"Hey, I’m Yovan, and I’m 19 years old.
My story with hearing loss started back in 2022. Out of nowhere, my hearing dropped to 50%. Just like that. No warning. At first, it was scary, but over time, things slowly started to get a bit better, and I thought maybe it would go back to normal. Then came 2023. I woke up one morning and… nothing. Total silence. I couldn’t hear a thing. My parents took me straight to Welkin Clinic. The doctors did a bunch of tests, trying to figure out what was happening and how to fix it. I ended up staying in the hospital for almost two months. It was tough. Waiting, hoping. But after all that… still no improvement.
That’s when the doctors told me it was time to stop using hearing aids — and to consider cochlear implants. In 2024, I went to France to get my first implant on my right ear. The second one is planned for 2025, in Réunion.
And honestly? It changed everything.
With hearing aids, I could barely hear my own voice. I felt disconnected — from people, from conversations, from life. But with the implant, it was like a switch flipped. I started hearing sounds I hadn’t heard in so long — birds, footsteps, laughter. Even small things, like the way my clothes rustle when I move. It’s wild.
Day by day, I’ve been learning to hear again. I can follow conversations better, I know where sounds are coming from, and I finally feel part of the world around me. It’s not just about hearing — it’s about living. The implant gave me back my confidence. It gave me the push to start doing sports, to be more social, to believe in myself again.
Honestly, it gave me hope. And that’s everything."
Find more stories from people with
#cochlearimplants:
https://www.advancedbionics.com #LifewithABCIs #ABConnections #AdvancedBionics #DeafAndProud #HearingLossWontStopMe
Note: The views expressed in this post are those of the author. Each person's situation is unique so your experience may not be the same. Talk to your hearing care provider about whether a cochlear implant is right for you.
Advanced Bionics
11 August 2025