Listening, Learning, and Sharing: User Stories from ESPCI

ESPCI is a conference for professionals in the field of cochlear implantation for children. At this event, hearing professionals and cochlear implant users come together, not just to talk about technology, but to share experiences that shape the future of hearing. It’s a space where science meets real life, where ideas turn into innovations, and where every story reminds us why listening to users matters most.

This year, several MED-EL cochlear implant users took to the stage to share their journeys. And we listened to their stories—we know that having conversations with real users is the best way to turn ideas into meaningful innovations.

Chris: Finding the Rhythm Again

When Chris lost his hearing at the age of 11, he thought his dream of becoming a musician was over. For more than 40 years, he wore hearing aids and could only perceive low notes. After years of hesitation and fear, Chris decided to get cochlear implants in 2018. He could understand speech right away, and, unexpectedly, he could immediately enjoy music again. The first thing he did was listen to his son playing the piano.

I realized the piano was out of tune. My family couldn’t believe I noticed that after 30 years of silence.

Chris

Musician and CI user

Today, Chris is not only a passionate musician who shares tips on enjoying music with a CI but also Head of Music and User Experience at MED-EL. He helps bring music back into other people’s lives, visiting schools with CI kids and inspiring them to rediscover sound.

Watch Chris’s story at ESPCI here:

Mariia: Where Science Meets Magic

Mariia is a neuroscientist, science journalist, and now a bilateral cochlear implant user. For years, she studied how the brain processes sensory information. But it wasn’t until she lost her own hearing that science became deeply personal. Although Mariia knew how successful cochlear implants were, her journey was still full of fears and doubts.

When she finally got her CI activated in 2021, Mariia experiences what she describes as a mix of science and magic.

I know how the auditory system works. I understand the technology. But the way the brain adapts, how sound becomes natural again, that’s something no research can fully explain. It feels like witchcraft, in the best possible way.

Mariia

Scientist and CI user

Her scientific curiosity led her to take part in research on different sound coding strategies, exploring how fine structure coding and anatomy-based fitting affect sound quality.

Sometimes, even good results can get better. You just have to keep exploring.

Mariia

Scientist and CI user

Mariia now uses her platform as a writer and journalist to tell others about CIs, combining facts with personal insights to inspire and inform.

Watch Mariia’s story here:

Krystian: From User to Innovator

For Krystian, technology is more than a tool—it’s a passion. As a musician, sound engineer, and content creator, he’s deeply involved in exploring how MED-EL technology can make music sound even more natural. His talk at ESPCI showed the audience that being a cochlear implant user doesn’t limit creativity; it can actually spark it.

Krystian combines his background with his personal experience as a CI user to share feedback that helps MED-EL continue improving. He’s also part of a growing global community of users who actively collaborate with professionals and engineers to make hearing technology even better for the next generation.

Watch Krystian’s story here:

Listening Makes the Difference

At ESPCI, stories like these remind scientists, clinicians, and engineers why listening is the most powerful part of innovation. Each user’s experience offers unique insights that can lead to real improvements in comfort, sound quality, and daily life.

For MED-EL, that connection goes beyond forms or studies. It’s about genuine conversations with the people who live with out technology every day. Chris, Mariia, and Krystian show what’s possible when users are not only heard but truly understood. Because every great idea starts with listening.