Author: Skylar Mason

Name: Derek Lee University: UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Major: Master’s in biostatistics Sound Processor: Cochlear™ Nucleus® 6, unilateral Derek’s hearing journey When Derek was 18 months old, he was diagnosed with a stage three neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerves. After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, he underwent a bone marrow transplant. The transplant … Continued

Name: Alexandra Bushby University: McMaster University Major: Masters degree in Mathematics Sound Processor: Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7, bilateral Alexandra’s hearing journey While Alexandra’s parents aren’t sure what caused her hearing loss, they believe she was born with partial hearing loss and it progressed into profound hearing loss by the time she was two and a half years … Continued

Name: Rachel Knobel University: University of Delaware Major: Doctorate in physical therapy Sound Processor: Cochlear™ Nucleus® 6, bilateral Rachel’s hearing journey Rachel was born deaf, and although the cause was never determined, she was fortunate that doctors identified her hearing loss early on. “My parents met a surgeon who educated them about the process,” Rachel said. … Continued

Name: Sam Bidwell University: Wesleyan University Major: Mathematics Sound Processor: Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7, bilateral Sam’s hearing journey When Sam was 11 months old, he contracted bacterial meningitis. He underwent treatment, but afterwards he was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. Sam was implanted on his left side when he was 14 months old, and on his right … Continued

Name: Jessica Hayden University: University of Maine Major: Microbiology and Biochemistry Sound Processor: Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7, bilateral Jessica’s hearing journey Jessica was born deaf, but her hearing loss wasn’t diagnosed until she was around 16 months old. She received her first cochlear implant when she was two years old, and her second when she was seven … Continued