About Vanessa
I used to hear perfectly. My hearing was probably even better than the average person, too.
I had mumps when I was four years old. Thereafter, I started losing my hearing gradually over the years. By age seventeen, I was pronounced profoundly deaf, but still wore hearing aids.
At least, until about age 23, where I ended up in hospital and was finally diagnosed with Ménière’s Syndrome, an inner ear disorder that creates spells of vertigo. It may even have been responsible for the hearing loss and caused by the mumps.
Soon after that, even hearing aids ceased to function for me. I was plunged into a world of total silence for a few years.
On 11 September 2006, I was blessed to have my cochlear implant operation, performed by Dr Hockman at Linksfield Park Clinic. A month later, the switch on happened and I’ve never looked back.
I can honestly say that I hear so much better with a cochlear implant and audio processor, than I ever did with hearing aids. Hearing aids only amplify sound on the frequencies a wearer has left, and does nothing to replace the frequencies that were lost. In this respect, a cochlear implant is a complete game changer for me.
Welcome to The Bionic Traveller. Follow me on my journey in the world of sound, in my travels and my adventures.