During the COVID-19 pandemic, I transitioned to remote work and never returned to the office. Working from home with a remote team across different time zones became my standard arrangement. However, I gradually realised I was experiencing hearing loss in my right ear — a development I didn’t initially notice until early 2022 when socialising in a noisy café revealed my difficulty understanding conversations.
In August 2022, I received my first hearing aid for my right ear. Wow, I had forgotten what hearing was supposed to be like.
I suffer from Menière’s disease, which causes severe vertigo episodes followed by progressive hearing loss. Over five years, I experienced three major episodes — likely stress-triggered — each resulting in significant deterioration of my right ear’s hearing capabilities.
Even with hearing aid assistance, public spaces became increasingly challenging. During a mountain biking trip, a friend pointed out that I was interrupting conversations mid-discussion, prompting self-reflection about my social interactions.
Connect Hearing and Cochlear’s Success Manager guided me through cochlear implant assessment. Testing revealed my left ear was also deteriorating rapidly. After researching options, I chose Advanced Bionics for its integrated technology solution, allowing wireless connectivity similar to a very expensive pair of AirPods.
Two days post-surgery following my right ear cochlear implant procedure, I’m experiencing expected tinnitus and mild discomfort but anticipate activation in two weeks.