Eighty-four-year-old Jim Milne says getting cochlear implants just over a year ago has changed his life.
“Prior to that, I was getting pretty despondent – I knew I was missing a lot with not being able to hear, but I didn’t realise quite how much until I got my CIs.
“The day I was switched on was a turning point for me.”
Takanini-based Jim says he’d had deteriorating hearing for the past 50 years, but it got to the stage two years ago when he couldn’t hear the TV and he knew he had to do something about it.
He was assessed by the audiologists at The Hearing House and referred for cochlear implant surgery in June last year.
“I can now watch the news every night – with no captions!” he says.
“And audio books – they’re the best thing going.”
Jim has also rekindled his love for music, playing ukelele in a local group. A performance at a charity dinner a month ago earned him a standing ovation.
The value of shared experiences
Jim had prostate surgery several years ago, and says he found great support in sharing his experiences with others. He set up a support group for people who’d had similar surgery and they used to meet once a month, either to discuss experiences among themselves or to host visiting speakers.
“It helped remove some of the anxiety and made me aware that I’m not the only one going through it,” he says.
Jim is keen to do the same for cochlear implant users, and is trialling a monthly meet-up at the Takanini Library and Community Hub, 30 Walters Road, every fourth Thursday of the month from 11am-12.
If you’re interested in going along, please contact adultci@reception@hearinghouse.co.nz for more information.
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