MY STORY:
Did you know that within Australia alone there are 4 million people
with hearing loss or have only partial hearing.

I was a 42-year-old contented and happily married mother of two
beautiful children, I had a great part time job working with special
children and living in the suburbs in a modest home, when my world
fell apart. I hadn't been well for a while and after having an MRI
was told that I had an inoperable tumour on my brain stem. I was
devastated to say the least but decided to find a dedicated surgeon
who would attempt an operation that would give me some extra time.
After visiting four specialists within a few weeks I finally found my
guardian angel. I had my operation and survived to tell my story,
that was eleven wonderful years ago. My full recovery had taken
twelve month but it wasn't difficult because I had the will,
determination, a positive attitude and so much to live for. I had my
independence back. I was so very fortunate to have a loving and
supportive network of family and dear friends who didn't question my
decisions for which I am eternally grateful.

Post surgery my problems included double vision, which was eventually
corrected with multi focal lenses with prisms, profound deafness in
my right ear and a balance problem that I worked hard at fixing with
neurological physiotherapy. For a long time I looked for something
that would help me hear again like a Cochlear Implant or a hearing
aid which weren't suitable for my particular problem. I was getting
desperate as I was having so much trouble at work, I couldn't
hear `my boys', at home everybody was quite frustrated with me, I had
trouble locating sirens while driving, voices became garbled
gibberish and I couldn't attend social functions or meetings because
I couldn't hear clearly and missed a lot of the conversation. I also
needed to have the television and stereo up very loud. I couldn't
find my mobile phone, couldn't hear people coming up behind me, shop
assistance were so rude when I would ask for the third time, "I am
sorry, could you please repeat that?" as the background noise drowned
out their voices. I had to turn my good ear towards people when
eating out which was dreadful so over a long period of time I began
to socially withdraw from doing all the fun things in life. Only a
hearing impaired person will know what I am talking about.

Eventually my audiologist told me about the Cochlear's digital Baha
Divino. I decided instantly to go ahead with the Baha and minor
surgery followed. Well to my total delight I found the Baha Divino
suited me to a tee and all of the above problems disappeared. My
quality of life has drastically changed and I no longer have any of
the difficulties I previously experienced, my balance also improved.
I love my Baha Divino, it's the Rolls Royce in hearing technology,
honestly, and when it was given to me I just cried with happiness. I
was so thrilled with it that I joined a Cochlear Awareness Network of
volunteers and give presentations to a wide variety of people and
clubs around Australia. It became a huge priority for me to inform
others, especially school students of this fabulous piece of
technology so that they too may benefit like I have and go on to have
a wonderful quality of life. Hearing impaired students suffer
socially, emotionally and academically and I believe the Baha would
dramatically change all this as it is so discrete. Did you know that
160,000 Australians can't work because of their hearing impairment! I
have a dream that one-day every hearing impaired people around the
world, will look into this technology. Communication has become a
joy to me and I only hope that others can enjoy the benefits that I
have regained, I have my life back!

The Baha System is the only implanted hearing treatment that works
through direct bone conduction by combining a sound processor with a
small titanium implant placed behind the ear. The system allows
sound to be conducted through the skill by bypassing the ear canal
and middle ear. This process is known as direct bone conduction.
The device helps to overcome many of the drawbacks of a conventional
bone conduction hearing aid by providing a direct transmission
pathway to the cochlear. It's so discrete and as it is placed well
behind the ear it, even men who may no longer have a lot of hair! It
comes in a variety of colours to match all hair colours.

The number of wonderful doctors performing this procedure is growing
around Australia, Asia Pacific, China, the United Kingdom and
America. They provide loads of information, testing and support
prior to going forward and just as much support afterwards with
follow-up visits if needed.

I can't provide technical advice so if you want to find out more or
have any other questions please talk to your surgeon or audiologist
or contact Cochlear Limited at Lane Cove on 1800 620 929 as they are
the very best at what they do as well as the world leaders in their
field, if you need to talk to a recipient in your area, they can also
help to put you in touch with someone in your area.