Connect with a mentor

In 2005 my baby, MaKayla, was born. A routine screening uncovered that she had hearing loss. Her hearing loss progressed and by the time she was 4, she had lost all hearing. We decided to move forward with getting her a cochlear implant. When she was activated, her journey into a hearing world took off. A year later she received her 2nd cochlear implant and every day brought a new hearing experience. Today, Makayla is a determined 12 year old, a stand-out student, and an avid basketball player. We spend many evenings talking about her dreams for the future. It appears nothing can stop her.

I’ve had cochlear implants for over 28 years, eight years bilateral (implant on each ear). I was 36 years-old and married with 4 children when I received my first cochlear implant in 1989. I’d never heard three of my children because I’d been deaf for 11 years by that time. My family and friends helped me to learn to recognize sounds and celebrated my hearing successes. I’ve had seven sound processor upgrades since my first device. It’s been wonderful to enjoy the new technology which has allowed my hearing skills to improve. I love answering questions, and providing support and encouragement to those learning about cochlear implants.

Hello!  My name is Sophia and my son Helio was born with bilateral Microtia Atresia. He uses the Baha Connect system.  He had the right side abutment surgery at age 7 and the left side abutment surgery at age 8.  If you ask him to describe the difference the Baha Connect System made, he says it is a big difference.  He hears more clearly and can hear the rain and birds chirping.  Helio continues to do well academically and socially.  His hobbies include playing video games, soccer, basketball, baseball, football, and his favorite sport is go karting.  We encourage him to participate in extracurricular activities and to enjoy life.  Helio is a brave individual and is learning that he can do anything he wants and more.  Helio’s mode of communication is oral and utilizes the mini-microphone in the classroom, when listening to music, and when playing video games on a hand-held device.  He is responsible for keeping all his equipment together and extra batteries on hand.  We look forward to helping you find what works for you and your family!

My hearing loss was sudden. I heard what seemed like a pop in my right ear and then it felt like it had water in it. This is how my hearing journey began. I visited my primary care physician, then I was referred to an ENT. After trying different types of treatment I was told that my hearing loss was permanent. I tried out several devices and chose Baha because it gave me the clearest sound. I had some fears about how others would perceive me but none of my fears came true. Please feel free to connect with me if you have questions.

I had hearing aids in both ears by the time I was 8 years old. I continued on to college with hearing aids and the help of live event captioning. But eventually, a regular hearing aid didn’t help me in my left ear. I received my first Baha implant in 2013, an upgrade in 2016, and my second implant in 2017.

I love the SmartSound® iQ technology, the True Wireless^TM Mini Microphone 2+, and the Smart App! Life with my new Baha 5 SuperPower Sound Processors is wonderful. I love traveling to see my friends. My Baha System enabled me to keep my job as a Special Education teacher. I’m able to hear the children that I work with and, more often than not, I can hear them the first time without having them repeat themselves. The Baha System brought me out of my shell.

A quick summary about Olivia W.

• When I was 4 ½ years old I completely lost my hearing.
• I graduated with a Master’s degree.
• I enjoy listening to music, working out and sharing my knowledge with others.

Hi! I’m Olivia and I received a Cochlear™ implant when I was 5 years old. I was diagnosed with hearing loss at 3 ½ years old and initially I wore hearing aids for a short time. When I lost my hearing completely, I remember sitting in the back of the car as my father drove us back from hearing therapy. Suddenly, it sounded as if someone was turning down the volume on my hearing aids. I thought that my batteries needed to be changed, but that was not the case. After that, my parents took me in to be tested and was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. I received a Cochlear Implant at this time. I started kindergarten shortly after having my sound processor activated. I progressed well with my Cochlear implant. Later on I decided to move forward with getting a Cochlear implant on my other ear and I was able to do even better.

One of my most vivid memories of my family reacting to me first hearing with my Cochlear implant is when the phone rang, and I reacted and questioned if that was the phone. They were shocked and excited, realizing that the Cochlear implant was working for me.

Mentoring is important to me because I’m able to let others know they aren’t alone on this journey. There are so many people that have gone through this. We are a community and we stick together. A piece of advice I would give to families looking into Cochlear implants for their children is that supporting your child 100% is so important. Between scheduling the procedure to emotional support afterwards and encouragement and patience as your child learns to listen and speak and even excel!

