A Neuroscientist With a Cochlear Implant: Mariia’s Story

Hello, my name is Mariia, and I’m a neuroscientist and science journalist from Russia. I research Parkinson’s disease and other types of neurodegenerative disorders and work as an author and editor for a science-centered journal. After losing my hearing at the age of 17, I decided to get a CI 10 years later. This decision has been improving my life ever since.

Diagnosis: Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss

I first noticed my hearing deteriorating during my teenage years. At 17, high-pitched sounds like alarms or doorbells began slipping away unnoticed. By 18, I was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Over the next 10 years, my world of sounds steadily faded despite the help of progressively stronger hearing aids. By my late twenties, I was nearly deaf, relying on lipreading, context clues, and an irrepressible will to connect with others.

Living with hearing loss shaped me in ways both challenging and surprising. Simple situations, like dining with friends in crowded spaces, became tiring. Entire aspects of life, like enjoying music or following lively conversations, were painfully out of reach. I coped the best I could, supported lovingly by family and friends who tirelessly adapted to my needs, repeating phrases, speaking clearly, and even inventing clever ways to include me in their world of sounds.

But while I adapted, I saw firsthand how my outgoing nature was giving way to self-doubt. I longed for the joy of hearing again.

The Decision to Get a Cochlear Implant

By the time I was 27, hearing aids no longer provided any meaningful improvement. That’s when I knew it was time for the next step: a cochlear implant. A family friend whose child had been successfully implanted with a MED-EL device highly recommended the brand, and I decided to trust their experience.

In 2021, I received my first cochlear implant in my right ear, choosing MED-EL’s SONNET 2 audio processor as my daily companion (along with the RONDO 2, which I keep as a backup).

The First Sounds on Activation Day

My activation day was an experience I’ll never forget. As prepared as I thought I was, I wasn’t quite ready for the high-pitched, bell-like tones that greeted me. Everything sounded unfamiliar and even overwhelming at first: distant street noises, children chattering, mothers speaking softly. But in that mix of tones, I knew a gift had been returned to me—the ability to hear once again.

Training for a Better Hearing Experience

The initial sounds gradually became more familiar as my brain adapted to the new input. Thanks to a structured rehabilitation program over 10 days, followed by further adjustments, my hearing transformed within just a few months. By my second rehab course six months later, my brain could hardly distinguish between CI-assisted sound and what I remembered of natural hearing. Here’s what helped me push my boundaries and improve my sound and speech perception quickly:

A Second Chance With a Cochlear Implant

My cochlear implant has revolutionized every aspect of my life, empowering me both personally and professionally. As a neuroscientist who researches conditions like Parkinson’s disease and as a science journalist, good hearing is crucial. Presenting findings at conferences or interviewing experts once made me anxious—I was afraid of not hearing questions or missing out on the nuances of discussions. Now, I approach these situations with confidence.

I can talk with my daughter from across the room, travel the world without worrying about language barriers, and have even rediscovered the joys of music. It’s hard to describe what it’s like to feel a favorite song resonate through you after five years of hardly experiencing melodies. Even my colleagues initially didn’t notice my CI, and it wasn’t until I shared my story that my boss realized I was hearing impaired!

The Miracle of a CI

With my CI, sounds are clear, music is vibrant, and conversations are easy. I’ve regained my sense of self—my bubbly, outgoing nature and my zest for life.

What amazes me the most is how adaptable and innovative the technology is. From wearing comfort to sound quality, MED-EL has thought of everything. And as an advocate for science and tech, I now have the unique perspective of living with the very technology I often discuss in my writing.

My Advice for Others

To anyone facing hearing loss, I would simply say: Don’t lose hope. Keep your loved ones close and seek the solutions that medical science can provide. A cochlear implant isn’t just “artificial hearing.” It feels almost indistinguishable from natural sound—and, in many ways, it enhances my life. If I could change anything, it would be this: I wish I’d taken the leap to get a CI sooner.

Thank you, Mariia!