>> About 25 years ago I noticed
that I started having a hearing loss.
There would be times where I couldn't talk on the phone,
I couldn't hear anybody talk, I wouldn't want to go
to restaurants because I didn't want to talk to the waiter,
and there was just more and more times like that
that made it very difficult to hear,
and it was time to do something.
[ Music ]
>> It's patients who have lost a little bit of hope
that they may go through the rest
of their life not being able to hear
and probably even more importantly not being able
to communicate and socialize with the outside world.
In the past people from the northern Virginia area have had
to drive long distances to get cochlear implants, which may
or may not be as big of an issue if it only consisted
of getting the surgery itself, but there's a significant amount
of pre- and post-operative sort of counseling and rehabilitation
that has to take place.
And so when you have to drive over an hour for each
of these visits, it becomes a hassle.
It can actually become a barrier to getting a cochlear implant.
And so this is exciting technology that's being offered
in the northern Virginia area,
and our program specifically stands out in
that it offers patients the choice
of all three cochlear implant companies.
[ Music ]
>> It took about five days to start feeling back to normal,
but that, I don't know if that was so much the surgery itself.
I think it was more like recovering
from the anesthesia and everything.
So it takes a while not only to recover from the surgery,
but then you are waiting for four weeks to be activated
so here you went through the surgery and it's frustrating
because you're also waiting to find out if this implant works.
>> We typically wait about one month after the surgery
to turn the device on, and that is purely
because we're letting Linda's incision heal
and all the swelling to go down so that the connection
between the external component
and the internal component can be as strong as possible.
[ Music ]
>> We just activated Linda's right cochlear implant.
What we did is we took sound,
we made measurements along different parts
of the internal cochlear implant to make sure
that she could handle electrical current in her ear.
Then by using the implant, it transfers acoustic sound
into electrical sound with practice
and listening every day.
She will hopefully be able to hear sound
like she did 30 years ago.
When I talk, are you aware that you're listening to speech?
>> Yes.
>> Good.
>> Yes. I am not just reading your lips.
I can hear you.
>> Perfect.
>> Your voice sounds as echoey as mine.
>> Okay.
>> But I'm hearing the words.
>> Good.
>> Yeah.
>> Echo on the first day is very normal.
>> Okay.
>> Perfect.
Saturday.
>> Saturday.
>> Monday.
>> Wednesday.
>> Tuesday.
Did I get them all right?
>> Yeah.
>> Yay.
>> That's very good.
>> Okay.
>> For every 100 people who have hearing loss bad enough
that they would qualify for a cochlear implant,
only 5 actually get a cochlear implant.
And part of that is healthcare dollars,
but part of it is still awareness
that this technology even exists.
>> I think Dr. Lin is specifically wonderful.
He's the one who gave me back my hearing.
I think he's a pretty wonderful guy.