A husband and wife who have both been deaf since birth can now hear each other for the very first time.
Neil and Helen Robinson have been married for 12 years and have spent their lives communicating with sign language.
But now, thanks to cochlear implants, they have been talk and hear for the first time.
The pair, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, are thought to be the first couple
in the UK to have the implants fitted and are amazed they can finally
hear each other.
Neil, 50, said: “It felt incredible, in a happy way.
“It felt really emotional.
Neil and Helen Robinson can now hear each other
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
“This morning when I jumped out of my car to attend the morning prayer, I suddenly heard birds arguing with each other.
“It was so loud so I was quite impressed at how much more I could hear now.”
Helen, 54, pushed for the couple to have the implants
and they underwent surgery at the Nuffield Health Wessex Hospital in
Chandler’s Ford in November.
They had their operations at the same time
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
The implants sit on the inside and outside of the skull and are connected with a magnet.
The inner part has 16 electrodes which receive information sent by the processor on the outside of the skull.
The electrodes then send pulses of electricity to the brain which then deciphers them into sounds.
The implants sit on the inside and outside of the skull
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
Surgeons had to carefully navigate past nerves to
successfully fit the implants, and the couple, who have a son, will
continue to travel to Southampton for follow-up appointments.
Dr Mary Grasmeder, from the University of Southampton Audiology Implant
Service (USAIS), said: “People who have been deaf for some time don’t
have the same expectation of sound will be like compared with someone
who has just lost their hearing.
Neil and Helen Robinson
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
“Because their auditory system is not so well
developed it will be more difficult for them to process the information
and to understand it.”
The couple have been married for 12 years
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
Professor Carl Verschuur, director of USAIS, added:
“We are a clinical unit grew of the institute of sound vibration
research and because of that we are actually in the University which is
unusual.
“We are very engaged in research and teaching as well
as our staff being involved in the training of the next generation of
audiologists.
They are the first couple in the UK to have the implants
(Photo: Caters News Agency)
“It means we also have the opportunity to interact
with our patients who may want to help with our research by sharing
their experiences.”