Author: Anna Martinez

RESULTS
Celebrating our 2025 Hear-o of the Year: Broc’s passion for advocacy, community and connection

Celebrating our 2025 Hear-o of the Year: Broc’s passion for advocacy, community and connection

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Broc, a bilateral Cochlear® Nucleus® Implant recipient, has been praised for his authenticity and openness. He speaks honestly about the positive impact cochlear implants have had on his life and expresses deep gratitude for the technology that helped shape his future. That authenticity resonates with families facing life‑changing decisions. For Broc, volunteering has never been … Continued

From physician to audiologist: How an ambitious student gained confidence and a new identity with a cochlear implant

From physician to audiologist: How an ambitious student gained confidence and a new identity with a cochlear implant

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“Growing up in a small town, I only knew one other student with hearing aids and no one with a cochlear implant. The only other people I knew with hearing loss were my sister and father. We assume my hearing loss is due to genetic factors because my family members and I have identical audiograms … Continued

Rocking to a new beat: How Kelly began enjoying and playing music again after receiving his cochlear implants

Rocking to a new beat: How Kelly began enjoying and playing music again after receiving his cochlear implants

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Falling in love with music “I’ve always loved music. Even as a little kid, I loved the sounds of music, loved catching the groove, loved the way it made me feel. I saved up money from odd jobs to buy myself a guitar, which has since become a lifelong fascination with music and a passion … Continued

Soaring in clarity: An Air Force veteran’s journey from the Baha System to the Osia System

Soaring in clarity: An Air Force veteran’s journey from the Baha System to the Osia System

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“In 2013, I received the Cochlear™ Baha® BP100 Sound Processor, which allowed me to hear again on my right side. In 2016, I lost the sound processor on a hike, which led me to upgrade to the Baha 5 Sound Processor. WOW, what a difference it made in hearing phone conversations. In 2020, I upgraded … Continued

Celebrating excellence: Kelly named Cochlear Americas 2024 Hear-o of the year!

Celebrating excellence: Kelly named Cochlear Americas 2024 Hear-o of the year!

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Cochlear volunteer Kelly was nominated by Genevieve, his local Cochlear Engagement Manager, who shared: “Kelly has consistently set a high standard for volunteerism, embodying the spirit of selflessness and service. He has made it his mission to inform as many people as possible about cochlear implant technology. His dedication shines through at every event I … Continued

Back to school tips from parents of Cochlear recipients

Back to school tips from parents of Cochlear recipients

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Creating an inclusive classroom for Cochlear recipients involves several key strategies. These Cochlear volunteers who have school age children that are cochlear implant recipients, have walked-the-walk and are ready to talk-the-talk. Teaching your child to be a self-advocate is always important in a classroom because often, you the parent or guardian, typically are not in … Continued

Congratulations Jane, Cochlear Americas 2023 Hear-o of the Year volunteer

Congratulations Jane, Cochlear Americas 2023 Hear-o of the Year volunteer

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Jane was nominated by her local Cochlear Engagement Manager, Martha Schley Smith. She shared, “It’s hard to figure out where to begin when it comes to writing all the ways Jane has contributed to not only the Cochlear implant community but the hearing loss community as a whole. She is always the first to raise … Continued

Tips for wearing a hat or helmet with a Cochlear hearing device

Tips for wearing a hat or helmet with a Cochlear hearing device

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Marcy, a Cochlear™ Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor recipient, wears both a hat and helmet. “I am a road cyclist and wearing a helmet was one of the first things I discussed with my surgeon. I even brought one in to show him a typical fit. I found the behind-the-ear (BTE) device gave me no problems when … Continued

Veteran’s hearing journey empowers him to spread the importance of hearing health

Veteran’s hearing journey empowers him to spread the importance of hearing health

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As a veteran and Cochlear volunteer, Will has spent a lifetime serving and helping others. His hearing journey began after exposure to loud, high decibel machinery for extended periods of time. Prior to being diagnosed with hearing loss in 2012, Will faced significant challenges in the workplace. Since being implanted in 2018 and going bilateral … Continued

Tips for hearing during the holidays

Tips for hearing during the holidays

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Mrs. Claus can hear children’s voices with her sound processors Adele, a recipient and Cochlear volunteer, has been playing Mrs. Claus alongside her Santa husband, Randy, for the past five holiday seasons. They’ve appeared in a variety of noisy public places – from churches, schools, community centers and businesses to private homes, breweries and even … Continued

