Margo K.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Margo. My hearing challenges began when I was two years old after a car accident. I’d lost all hearing in my left ear and part of my hearing in my right ear. When I was 21 I received my first hearing aid for my right ear. At 25 a virus took what remained of my hearing. I was married with a 1-year old son and suddenly my world became silent. It was traumatic. My biggest concern was whether I would be able to be a good mom to our son and wife to my husband. Our family adapted and grew. Some of my biggest challenges were constant fatigue due to the effort it took to communicate. In 1989, I received my first Cochlear™ Implant (CI). My children were 5, 7, 9, and 12, and they became my teachers helping me learn to identify sounds. As I began to understand what was being said, my family and friends were very happy. I no longer struggled to communicate. I remember my 12-year-old son telling me, “Now I can tell you anything, Mom.”

In 2008, I received a Cochlear Implant in my other ear, which had lived in silence for 54 years. Initially sound was vibration, which I was thrilled with as it meant the new CI ear had the potential to learn to hear. My world of sound became richer and more vibrant with both CI ears compared to having only one CI ear. The hearing journey took a bit longer for my second ear and required more effort and perseverance, but it was well worth the effort.

The biggest pieces of advice I like to give people with hearing loss in those early months after getting their CIs are the P words. Patience, practice, perseverance and a positive attitude are key in getting the most out of your Cochlear Implants.

See Margo's video.

I'm also available to connect on Cochlear Americas - Connect with a Mentor Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CochlearConnectwithaMentor