Connect with a mentor

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 I became withdrawn and frustrated.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.

Patrick was born deaf and implanted at age 1.  He loves Legos and Star Wars.  He enjoys baseball, karate, and outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and riding his bike.   He is an avid reader (his reading level is many grades above average!).  He listens to music daily and loves traveling.  We love talking to other families about their hearing journeys!

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.

My name is Iraida, and I am a 45 year-old bilateral cochlear implant recipient. As a child, recurrent ear infections and allergies affected my hearing, and I was fitted with hearing aids. When I moved to the US, I struggled to understand the English language much more than my native Spanish. My audiologist then told me about the benefits of cochlear implants. Since receiving both cochlear implants, I haven’t had to request closed-captioned services at my job. It’s really a wonderful feeling to be able to interject with feedback or questions in meetings. My hobbies are walking my dog, playing brain games, and trying foods from different countries.

Although the exact cause of my hearing loss is unknown, after a severe viral infection I experienced a steep, progressive deterioration, especially in the high frequencies. Many years and many hearing aids later, I struggled to understand speech and received the L24 Hybrid implant. To say my life has changed would be a massive understatement! I can now hear my daughter clearly, freely talk on the phone, enjoy restaurants, and pursue work projects again. I got my life back.

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.

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!

Hey, I’m a 22-year-old bilateral cochlear implant recipient. I suddenly lost my hearing at the age of 18, five days before starting college (the deafness was the result of a rare autoimmune disease). Immediately, I knew that I wanted a cochlear implant. I received my first implant a month after losing my hearing, in October of 2013. By the following fall, I knew I wanted another implant, which I received in June of 2015. I am a senior at Western Michigan University, studying English literature, world literature, and creative writing. I am editor in chief of the undergraduate literary journal, I work as a teacher’s assistant, as a writing center consultant at the university, and as a writing tutor for middle school and high school students—all of this is made possible through my CIs. You can usually find me behind a book or a camera, as I spend most of my free time working as a photographer. I enjoy rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, adventuring, and world-traveling.

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 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.

I am the spouse of a bilateral Cochlear implant recipient. Since this technology has helped my husband to communicate successfully in quiet and noisy settings, and on the phone, I’m excited to share our journey with other families! In addition, speech and hearing has been my profession, so I’m passionate about helping others to find out how cochlear implants can help them regain usable hearing, and supporting them after activation. Volunteering for Cochlear is our way of saying “thanks” for this amazing technology!

My name is Sue and I’m a bilateral recipient.  My hearing loss is a direct result of a childhood illness.  My hearing loss was gradual resulting in double hearing aids by the time I was in my 40’s.   Hearing and understanding was very difficult and I avoided social activities.  When I learned about Cochlear I was at 50% hearing and going downhill.  My two surgeries were about a year apart.  Hearing in stereo is wonderful!  I’ve discovered that the world is a very noisy place.  My confidence in dealing with daily life and social situations has returned.  Being able to hear has improved my relationships with my husband and friends.  My work requires dealing with the public and I now do it with confidence.  My leisure activities include reading, walking, camping, travel, volunteer work and trying new activities whenever possible.  For me every day is a hearing adventure.

I am 65 years old. I gradually lost my high frequency hearing due to heredity factors. I was bilaterally implanted with Hybrid Cochlear implants in 2014 and 2015 after wearing hearing aids for nearly 30 years. Prior to implantation, I had difficulty successfully engaging in the activities I loved because I could not hear. Now and again, I enjoy swimming/exercise in group settings, traveling with friends, being outside, attending theater and symphony, as well as volunteering in the community and at church and working with children. My life is full again with the things I love to do. I hope I’ll be able to answer any questions you may have.

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.

Destiny is a 10-year-old Baha recipient and I’m her proud parent. She lost the hearing in her left ear when she was 3 ½ years old due to an ear infection. She received her implant in August of 2014. She’s a very active girl that enjoys ballet. Nothing stops her. We’re grateful that she can be an example to other kids, and we love the way that she describes her Baha as her “Super Power.”

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.

My name is Aaron and I’m a Baha recipient. I was 37 years when I lost my hearing overnight in one ear. I couldn’t identify who was talking or where sound was coming from. I was frustrated and I withdrew from the people closest to me. After researching and speaking with my audiologist, I learned about the Baha® 5 SuperPower and we felt that this was what I needed. I moved forward with getting the implantation and I love having 360 degrees of sound again. I enjoy the outdoors, hunting, and going to sporting events.