or something like that. Also, no offense, but I'm not likely to have to use Carlisle or Teaching Assistant very often - and my home city (Belfast) isn't included. After several months of procrastination, I'm delighted that this evening I eventually scored 95% on Level 3, and am able to move on to the next level. Just a thought for other participant learners. Here's hoping I'll get to the end and be able to undertake

That's always a challenge Claudette. I'm lucky I have m y daighter who is also learning BSL, but it can be a slow process. Good luck.

Hello everyone. I started to learn BSL about one year ago using the BSC course. However, I lapsed! - and now I'm back, more serious than the last time. I'm a 73 y.o. Irishman who has retired from lots of things, but still kept a few on the go. I am faced with profound hearing loss - and it's not going to improve. I have a rather rare genetic condition that gifted me with "early hearing loss" - in retrospect from around my mid-thirties. I'm eager to become part of the BSL community. Hoping to make some new contacts also ... Gerry Finnegan