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Standard Messenger 27/8/08

Richard Mildred describes the first time he could hear in both his ears as "magic."


Deaf in his left ear since an operation at the age of 11 to remove a growth from his ear, it was not until three years ago that Mr Mildred, now 78, could hear again on both sides.


"It was magic, absolute magic from the moment it was plugged in," Mr Mildred said, of the Baha device implanted in his hear that allows him to hear. He was the first in South Australia to receive the device where a titanium screw was implanted in his skull and only a stud, like the kind found on jeans, was visible through the skin.


With National Hearing Awareness Week underway (August 24-30), Mr Mildred shared his story to encourage those with hearing problems to seek help.


"The Baha plugs into the bone and picks up sound turning it into vibration and suddenly the vibration is picked up by the ear and I can hear. I was totally deaf in one ear from childhood I didn't even know what stereo sounded like until three years ago."


Over the years Mr Mildred tried to use hearing aids to no avail and it was not until a doctor suggested he would be a suitable candidate for a Baha implant, three years ago, that success presented itself.