The following story is one person's experience with a cochlear implant. Your experience may be very different. Success with a cochlear implant is influenced by many factors including how long a person has had hearing loss, the age a person receives an implant, medical and anatomical factors and more. Please consult your cochlear implant professional and/or the Bionic Ear Association with questions.

The Roller family regains hope after discovering cochlear implants. Carson, age 2, was born completely deaf. He is the only child of Cindy and Scott Roller of Sparks, Nevada. Here, Cindy shares the story of Carson’s journey to hearing,beginning with how it ends. “Carson received a cochlear implant in each ear when he was very young. And now, he can hear! “When he grows up, he says he wants to be a country rock ‘n’ roll musician, just like his dad. So, naturally, Carson is always singing and poking the keys of our piano or plucking at the strings of the upright bass guitar that’s on display in our hallway. Scott and I think Carson has the makings to one day become a successful musician. Or, at the very least, a great actor—he is the world’s most outgoing kid and oh-so dramatic. People can’t believe how many expressions he can make with his face. “I guess it would be fair to say we have high hopes and big dreams for Carson’s future. But there was a point where we didn’t think Carson’s future would be all that great— not as we imagined it, anyway. “When we learned Carson couldn’t hear, we looked at different ways to help make sure his development as a child would not be seriously harmed. Each approach had merit, but still, they left us wanting something better for Carson. “Then we found out about cochlear implants. Scott and I both knew immediately that this was the best option for him. “The reason we had the procedure done on Carson at a very early age was that we had learned that the earlier in life a child is implanted, the more likely it is the implant will work as hoped—and the less therapy will be needed for the child to get the most benefit from the device. “For Carson, that’s certainly been the case!”

(Interview by Rich Smith)