Pia celebrates 30 years since receiving her cochlear implant 36 year old Naremburn recipient, Pia O’Donnell, is one of many adults being supported by SCIC Cochlear Implant Program
Pia reflects on her life with a cochlear implant and how this has shaped her into the amazing woman she is today. In 1987, Pia’s parents made the decision to pursue a cochlear implant for their six year old daughter. At this stage, the technology was new and the decision was somewhat controversial. “In the 1980’s, there were very limited options for children with profound deafness. My parents pursued the cochlear implant so that I would have as much communication as possible in my future. My vocabulary was extremely limited before my switch on, however several months after the switch on, my vocabulary started to expand at a rapid pace,” said Pia. Pia was the first congenitally deaf child to be implanted by Professor Bill Gibson. “During my switch on, my mum’s first words were, “Pia, I love you” and I understood her. She cried. My mum and dad watched me enter a world of new perspectives, how I was so enthralled and fascinated at the new sounds I could hear like ripping paper, sausages sizzling, birds singing – an endless magnitude of sounds.” At this point in time, Pia’s life changed forever. She has excelled since receiving her first cochlear implant 30 years ago and is now studying a double major in Climate Science and Spatial Information Science at Macquarie University.
“My degree will be completed at the end of this year, which I am very much looking forward to, after six years of study. I have achieved distinction marks for my degree, which is a great accomplishment that I am very proud of. Presentations at my university are a requirement of the units undertaken, so I had to learn to overcome my shyness and gain confidence in my speech ability in which I received high marks,” said Pia. Having experienced the benefits of a cochlear implant first hand, Pia didn’t hesitate to explore the possibility of a cochlear implant when her son, Casey, was also born congenitally deaf. “My son, now 10 years old, was born with severe to profound congenital hearing loss. He has had bilateral cochlear implants since he was six months old, and attends a mainstream school. Casey is thriving with his cochlear implants, and he is well respected and loved at his school. Sometimes he forgets that he is deaf!” Pia received her second cochlear implant in 2016 on the same date she received her first in 1987. Pia celebrates her life with cochlear implants and is thankful to Professor Bill Gibson and Associate Professor Catherine Birman for providing her with the ability to hear. If you would like a copy of Professor Bill Gibson’s biography, visit professorbillgibson.com to purchase.
Pia pictured with her daughter Larissa (left) and son Casey (right)
For more information about cochlear implants or SCIC Cochlear Implant Program, visit scic.org.au 3