Technology

7 Famous Films Featuring Cochlear Implants

In recent years, cinema has made strides in portraying diverse experiences, including those of cochlear implant users. From heartfelt dramas to inspiring documentaries, these films not only shed light on the challenges faced by people with hearing loss but also celebrate their resilience and triumphs.

Check out these 7 famous films featuring cochlear implant users here:

Toy Story 4

In 2019, Toy Story 4 came out. It wasn’t long before cochlear implant users and parents were sharing one screenshot from the film: An image of a little boy with dusky blonde hair and a lime green cochlear implant audio processor hooked over his right ear. Photos of kids recreating the pose spread across social media. Charities praised Disney Pixar for their inclusivity. National newspapers even wrote about it.

Why? Because, despite being used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world, cochlear implants aren’t often represented in popular culture. And for many CI kids, seeing audio processors on the big screen was an exciting experience. As Lucy Clarke, whose son Ethan has cochlear implants, told a UK newspaper: “The film has changed the way Ethan feels about his implants. He’s proud to be like the boy in the film.”

A Quiet Place

Cochlear implants feature heavily into the plot of this 2018 Hollywood horror film. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where sightless extra-terrestrials with hypersensitive hearing have wiped out most of the population. A family of five are trying their best to survive by being as quiet as they can, using American Sign Language to communicate. How do they know ASL? Well, their daughter Regan is deaf. She also has a cochlear implant – which ends up playing a very crucial part in the film. Oh, and the actress who plays Regan wears a cochlear implant in real life!

Sweet Nothing in My Ear

A made-for-TV movie which tugs on the heartstrings, Sweet Nothing in My Ear looks at cochlear implants and Deaf culture. Adam was born to a deaf mother and a hearing father, and lost his hearing aged four. His father wants him to get a cochlear implant, but his mother disagrees, resulting in a custody battle. The mother, Laura, is played by Academy Award-winning deaf actress Marlee Martin.

Take Shelter

This highly-acclaimed 2011 film is about a father who has post-apocalyptic visions and decides to build a shelter. All this is happening in the lead up to his six-year-old daughter’s cochlear implant surgery. While cochlear implants don’t take center stage, the film certainly helps raise awareness of the impact hearing loss can have on family life.

Battle

Released in August this year, this Russian-language film is about a talented street dancer who damages his hearing in an accident. While coming to terms with his hearing loss, he starts teaching dance to a group of deaf children. The film is currently only available in Russian, but an international release is planned for the future. Check out the trailer and you’ll spot quite a few cochlear implants and other hearing devices – including an ADHEAR.

Hear and Now

This documentary following two cochlear implant recipients was a hit with the critics – winning a Peabody Award as well as stealing the show at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Irene Taylor Brodsky, the director, follows the hearing journey of her parents, who were both born with hearing loss. After a lifetime of silence, the two 65-year-olds decide to get cochlear implants.

Sound and Fury

Another hard-hitting documentary, Sound and Fury was nominated for an Oscar back in 2000. It follows the lives of two brothers, who both come from a family with a history of hearing loss. One brother, Chris, is considering getting a CI for his newborn son. Meanwhile, his brother Peter’s oldest daughter Heather wants to get a cochlear implant herself. See what Heather has to say about her experience in this TEDx Talk.

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© MED-EL Medical Electronics. All rights reserved. The content on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Contact your doctor or hearing specialist to learn what type of hearing solution suits your specific needs. Not all products, features, or indications are approved in all countries.

Conversation

1 Comment

Nathan Burling

August 02, 2023

Hi, I am a film maker, who has a cochlear. I travelled to India in 2020 with my Audiologist was doing charity work over there using Med El devices. I mention it in the link below. Due to Covid I was forced to put the film on hold. I am now keen to continue work on it. I would love to talk to Med El representatives, Doctors and implanted patients. Below is a link to an interview I did back in 2020. I have also included a link to my previous film. https://www.mojonews.com.au/podcasts/simply-beings-episode-2-hearing-loss Previous Film : https://youtu.be/LNJ0HglfmOE If you feel anyone in your organisation might be interested , please let me know: My email is above or my phone number is : 0468462099 Regards, Nathan

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MED-EL

August 02, 2023

Hi Nathan, thanks a lot for sharing your project with us. We recommend getting in touch with your local MED-EL team directly by searching for your area here: https://www.medel.com/about-medel/med-el-offices-worldwide Kind regards, Gordana

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