A quick summary about Iraida W.

• My daughter lost all her hearing when she was 4 ½ years old.
• She graduated with her Master’s degree only a year after finishing her Bachelor’s.
• She’s an intelligent and driven young lady looking forward to helping others.

My name is Iraida and my daughter, Olivia, became a Cochlear recipient when she was 5 years old. When she lost her hearing suddenly, it shot our whole world down. As soon as we learned she had hearing loss, we researched and spoke with the hospital to learn more. As a family, we knew we would go forward with the cochlear implant. I worried that she wouldn’t learn to listen and talk, but I was so wrong. When we first saw Olivia responding to voices and sounds, we were elated. No words could describe our joy. Watching her interact with her twin and respond to questions was amazing. Now, Olivia is a young lady and she graduated with her Master’s degree only a year after finishing her Bachelor’s. She’s happy and looking forward to working and helping others on their hearing journeys.

The three things I told myself as my family and I embarked on this adventure with Olivia is to:

• Be her voice until she finds her own.
• Allow yourself to feel some kinda way… but only for A BIT!
• Never give up. Giving up is just not an option.

Our journey has gotten better and better with time. I share our family’s story in hopes that it will help parents considering a cochlear implant for the hearing loss of their children.

My hearing loss journey began in January 2017, when I woke up without the ability to hear on the right side. I was diagnosed with single-sided sensorineural hearing loss, likely caused by a virus that also affected the vestibular system. I tested a Cochlear Baha 5 with my audiologist and had great results. In May 2017, I had my Cochlear Baha 5 connect system implanted and in June I was activated with the Baha 5 processor. I’m blessed to have received this technology, as I was able to return to work full-time. I’m a business owner, wife, and mother of two to Victoria, 26 and Noah, 17. I still work my full-time job managing a title company, but I have more time to focus on my new passion, sharing what Cochlear has to offer. I am glad that I took a leap of faith and chose the Cochlear Baha 5 as my hearing loss solution.

I’m Stephen, a 67 year old military veteran. I entered the Army in 1970 and worked with an artillery unit. Many of my assignments exposed me to varying degrees of noise. I noticed my hearing loss in my 40s and visited an audiologist to find I had mild to moderately severe hearing loss in both ears. I received my 1st pair of hearing aids at that time, but, by 2007 I was struggling to communicate even with the best efforts of my audiologist. I became withdrawn and frustrated. I received my cochlear implant and was activated with wonderful results. A year and a half later, I received a 2nd cochlear implant. I’ve supported many adults with hearing loss, many of whom are veterans and enrolled in the VA health care system. I enjoy helping others. If I can help you along your hearing journey, please feel free to contact me.

I became single sided deaf in 1971, and wore hearing aids for 20 years before learning about the Baha in 2005. The sound, clarity, and volume was great. I currently wear the Baha 5. My hobbies are our grandsons, woodworking, traveling, and old time radio detective programs.

I enjoy music, hiking, camping, geocaching, gardening, and wine making.  I was implanted in 2008 and 2009 with cochlear implants. I have participated in several bilateral bimodal research studies including the FDA Nucleus® 6 Hybrid™ clinical trials. Cochlear implant technology has allowed me to re-engage in life, let me know what questions I can answer for you.

1. The Acoustic Component should only be used when behavioral audiometric thresholds can be obtained and the recipient can provide feedback regarding sound quality. The Hybrid L24 Implant is approved in the US for adults ages 18 and older.

After months of exhausting tinnitus and continuing hearing loss on my left side I met with an Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor. The MRI indicated that I had an acoustic neuroma; this was something I had never heard of and it sounded frightening. After various hearing and balance tests I learned that my options were to observe the tumor over a period of time, do radiotherapy, or surgery.  I decided to go with the surgery to remove the acoustic neuroma. Because total left side hearing loss after surgery was likely, we discussed the benefits of a Baha.

I researched and decided on the Baha 5 Sound processor. I was implanted and after some time my long-anticipated “hook up” took place, I was amazed with the technology.  I immediately adapted to new sounds! I can hear water trickle down the drain while doing dishes.  My Baha is my headphone for music played off my iPhone®. And telephone calls are so much easier now.

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