User Stories

Cochlear implants (CIs) don’t just bring sound back—they help people regain the parts of life that matter most: conversations, confidence, music, movement, work, and the everyday moments that make us feel present in the world.

Music has always been central to Stephen’s life. Growing up in a family of musicians, he built a career performing, writing, and producing songs around the world. When sudden hearing loss took away the sound in one ear, it felt like the music had stopped. With the help of a "bionic ear"—a cochlear implant—Stephen has found new ways to listen, create, and share the music that continues to define his life.

Each year, Beats of Cochlea brings together people from around the world who share a love of music and a journey with hearing loss. This one-of-a-kind event in Warsaw, Poland, gives cochlear implant users the possibility to break boundaries in music and show what’s possible with the right support, technology, and passion.

Not only have cochlear implant users Irina and Jhonny both overcome hearing loss, but they also share a love of dance. In this article, they talk about their friendship, the impact of their cochlear implants, and their passion for dance.

After eight years of living with single-sided deafness, Carly got a cochlear implant. Today, she is a hearing loss coach who helps others on their hearing journeys. Read all about her hearing story and find out how she discovered the right solution for her single-sided deafness.

Roy lost his hearing in both ears over time. For a while, hearing aids provided enough amplification, but when they were no longer enough, he decided to get cochlear implants from MED-EL. His cochlear implants gave him his life back—and music too.