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When I was ten years old, I became sick with whooping cough. No one was able to diagnose it for several months, which caused me to become profoundly deaf. I spent several years trying different hearing aids and listening devices, but they weren’t doing much. I didn’t even know I was eligible for cochlear implants because I still had 4% of my hearing. Still, after speaking with my doctor and audiologist and going through the necessary testing, I learned that I was eligible and decided to start by getting one ear done. I chose Advanced Bionics for three reasons - music, the Aqua Kit, and the ability to express my identity. Music has always been a large part of my life. My parents started taking me to concerts when I was five years old. I learned to play guitar as an adult. And I love listening to music. Advanced Bionics gave me the ability to sync with the Phonak hearing aid, stream music directly to my CI processor, and continue to play guitar and listen to music. I also love swimming. I learned to swim before I could walk and never looked back. The Aqua Kit was appealing to me, especially since it was reusable. I spent a long time trying to accept my Deaf identity, and it wasn’t easy. But when I did, I started using colorful stickers and molds to express who I was. When it came to expressing my identity, I knew AB had the best options for colors and sizing, letting me choose pink, even as an adult. Getting a cochlear implant has changed my life so much. I never used to feel comfortable hearing people, constantly second-guessing what was happening around me, and nodding as if I understood. Now I feel like I have the best of both worlds, taking pride in my Deaf identity and culture as someone who attends a Deaf school and works in a Deaf office, but also cherishes my ability to communicate with my family and friends, play guitar, listening to music, and going to concerts. Cochlear implants allowed me to balance, enjoy, and thrive in both worlds. @nicholevandenbos Find more stories from people with cochlear implants: https://www.advancedbionics.com #ABCommunity