Why do you advocate for Cochlear Implants?

Each person’s journey with hearing is unique, and I hold an unwavering belief in the right to an informed choice for all medical and elective interventions. Suggesting that a single path—such as a Cochlear Implant (CI)—is universally right for everyone with hearing loss is, of course, reductive. Yet, I am unreservedly passionate about CIs and their potential, largely because the option was hidden from me for so long. It was only in my early thirties that I encountered an audiologist who, with both courage and integrity, referred me to an ENT for a CI consultation. This was no small gesture; by doing so, she forfeited future revenue, as those patients she referred would no longer need her ongoing care for hearing aids.

This industry, let us remember, is a vast and unregulated enterprise where hearing loss is commodified. One can easily go decades without being informed of all possible treatments—a reality both my mother and I lived through, each of us hard of hearing yet oblivious to better options. It’s this lack of transparency that fuels my dedication to spreading the “good word” about CIs. Misconceptions about CIs abound, from cost-related myths to unfounded fears of invasive surgery. In reality, these are outpatient, low-risk procedures, and for many, they are affordable with insurance. My fervent message, therefore, is simple: if you’re eligible, grant yourself the opportunity to explore it. Consult an ENT. My only regret, truly, is not having known sooner about this option.

Consider this: after my implant, I could hear on the phone for the first time in my life. Reflect on the significance of that—the mere act of hearing a voice through the receiver. For years, I lived without such a capacity, with no alternative but digital or text-based solutions. The phone here is a powerful metaphor: it’s a symbol of independence, competence, and self-reliance, qualities I had longed to embody and not having to rely on other people, which I hated. Ask yourself how your hearing loss affects your relationships and communication, your safety, your career. If you see room for improvement, a whole world may be on the other side waiting for you.

Be informed; it’s that simple.