Rochelle Franklin was born in 1970 with hearing loss in both ears although she wasn't actually diagnosed until around 2 years of age.

With the help of hearing aids, Rochelle was able to progress at normal schools, with 2-3 years at a special school for the deaf for speech therapy.

At about 14 I lost further hearing in my right ear, with no known cause. At that time (mid-80s) cochlear implants were relatively new and the surgery not routine like it is now. It did take a while to find out about these exciting developments, and my audiologist referred me to Prof. Bill Gibson. Bill advised me to wait till the technology advanced, especially as I could still benefit from hearing aids and could lip read.

I finished high school, lipreading the teachers and copying notes from other students on odd occasions. I then did 2 years part time TAFE study in veterinary nursing, with the Education Dept. Special Assistance Program providing a notetaker to help me. I then worked in a veterinary clinic for 2 years and enjoyed it. I left there not because of my hearing but to have my first child!

In 1998 I had a foot operation (not a cochlear implant operation)! I was very sick afterwards with bad vertigo. My hearing was worse, and testing showed my left ear had lost hearing and balance. A year later I had a cochlear implant in my left ear, with no side effects!

The switch-on was a wow! experience – the “what’s that noise” refrain – like birds outside, planes overhead, daughter crying etc. plus many sounds came back, and I’m still learning new sounds after 10 years with the implant. I worked in Coles at the checkout for a while after the implant; Coles put up a special sign asking customers to face me to help communication.

Now at 38 I have 4 children (now aged 19, 16, 9, 7), none of whom have hearing problems. The implant has made a huge difference to family life. While it was OK before the implant, with the children attracting my attention and facing me to communicate, now it is “normal”! I can work in the kitchen and hear what is going on, and even the TV without looking or using the subtitles. I can use the house phone and mobile phone, sometimes with the T-switch to cut out background noise. Music and radio are brilliant, though initially were more like noise. My iPod plugs into the implant. I had the Esprit and Sprint then 3G. I had my 2-3 minutes of fame on the RPA TV show, when there was an interview with a patient ready to have an
implant, and I gave my opinions on what it was like before and after.

Working life is also much better. Now the family is growing up, I have gone back to nursing. The implant has given me more confidence and better speech, and this time I am working directly with people. Firstly I took a 6-month Assistant-in-Nursing Course at the TAFE; notetakers were again available to me but not really needed. Then there was work experience in various local nursing homes, which (because I seemed to do well) developed into casual work then permanent part-time. This suits my family commitments and is stimulating. None of the residents believe I was deaf until I show them the processor.

Any problems are more a source of amusement eg the magnet strength caused the headpiece and me to stick to the car! Also alarms went off at shops and airports. I was involved with the deaf signing community before the implant, and attitudes have improved, though there are still some negative reactions to cochlear implants. The hearing in my right ear continues to decline, and I am planning a second implant this year. I am determined to do the best I can, and my message to others is don’t sit back – go out there and do it!