My Cochlear Journey: Rediscovering Sound, Redefining Identity

 

When my parents first took me to the audiologist, they held a deep hope in their hearts “Our child will be able to hear well.”
But what the audiologist said at that meeting completely changed our lives and marked the beginning of a journey filled with struggles, triumphs, and profound emotions.
He spoke of the cochlear implant surgery.

This was not an ordinary hearing device; it is a sophisticated tool implanted inside the ear, directly connecting and working with the brain’s hearing center.

This surgery transformed my world; it gave me the rebirth of sound. 

 

My Childhood in the Shadow of Silence

My early childhood days were shaped by the Kasturba Gandhi Oral School for the Hearing Impaired in Varatharajapuram, Coimbatore.
It is a special education institution where each lesson is taught in a unique way through sound, pronunciation, lip reading, and training, unlike regular schools.
Those three years poured light into my heart and language.
It was there that I first began to make friends with words.

But at the age of five, I underwent cochlear implant surgery at MCV Hospital, Pollachi.

Confusion and Initial Challenges 

However, the beginning was not easy.
When I first wore the device, my mind was flooded with unfamiliar vibrations, noises, and sensations.
Many times, I tried to throw it away. But my parents’ love and patience were a guiding light for me. Slowly, gradually, I started to sense sound again.
At first, I could not understand it; but voices began to surround me and add color to my world.

First Questions, Early Voices 

          My earliest memories are filled with 

The soft voices of my parents, the chirping of birds, all new, fresh, beautiful sounds experienced for the first time. 

Struggling to Understand

Learning to hear wasn’t just about switching on a device. One of the hardest challenges was distinguishing sounds, especially similar-sounding letters like “ka,” “ta,” “tha,” and “pa.” When I couldn’t see people’s lips move, it became nearly impossible to understand what was being said. Lip-reading helped me, but when someone covered their mouth, I struggled.

Between Two Worlds

Before my implant, I was in a school where every child had a hearing loss. I felt included and safe. But after surgery, I transitioned to a mainstream school. It was a difficult, isolating time. My peers didn’t understand what a cochlear implant was some even thought it was a music device or mobile phone. I faced bullying, was pushed down, and once, my device was thrown away by a student. Those moments left me hurt and questioning myself.

But changes came with time.

My class teacher helped build understanding among my classmates. Slowly, I made friends. What once felt like first grade was like a spark of fire, but by the fifth grade, it turned into heaven. I was happy. I was growing.

Redefining My Identity

After cochlear implantation, I trained hard every day; visiting audiologist, doing speech practice, and attending various classes to develop my talents.
My parents supported and encouraged my wishes.  

At school festivals, temple, I performed Bharatanatyam and folk dances. I brought life to the stage’s solo act and won awards. On Independence Day, my speech was lively and appreciated.
A drawing a reflection of my imagination shone on the school notice board. On Children’s Day, I played melodious tunes on the keyboard; I sang devotional songs at the Padhapooja ceremony. Sports victories became a poster of success. In college, my speech on childhood cancer raised awareness. My acting in the Rose Day drama was praised. In another college, I shared my research with an honest voice, it was a ray of light for my dreams. 

The cochlear implant helped me rediscover not just sound but my talents.
I realized — “I can do everything just like any ordinary hearing person.”

My name is “Kalaimathy,” meaning “a person with artistic brilliance and radiant intellect.”

Overcoming Emotional Challenges

There were hard moments, especially in friendships and relationships. People stared at me, rejected me, made me feel like I didn’t belong. But my parents always reminded me of something powerful:

“Glasses are worn to see clearly; you wear the cochlear implant to hear clearly, That’s all. You are not less than anyone.”

They reminded me how far I’d come, how many others I had inspired, and how I was the first person with an implant in my school who spoke like a hearing person. That support gave me strength. Since then, I’ve never thought of myself as “deaf.” I’ve only seen myself as me normal, capable, and strong.

What I’ve Learned

Through this journey, I’ve learned one simple but powerful truth:
I can do anything that normal people can do.

A Message to Parents and the World

This journey is not mine alone. It is built on the sacrifices, time, and love of my parents. They spent countless hours helping me learn to speak, supporting me through therapies, encouraging me to wear the implant all day, and exposing me to the world.

I’ve seen many deaf children remain mute simply because they lacked time with their parents or didn’t wear their implant regularly. Talking more, spending time outdoors, shopping, watching movies, all of these everyday moments help a deaf child understand the world better.

Dear parents, your deaf child is a special gift from God. Every small achievement they make is a reflection of your love and dedication. Support them with your whole heart. You can change their world.

To anyone reading this  whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or someone with hearing loss  know this: Your story is powerful. You are capable. And the journey may be difficult, but it is also filled with moments of rediscovery, resilience, and redefinition.

Let us break the barriers.

Let us go beyond silence.

Let us redefine identity with pride.

Special Thanks

I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the people who made this journey possible and meaningful:

• My parents, Mr. S. Sargunan and Mrs. N. Latha – for giving me life, endless love, and unwavering support through every challenge and every triumph.
• My sibling, Parithi Arivan S. L, and my cousins Tharsan R and Sugithra A, and all my relatives – for your constant care, encouragement, and belief in me.
• Mrs. Kavitha and all the dedicated teachers at Kasturba Gandhi Oral School for the Hearing Impaired, Varadharajapuram, Coimbatore – thank you for your tireless work in helping me find my voice.
• Mr. T. Kannan, Audiologist, and Mrs. Bhuvaneshwari, Assistant, from MCV ENT City Clinic, Ramanathapuram – your guidance, patience, and care helped me distinguish every sound and adapt to the hearing world.
• Dr. Anand V, from MCV ENT Hospital, Pollachi – thank you for performing the cochlear implant surgery that changed my life.
• Mrs. Geetha, from PSG Primary School, Peelamedu, and Mrs. Abirami from Nachimuthu Gounder Rukmani Ammal Higher Secondary School, Mahalingapuram – for supporting me in my early years of integration into mainstream education.
• Mrs. Usha and Mrs. Pramila from PSG Sarva Jana Higher Secondary School, Peelamedu – for your kindness and belief in my abilities.
• Dr. S. Saranya, Dr. M. Poongothai, and all my college professors – thank you for guiding, shaping, and encouraging me during my higher education journey.
• Mrs. Gayathri, my dance teacher, and Mr. Micheal Raj, my music master – for nurturing my artistic talents and encouraging my creativity.
• And to my dear friends Lakshana, Mithra, and Karan – thank you for standing by me and supporting me with your friendship and care, even today.

To all of you — thank you for believing in me, helping me rise, and walking with me through every sound, every step, and every new chapter.