You're Not Alone

12 May 2015

It had been a difficult night struggling to reduce a high fever and when  the morning light met me with the need to consult Google for information on how to best manage this stubborn symptom.  As I logged on it became apparent that I was midst a major computer crash -- a victim of a strong virus.

Reality was quick to set in and my first thought pertained to my inability to access any personal banking information.  A plan "B" was not within my scope .... I was frantic as it was my understanding that the only way to take control of bank matters was to present myself at the bank to make withdrawals and deposits.

The fever had left me weak and unable to wheel myself to the bank and trying to reach bank personnel by phone was met repeatedly with voice messages requesting that I leave my telephone number and they would "get back to me".

A near major meltdown followed.  The saving grace was the fact that I recalled seeing a telephone number on the back of my bank debit card and dialed the number.  I was immediately greeted by a Customer Service Representative (CSR) and in doing so felt a great sense of relief and with hope that I could be assured I remained with access to my bank accounts and banking activity despite a non-functioning computer.

The bank employee proceeded to ask if I had signed-up for telephone banking benefits------I was unable to recall and could not respond with confidence.  The Customer Service Representative seemingly sensed my level of anxiety and offered to scan my records for confirmation of a telephone banking membership application.  Somewhat to my surprise,  I indeed had registered for this benefit several years ago.  With this news my extreme tension turned around to a sense of personal financial security.

Before having enough time to enjoy this moment of enlightenment, my path was quick to take another detour.
The CSR informed me that at the time of registering for the telephone banking program I had offered a three digit number .... a number that served as a password....such was followed by the question of my recalling the almighty password.

As I frantically leafed through a personal log of passwords, the CSR waited with great consideration and patience.  After several minutes, I heard the bank employee call to get my attention and offered me the opportunity to reset my password over the phone and informed me  that she would have to ask me for a family member name that I had applied to the original registering process.

With this information I was able to calm down due to the fact more than likely the family name I would have given would be that of my late twin, Melodie -- I presented the name without hesitation and it was readily accepted. The efficiency of providing the name was not reflective of coming up with the three digit number that  was yet to be resolved.

My mind was a blank and I turned my gaze to my immediate landscape only to find three digits appearing on the back of a greeting card next to my computer. Ah, success - the number was applied by the CSR and with delight,  I was back in touch with my banking information online.

The conversation with the bank employee ended with a sincere thank you and words of appreciation for her understanding and patience.

In the same moment of ending the phone reception, I quickly jotted down the notes pertaining to the conversation on the nearest piece of paper which happened to be the same back page of the greeting card from which I selected the three-digit number.  I had not recognized the greeting card and picked it up to have a look on the front......there, in very small print were the numbers I had taken from the back of the You're Not Alone" (see image above) and accompanied by an image of an angel.  Upon opening the card, I experienced splendid joy as it was signed by Melodie.  There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that she was with me through this difficult banking crisis (the card was one that she had given me many years ago and I had saved it as a special keepsake -- not knowing that it would serve me as it did.  This is but one of many, many ! incidents in which Melodie has been by my side !

For readers who have a loved one that they miss to the point their thoughts are reaching out for that individual, I encourage you to be mindfully aware of those moments in which you feel a strong coincidence has occurred.  Keep a journal of these events and you will see a commonality which will clearly point out that the love one you so dearly miss is by your side in the form of I  call a "spiritual energy". 

Remember:  You-re not Alone !!!!!!!!

.....Nightingale

Enhancing Life through the Power of the Mind - When Auditory Processing goes Wrong

author:  Melanie Elliott-Nightingale

A large percentage of people do not attend to sounds enough to process them for use.  Many children and adults have learning difficulties or behavioral challenges.  Some seem attention deficit, others personality disordered and still others are just out of sync. All have problems that originate in poor sensory integration which include auditory processing disorders, visual developmental lags, poor motor development, difficulty learning and poor interpersonal relationships.

     Their are specific diagnostic clues that put these individuals into a specific group.  An inability to remember lists of things heard, poor coordination, mental confusion and many other out-of-sync characteristics including seemingly being lost in space at times are diagnostic.

