Mum of five Stephanie received her cochlear implant in September 2023, and in just a few months, the change in her life has been profound.
Stephanie, who is a teacher at Flaxmere College, says she is enjoying hearing her cat purr, birds’ cheep, and going to the movies with friends, but most of all, being able to join in on conversations with her family and in the staff room.
“I’ve spent so many years listening to people laughing and not knowing what’s funny. And now, the absolute joy I get from just listening – being able to sit in the staff room and listen to the conversations, being able to listen to my students chatting amongst themselves, and the chatter of people in shops and cafes. It is just amazing, I’m so happy.”
Stephanie grew up in the UK and had normal hearing until she was 16, when a bad throat infection led to a huge dose of antibiotics and tonsil removal.
“Then I realised my ears felt really weird, I felt they were blocked and I was experiencing ringing. A year later, they did hearing tests and found out I had hearing loss, and I was fitted with hearing aids and that was it. The hearing aids didn’t help, they amplified everything, so I got used to coping without.”
Stephanie persevered with her studies at Uni, and shortly after, she met a young doctor from New Zealand, who decided more could be done.
“I went to a clinic in Auckland in the late 80s, and met a good ENT surgeon, and for the first time in my life someone explained to me what had happened, and they came up with a solution of a better hearing aid. They said at the time it could’ve been my illness that damaged my hearing or massive doses of antibiotics.”
Despite the hearing aids, Stephanie’s hearing deteriorated further over time.
“When I had young children, I managed to hide it very well, and because I was young when it happened, I was ashamed and embarrassed and still very reluctant to wear my hearing aid.”
A few years later, after a marriage break up and finding herself a single mum to five daughters, Stephanie decided to retrain as a teacher, and in 2017, started working at Flaxmere College in Hawkes Bay.
“But by then my hearing loss had been classed as profound. But was lucky that I was teaching at a very supportive school, and a lot of our kids at our school face barriers of their own. And I think it was good for both of us because it made me open about my hearing loss and telling the kids and they were all really supportive.”
In 2018, Stephanie was referred for an assessment at SCIP and was told that she’d be a good candidate but didn’t meet the Ministry threshold for funding.
“A few years later, at the start of 2023, my audiologist assessed my hearing again and this time there had been even more deterioration. It was absolutely wonderful when they said yes, you meet the criteria now and yes, you’d be a candidate. It was like all my Christmases coming true at once.
“I was really stunned when I was told I had urgent priority as I know the waiting list for a cochlear implant is very long. When they called and said they could offer me surgery in a few months, I can’t put the joy I felt into words.
“I was very nervous about the operation, but it could not have been easier, it was so straightforward. SCIP were absolutely wonderful and made me feel really looked after.
“When I talked about my fears and concerns, they were really honest, they answered my questions, the whole experience was so positive I would go back and do it again.”
And Stephanie says it’s not just herself that’s benefited, it’s been her entire family. “The thought I’ll be able to hear my future grandchildren is just so exciting. It’s all the little things that people take for granted.
“I was really excited about going back to school and having my new classes instead of being anxious. It’s not 100% perfect but it’s so much better. I warned them at school I might find it hard at first with it being new, but I didn’t feel that way at all, I felt energised and fresh.
“I’ve had so many positive comments the first week back at school – I’ve been told I look more confident, was walking a bit taller and looked happy. We have an amazing team at Flaxmere College, and everyone has been supportive during my seven years at the college. It was lovely getting so much positive feedback – you could tell both staff and students were genuinely happy for me.
“I feel like for the first time in my life I’m not ashamed of my hearing loss because the implant is such a cool thing to have and it’s been really great to talk to the students, who are so intrigued that I’ve got a magnet in my head.
“It’s been life changing and it’s working so well, and it’s just getting better.”