2022 Hear-o of the year winner exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary volunteer

2022 Hear-o of the year winner exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary volunteer

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How Wayne was selected as the Hear-o of the year Cochlear is fortunate to have a community of volunteers that go above and beyond every day to help anyone wanting to learn more about Cochlear implantable devices from someone who understands what they are going through. Wayne has been a volunteer with Cochlear for over … Continued

Interview with an expert: All about the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor

Interview with an expert: All about the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor

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What is your name and job title? Hi, I’m Roger Smith and I’m a Senior Product Manager with the Sound Processors and Connectivity team in Global Strategic Marketing. Which country/region office do you work from? I’m based at the headquarters office in Sydney, Australia, but a lot of my time is spent collaborating with the … Continued

A breast cancer survivor with Meniere’s disease enhances her passions for travel and hiking with the latest Baha System technology

A breast cancer survivor with Meniere’s disease enhances her passions for travel and hiking with the latest Baha System technology

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For hiking enthusiasts, true joy doesn’t just lie in the final destination or sweeping view, but throughout the entire journey — the physical challenge, the calming breeze and the sounds of nature overhead. When avid hiker Lyn began to lose hearing in one of her ears, she didn’t realize how much she was missing out … Continued

5 Tips to help extend the life of cochlear implant rechargeable batteries

5 Tips to help extend the life of cochlear implant rechargeable batteries

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The amount of charge a battery can hold and the amount of power it can provide decreases over time as batteries age. If you use rechargeable batteries, (which you can purchase from the online Cochlear Store), here are five ways you can help to prolong their life. 1. Don’t let your batteries completely die With … Continued

Ask a researcher about hearing rehabilitation! Dr. Julia Drouin shares her insights

Ask a researcher about hearing rehabilitation! Dr. Julia Drouin shares her insights

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What inspired you to research hearing rehabilitation? As clinician-scientist, I have always been interested in research areas that bridge basic science with patient care. My early research examined the mechanisms in our brain that allow us to understand speech even though it may sound really different if, for example, you are listening to a person … Continued

The Halo accessory for the Cochlear Kanso 2 Sound Processor takes Jack’s adventures to new levels

The Halo accessory for the Cochlear Kanso 2 Sound Processor takes Jack’s adventures to new levels

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Teens often struggle to find confidence at the best of times, so when 14-year-old Jack stood on his school stage to have his head shaved to raise funds for cancer research, no one was more surprised than his moms, Sasha and Meredith. They attribute their son’s growing confidence to the discretion of his two new … Continued

Hearing between the lines: how to listen for emotions

Hearing between the lines: how to listen for emotions

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The human voice carries a great deal of information that offers important clues for recognizing someone’s voice as well as their emotions. Emotions can affect a person’s pitch when they’re speaking. When you are frightened or excited, the muscles around your voice box contract. This strains your vocal cords, causing your voice to pitch higher. … Continued

Everyday tips to care for your Kanso and Kanso 2 Sound Processor

Everyday tips to care for your Kanso and Kanso 2 Sound Processor

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Set-and-forget strategies A helpful strategy for taking care of your sound processor is to set up a simple schedule to remember basic maintenance. The nightly check-in Follow these steps every night when you’re getting ready for bed. Brushing your teeth could become a cue. Turn off your sound processor as well as any other accessories … Continued

How to start dating with hearing loss and more – Gael’s tips for living skillfully

How to start dating with hearing loss and more – Gael’s tips for living skillfully

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Did you ever wish you had a practical guide to manage different hearing situations? Like whether to disclose your hearing loss on a date, how to navigate work phone calls, or where best to sit in a restaurant? Gael, who has congenital hearing loss, a cochlear implant and hearing aid, has written a new book … Continued

Be your own hearing advocate at work

Be your own hearing advocate at work

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Comfortable with her Cochlear Baha 5 Sound Processor From her first job as a Marine Technician in the Navy to her current role as a Recruitment Consultant, Kelly has been an advocate for herself and others with hearing loss. She is comfortable wearing her Cochlear Baha 5 Sound Processor at work. It’s her fourth Baha … Continued

Five top rehab tips after activation

Five top rehab tips after activation

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I believe in the 4 Ps Patience, practice, perseverance and a positive attitude have been key to learn to listen again after activation, says Cathy, who received her first cochlear implant two decades ago and then her second five years ago. “I believe in the 4 Ps.” “I think it was easier the second time … Continued