       Dr. Jean Ayres, one of the leading pioneers of the concept of sensory integration felt that that all our senses must work equally.  In other words, the sense of touch, smell, taste, sight and sound must work together and that the above senses, along with movement and body awareness, must work harmoniously.
         Ayers beliefs center on the thought that the senses send gathered information to the brain where it is interpreted and organized.  This is what is called sensory integration.  According to Ayers, if a sensory input fails and does not work in harmony with the others, the learning process and quality of life are compromised.  She believed also that the vestibular system was responsible for body control and that a well-modulated vestibular activity is mandatory for maintaining a calm, alert state.  Rocking in a chair, swinging, spinning in an office chair, all can help in vestibular development to improve sensory integration.
        Some people stimulate their brains through constant moving.   These individuals are labeled hyperactive and many medicated to stop the movement.  This then, delays the continuing development that is necessary for adequate function, causing learning difficulties, development lags, behaviour disorders and a marked inability to succeed as adolescents and adults.  They possess a need to control their environments throughout adulthood damaging most interpersonal relationships.
      Many of these individuals have auditory processing difficulties.  Some experienced loud shouting, mechanical noises, screaming or physical abuse as children and now shut out certain hearing frequencies.  This defense mechanism, useful when needed, proves difficult to strengthen later in life when sound is necessary for normal daily living.  This exaggerated survival need continues into adulthood without discovery, making many therapies difficult and non-progressive.  For this reason therapists must recognize the lack of processing abilities in these clients and recognize that successful outcomes may not be possible until prior work is done to improve auditory processing.
        To better understand the auditory process it is important to understand that at one time it was accepted that both ears were identical.  This is physically not possible.  The right ear is connected to the left brain, the area where language is processed.  The left ear, however, is connected to the right brain where language cannot be processed.  Therefore, language must be transported over the corpus collosum (the bridge between the hemispheres) to the left brain.  This is a slower connection but also a less reliable one.
     During the crossover, high frequencies are lost which are required for interpreting language.  It is imperative that talk therapies, etc. realize that auditory processing not be taking place and visualization may be modality more successful.
      On a personal note:  the above is my experience and in order to enhance language skills, I have had to use the communication therapy of speechreading.

       As stated earlier, learning requires focus.  Complete focus is difficult when hearing is controlled by bone conduction only.  Hearing is a function of the entire body, not ears only.  The bones of the body are particularly good sound conductors, actually, too good.   Loud noises, loud voices are particularly distracting to those who hear every sound in their environment.  Rooms in schools or the workplace are extremely noisy for the person who cannot screen sounds and can hear everything.  The scratching of a pencil on paper, breathing, shuffling of feet, chairs moving in the workplace are reasons for distraction from the task at hand.
      To these individuals all sounds are intrusive and they immediately shut out sounds for protection.  Thus, any auditory input is cancelled and he person is left to try to decide what is happening.  Without auditory guidance,  behaviour suffers and the lack of ability to focus is augmented.
       In an auditory processing disorder, sound is heard but the act of processing through the brain is impaired.  The sounds are transmitted directly to the inner ear without any filter to dampen the intensity, letting the *involuntary startle-reflex (a personal experience of the author) occur, physically lashing out, or anger can result. People experiencing this bombardment of sound have no ability to tune out extraneous noise around them.  Every sound has the same amount of value.  They try to catch a word but the noise from somewhere else distracts them and they miss part of the auditory process.  They do not know what instructions were given or what the conversation was about.  As a result they are blamed for not paying attention and experience.
          1. being overwhemed
          2. difficult in learning
          3. being ashamed that they cannot focus
          4. constantly being behind others in activities
          5. highly distracted
          6. constantly being confused by sound overloads
          7.  lack of confidence
          8. need to control environment
          9. experience great frustration leading to anxiety and panic
In order to cope with these difficulties, people with auditory processing difficulties continually:
          1. tune out
          2. become lethargic or quiet
          3. over react to inuput
          4. jump from one topic to another when talking
          5. resemble attention deficit behaviour
          Any program that will help these individual must be based on many disciplines.  To date there is no one single modality for improvement but the combinations of dominant right ear training, stimulation of the vestibular system, audio-visual stimulation and others will help these people improve their quality of life.
          A suggested exercise (by author):  The use of an inexpensive set of earphones and cutting the wires to the left earphone helps direct all sounds of an individuals voice, music into the right ear. This assists in developing dominance in the right ear and balance the brain function to improve attention and auditory processing ability.
          


