Musician Rediscovers the Joy of Sound With a Cochlear Implant After Sudden Hearing Loss

My Hearing Journey

My name is Stephen and I live in Australia with my wife and partner-in-rhyme. In April 2022, while speaking to students at our music school, I heard what sounded like a doorbell in my left ear. Within moments, my hearing disappeared completely on that side.

At first, I wasn’t too worried. I thought it must be something temporary like blocked sinuses or fluid in the ear. My GP prescribed treatment, but nothing changed. By the time I saw an ENT specialist, the crucial 72-hour window for steroid treatment had passed. Additional treatments made no difference.

That was when I realized the truth: My hearing loss was permanent. I was diagnosed with single-sided deafness. Accepting that reality wasn’t easy, but eventually I began looking at cochlear implants as a solution.

Why I Chose MED-EL

In December 2023, I underwent surgery and went for MED-EL because of its outstanding frequency range which is especially important for musicians. I received a SYNCHRONY 2 implant and now use both the SONNET 2 and RONDO 3 audio processors.

The weeks following surgery were a journey of adjustment. Mapping sessions with my audiologist helped fine-tune my processor settings. Her professionalism and encouragement gave me the confidence to persist, even when the sound felt unnatural at first. Over time, those mappings, combined with dedicated training, made all the difference.

Training My Ears for Music

As a lifelong musician, I knew I couldn’t just “wait and see.” I needed to train my brain to make sense of this new way of hearing. In the beginning, sound through the CI didn’t feel natural. I often compared it to listening through an inexpensive microphone connected to low-quality speakers. But I reminded myself how extraordinary the technology really is: analog sound being converted to digital signals, delivered directly to the brain, and interpreted as meaningful sound. That in itself is nothing short of amazing!

I committed myself to practice. I worked with listening training apps like Hearoes and Meludia, listened to audiobooks while following along with the text, and revisited music I already knew by heart. These exercises gave my brain reference points to build on.

One of my most challenging but rewarding exercises involved playing piano through headphones. At first, I couldn’t distinguish pitches since every note sounded the same.

Music With a CI: The New Normal

Today, music still sounds different through my cochlear implant, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less meaningful. In fact, combining the sound from my CI with the natural hearing in my right ear creates an almost three-dimensional experience.

Without the implant, everything funnels through one ear, leaving music flat and lifeless. With the implant, even if the sound quality isn’t identical to natural hearing, I regain a sense of depth and richness.

Importantly, I’ve also been able to continue producing and mixing music. The CI helps me hear balance and texture more clearly, and while I still rely on my right ear, the combination of both inputs brings back much of the enjoyment I feared I had lost.

Performing at Beats of Cochlea

This summer, I had the honor of representing Australia at the Beats of Cochlea festival in Poland. Standing on stage, playing piano, and singing my original song “I Don’t Mind the Rain” was an unforgettable moment.

Events like Beats of Cochlea mean so much to me. They show the power of music to connect people from all over the world, and they remind us of the incredible technology that makes this possible.

Looking Ahead

My cochlear implant gives me the ability to enjoy, create, and share music again. To me, that’s priceless. Every day, I continue to train, adapt, and discover new layers of sound.

To see and hear the world through music is to help maintain one’s sanity and appreciate how beautiful life can be. My cochlear implant hasn’t just restored some of my hearing—it has restored my ability to live fully as a musician, a teacher, and a husband.