Elaine, a mother of three, was orginally implanted in her left ear in August 2005. This implant failed in June 2006. Elaine was re-implanted in her Left ear whilst receiving a simultaneous bileteral implant in September 2007. Funding for her second implant was applied for via the Exceptional Circumstances Committee.

I felt it was important to have in case I had a CI failure again. When I lost the rest of the hearing I had left in my left ear of Feb 2004 and had was already profoundly deaf in my right since birth and it had not been stimulated through hearing devices as far as I could remember. I was devasted. I had to wait for a CI to be implanted after having my 2nd baby. But then the CI failed whilst being pregnant with my 3rd and last baby, that was another blow. So when I was asked if I would like my right ear to be implanted as well, I said Yes as didn't want to experience another world of silence again.

When applying for my 2nd ear to be implanted, my case had to go before a Exceptional Circumstances Committee and it was not an easy ride. I felt I had to write letters to support my case to get them to understand what being bilateral meant to me.

To keep going and to never give up and pray. Write letters, as professional as possible.

7 months now

Never had the experience to hear with two ears and so since becoming bilateral, it is wonderful as sounds more fuller and natural than with one. When I had one it was good but to have two it is great.

Yes, because since my right ear has never had any hearing devices for as long as I can remember. I try, when I can, in fitting it in whilst being a full time mum to my three boys and a full time housewife, that I listen to audio cd and read the books along with it and just having simple music like pan pipes to stimulate the higher pitches in my right ear. Sometimes I wear only the right ear implant on its own for an hour or two in the day. I am determined to work my right ear hard to learn sounds.

My eldest son who is 12, is really happy that I have two implants as he knows that I can communicate with him better. It is also better for my 3 year old as since being bilateral he hasn't had to sign as much as is now talking all the time whereas before bilateral he signed alot. We still sign to keep it going for their future as they get older and meet other deaf people and that when signing it won't be alien to them. My fiance at the time (now my husband) was my rock at all times and helped me write letters to the Exceptional Circumstances Committee. He helped communicate with me by signing too. I was lucky to have my lipreading skills as a back up through the silent times.