       
    

A Personal Life Compass

 LIFE'S   COMPASS

 Image - author, Melanie Elliott

The inspiration for the following has evolved from portions of "The Girl Guide Promise" and the guidance of a personal, guiding Angel


I Promise:

TO do my best,
TO do my duty with grace in performance and with a commitment to established values,
TO unconditionally respect all Divine Spirits,
TO keep an awareness that I am a part of something greater,
TO reach out to those in need, and
TO honor peace, diversity and cherish Humanity.............Melanie Elliott

"Nightingale"

Adapted Fashion and Tradition

  Image:  A design for an adapted cape for wheelchair dependent individuals --- which features: 
- two Velcro'd vertical spaces at back for accessible push handles which
   allows the back of the cape to hang freely between the push hands thus
   keeping the back of wheelchair dry,
-  separate protective sleeve covers keep arms warm and dry (see insert),
-  the short length prevents cape from coming in contact with wheels and/or
    hubs: (I have known of individuals who do not have upper trunk or arm
     function and whose seemingly long safe capes become altered in position   froma gust of wind thus putting themselves at risk of wheel interference
- a detachable hood is included, and 
                                        -  a Velcro closing in front  provides ease in closing
(adapted rain-pants are currently being designed with this cape in mind - the end of  wet knees !) {please excuse grammar and spelling errors as author is visually impaired}

********

With time ticking away, I have decided to add my part to the equation of later-life activity/hobby participation and have taken up adapted fashion design --- a long time wish.  Fashion was a skill and talent that both my Mother and Grandmother freely exercised.  Today,  while recycling some old items, I came across this ruler (see image) -- on in which Mother used for decades in her fashion and artwork activities and this finding was the last inspiration I needed to get started in fashion design and will make good use of this cherished item.  The fact that Mother inscribed her class, namely Grade X1,  and the name of her boyfriend "Elroy Bent" makes it a true and functional keepsake.

The delayed activity of swimming was Mother's achievement when she took the courageous  leap at age 70 and my Grandmother began to paint and sketch with pastels upon turning 70 as well.  My Father,  joined a band at the 70 year hiatus........oh,  he was so,so musical and being the hard working man he was, he literally did not have time to treat himself to that which came so pleasurably and natural to him in earlier years.

My efforts, creativity and gift in fashion design will offer me enjoyment and fulfillment in the field of fashion design.  Now that I am wheelchair dependent, I have come to personally experience the barriers to fashion that my late identical, quadriplegic twin, Melodie worked so hard to manage.  She was a valued community contributor to so, so many social issues and such demanded an up-to-date, career-style.  Now, my life-style as a wheelchair dependent individual wanting to be a participant in our social and cultural elements calls for a similar wardrobe.

As a wheelchair dependent individual I now am in the need of a new wardrobe and acquiring such will be the focus of my fashion interests.  Fashion details have taken on a different view and after hours of browsing online, there appears little to accommodate my dressing needs so the list of what I would like to wear in the spring and summer will be my motivator.

The above is my first attempt in this new-found interest.  Time will tell if my designs are appropriate and suitable.

Nightingale

Phantom Sounds Experienced by Hard-of-Hearing Individuals

 (please excuse errors in spelling and grammar - author is visually challenged.)   


Many Hard-of-Hearing (HOH) Individuals secretly experience phantom sounds most frequently in the form of voices, ethereal music, and others.  The most common of phantom sounds is what we have come to know as tinnitus (to most,  it translates to ringing in the ears).

      Hearing experts often describe this phenomena as non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations however and in keeping with the rather intimidating terminology, many HOH individuals live a life of "secrecy" for fear of disclosing the presence of this condition only to be  being labeled as "crazy". 

     This "secrecy" has been well-described in an article by Neil Bauman, PhD (article Tinnitus and Other Phantom Sounds") who shares the statement of a client saying "I was afraid I was going nuts.  I never said one word to anyone about the strange music I was hearing because I did not want them to think I was crazy."  Indeed, it is not uncommon for HOH individuals to be so intimidated by this condition they are fail to find the courage to admit they are hearing non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations.  This is a reflection my own personal history.

