At 84 years old, Hazel Wood had been living with hearing difficulties for many years.

Audiologists had supported her throughout that time, adjusting her hearing aids as her hearing changed. She had always appreciated their care and expertise.

At her annual check-up in 2024, Hazel passed the standard hearing test. But when asked to face the wall and repeat sentences, she found it impossible.

Six-year-old Te Waiwaha Prangnell is a bright and bubbly girl who loves dancing.

Cochlear implants provide children and adults who are hard of hearing with access to sound, but receiving an implant isn’t simply about hearing.

Six-year-old Te Waiwaha Prangnell is a bright and bubbly girl who loves dancing, listening to Savage Love by Jason Derulo and reading with her mum. She also has cochlear implants after failing her newborn hearing screen when she was just a few weeks old.

Rose began her hearing journey at 31 with a cochlear implant in Korea, gradually learning to recognise sounds with her mother’s guidance. Music became a key part of her experience, as she played and listened to the ukulele, celebrating each new sound along the way.

After upgrading to a Nucleus 7 processor in New Zealand, Rose experienced greater clarity and comfort, deepening her connection to music and everyday sounds. Her journey highlights how cochlear implants can transform lives, offering joy, connection, and a richer experience of the world.

Violet and Nathan Zheng are two of our kiritaki (clients) – they first came to us as young children when they’d just received their cochlear implants and are now both excelling at university and in their careers.

It’s stories like theirs that make us so committed to what we do – making a meaningful difference to the lives of our kiritaki. We’re so proud of you, Violet and Nathan!