Building community through shared experiences

3 hours ago
2 min read

Our recent Connect & Share group brought together cochlear implant and hearing aid users for an afternoon of connection, conversation and shared experiences.

Hazel Benson-Dawe, our whānau support counsellor, said the purpose of the popular sessions was to bring kiritaki/clients together to establish common ground – whether it was benefits or challenges.

“We’re creating an environment where we can be aware of each other’s communication needs and spend time working on making sure we understand each other better.”

Shared experiences, different journeys

A key theme throughout the session was the diversity of experiences shared by our kiritaki with cochlear implants and hearing differences.

Our kiritaki described their devices as life-changing and relatively easy to adapt to, while others shared ongoing challenges.

This openness helps reinforce that there is no single “right” way to experience hearing differences or hearing technology.

What participants said

Feedback from our kiritaki highlights the value of connecting with others who really understand and can relate to the cochlear implant journey.

71-year-old Lynnette from Avondale, Auckland said:

“I found it most helpful hearing about others’ experiences with their CIs and hearing devices. It’s good to realise I'm not the only one… It was good to get feedback from other users.”

72-year-old Barb from Auckland central echoed the importance of shared understanding:

“It’s so rewarding for our small group to share information, because it's such a peculiar (in a good way) turn of events… Not many people other than our family can appreciate the nuances of our hearing stops and starts. We’re learning a new language and way of being.”

At its heart, Connect & Share is about being part of a community. It’s about recognising that while each person’s journey is unique, there’s great value in shared experience.