     Personally, after reading Dr. Neil Bauman's article "Tinnitus and other Phantom Sounds", I breathed a great sigh of relief that my phantom sound experiences did not reflect an onset of some type of dementia.  Actually the symptoms I sense as inward sounds to be kind and actually comforting.  I hear groups of people in conversation and this always has a soft, comfort energy energy and with a quite pleasant tone.....unfortunately,  no matter how hard I try, I cannot decipher the words that are spoken.  Additionally, sounds of classical music are not strange to these "phantom sounds" of my preference.

     Initially, convincing myself that these sounds were not a reality was a hard sell.

     To dampen the harshness of the term of these "non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations" HOH persons are more comfortable with describing their sound issues in various terms that eliminate the word hallucination.  The fact that the vast majority of people who experience auditory hallucinations hear some sort of phantom music or singing have caught the attention of  Dr. Neil Bauman who has dubbed the condition as "Musical Ear Syndrome, (MES)".   Others frequently refer to it as "musical tinnitus".

  Phantom Sounds are Not New

     Phantom sounds been around for a long time.  Only the name is currently challenged. As a sampling of the age of awareness is demonstrated by composer Robert Schumann experiencing phantom sounds towards the end of his life.  At night, he heard musical notes and believed that he heard an angelic choir singing to him.  He also heard the music of Beethoven and Schubert.  He jotted down the music in 1854 and called it the Theme.  He said he was taking dictations from Schubert's ghost.

Tinnitus vs. Phantom Sounds

     Once we throw out the idea psychiatric auditory hallucinations, we are still left with two basic kinds of phantoms sounds - tinnitus and MES sounds.

     Tinnitus sounds are single, simple (un-modulated) sounds such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, clicking, humming, rushing and kindred sounds.  In contrast the MES sounds include multiple and complex (modulated) sounds such as singing, music and voices.

Some Characteristics of People with Musical Ear Syndrome

     Not everyone hears phantom sounds however some of the characteristics common to those that do are as follows:

1.  Often the Person is Older.  I recall an incident when my aged Grandmother was admitted to hospital, she would share her phantom sounds with the nursing staff.  They reported this to my Mother that my Grandmother was showing signs of early dementia when in fact the manner in which she described these sounds were without doubt phantom, non-psychiatric hallucinations.

2.  This condition is more commonly reported in women than in men

3. Commonly the HOH individual is anxious, worried, stressed and/or depressed

4.  Most often the HOH person has a history of tinnitus

5.  Phantom sounds seem to come from a certain direction.
6.  Phantom sounds in combination with later life may cause individuals to act irrationally due to
     a self-need to hide or deny their condition.  O|n occasion one's minds make up totally
    illogical explanations and/or actions to try to fit what is heard into one's reality

Six Common Triggers of Phantom Sounds
1.  Anxiety/Stress and/or Worry
2.  Depression
3.  Constant Background Noise
4.  Brain Abnormalities such as seizures (as in temporal epilepsy), un-ruptured intracranial
     aneurysms, encephalitis etc.
5.  Medications - adverse effects
6.  Sensory deprivation, i.e. when one no longer hears music the brain creates this sound
    element

Eight Steps to Consider when Experiencing this Phenomena
1.  Seek Competent medical attention to rule out a brain disorder
2.  Learn about Phantom Sounds - knowledge is the path to peace and understanding and
      foresight
3.  Maintain an awareness of triggers
4.  Reduce anxiety levels
5.  Rule out medication side effects
6.  Enrich your Environment with Real Sounds
7.  Discover what works for you:  Become aware of anything you do that makes our phantom music and sounds fade away, or at least not be be so noticeable and intrusive.  Personally meditation is the key to my reduction of anxiety in the presence of phantom sounds.

Comment:  Thank you Dr. Neil Bauman for your writings on this subject....indeed, they have enhanced my personal comforts.

Nightingale

(please excuse spelling and grammar errors - author is visually compromised)


 

    

More Windows to Faulkenham History

Images have been painted with watercolour pigments (all with the exception of number 2).  Artist - Melanie Elliott
Author - Melanie Elliott
(please excuse spelling and grammar errors - artist is visually compromised)

1.

