Hearing better than ever
Richard has been deaf in his left ear since a young boy. He cannot remember hearing from both sides. This is his story.
Go to Richard's Hearing Awarness Week Article in the Standard Messenger
For as long as I can remember my left ear has been totally deaf. I managed, quite successfully, through life. I completed my education, went to work and got married - all with just one ear working. My work life, in management positions, was peopled with other deaf people and I was sympathetic towards them. But I always felt I was missing something too. A hearing aid wouldn't help me and my specialists couldn't find a solution.
However, one day I was at the specialist's rooms and he said to me. "Richard I think I've got a solution for you." After discussions and assessment it was deemed that indeed a Baha would allow me to regain hearing on my left side.
A Baha is quite a simple device really. Under surgery a titanium pin was implanted in my skull with an abuttment, which is rather like a stud on your jeans, left poking out through the skin. After the site healed this abuttment would allow me to attach a Baha processor which theoretically would allow me to hear. The processor would receive the sound and turn it into a vibration. This vibration would, through the abuttment be transferred to my skull and this in turn would go to my cochlear where my own brain would translate it into words or music.
I could hear immediately
It took three months after the surgery for the site to heal and the settle down and then came the day for me to receive my Baha processor. The minute the audiologist clipped on the processor I could hear immediately. It was utterly amazing. I have never heard better in my entire life.
Unfortunately the Baha won't suit every deaf person, because it depends on the kind of hearing loss they have. But for those it will suit it is marvellous. It changes lives.