Right margin:   This image is that of the home of Albert Faulkenham and his wife Frances Jane Hannam (circa 1882).  Albert was the son of William James and Nora (nee McGraw/McGrathe/McGrath of Limerick, Ireland) Faulkenham of Chelsea, Queen's County, Nova Scotia.

The location of this home is on the West Dalhousie Road, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia

2.

Following, left margin:  Photograph of Debra Elizabeth Elliott and her Mother,

Francis Evelyn (nee Bent, Faulkenham) Elliott.  They stand at the  very occasion in which Frances's Grandparents, Albert and Frances Jane (nee Hannam), chose to build their new home...this was thelocation where Frances's Father, Forrester Hector Faulkenham would spend his childhood years.

3.

Right margin (above):  The home of Forrester Hector Faulkenham, son of Albert and Frances Jane Faulkenham.  This home was built in Bellisle, Annapolis County approximately 1915.  This was the home in which Frances Evelyn spent her childhood with her older sister, Dorothy,  younger brother, Charles and Mother Evelyn (nee nightingale) Faulkenham.

4.

Left margin (below):  47 Churchill Street, Bridgewater, Lunenburg County,  Nova Scotia, (circa 1945).  This image has been painted by memory, namely not a visual, on site art piece.

Norman Arthur Elliott, husband of Frances Evelyn Elliott built this home for their family of four children: Gerald Forrester Elliott, Melanie Patricia Elliott, Melodie Lynn Elliott and Debra Eliabeth Elliott.  The home remains a quaint 1940's design and its outstanding feature was that of a backyard of exception, a sun room and its out-of-doors landscape design focusing on the activities of the family and neighbourhood children. 

     This was the first home for Norman and Frances and an offer for the purchase of the home motivated Fran and Norm to build another home in a near-bye neighbourhood

 

   

5.

Right margin (below): 

circa mid 1950's.  The location of this home which was also built by Norman Arthur Elliott and wife Frances Evelyn (nee Faulkenham, Bent) Elliott was that of 121 Hillcrest Street, Bridgewater (approximately five blocks from their first home).  This home was sold after the passing of Frances in 2012.

Reflecting on the Lessons of Gouzenko Spy Trials - 1946

A crowd gathers at Ottawa courthouse - November 1946 - a hearing of activities of spy ring and the sentencing of participants including Squadron Leader F. W. Pound and RCAF officer Matt Simmins Nightingale.

On a routine day in 1946, Frances Evelyn Elliott (nee Faulkenham, Bent) retrieved the daily newspaper from the front step of the family home and in doing so immediately recognized the photo on the front cover as a gentleman who occupied an office next to her's while serving during WWII with the Department of Intelligence, RCAF in London..  The image was that of Squadron Leader F.W. Pound and the newspaper article clearly identified him as a wartime spy.  She recalled him as a quiet man who went about his assignments in a very reserved fashion.  The only words shared each day were a "Good Morning".  Considering the location, time and circumstance, Fran thought this not to be too unusual.

     The spy ring was disclosed in 1946 and those involved were detained while they (eight in number) waited sentencing.

In addition to Squadron Leader F. W. Pound was a Matt Simmins Nightingale (see photo).  After officials became aware of his activities, he and a (first name, unknown) Gerson, another co-conspirator,  were called to give evidence in similar cases deriving from alleged conspiracy but they refused to be sworn fearing that they would incriminate themselves even though the Canada Evidence Act required they answer.  Both were found to be in contempt of court and sentenced to three months in jail pursuant to common law.  An appeal was dismissed.

     In the process of gathering information pertaining to this individual, I have reason to wonder if this Matt Nightingale was indeed in the Nightingale lineage into which my Grandmother, Evelyn Nightingale was born.  I have discovered her brother Charles, had four children and one being a Matthew S. Nightingale.  The age range coincides with his activities.   In my research I have managed to ascertain that he was of British descent and an engineer.  He took residence in the US and acquired citizenship.  A few years later he entered Canada, took up Canadian citizenship and recruited into the Canadian Royal Canadian Air Force.

Keep posted for future findings:

Nightingale