"Many people take hearing for granted. For those who have CI implants, it's a miracle."

My name is Gabriele, I live in Lower Austria and I have cochlear implants on both sides. I had measles at the age of four and was finally diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of seven. I wore hearing aids for decades, but suffered from repeated hearing loss and tinnitus. I was unhappy and feared that at some point I wouldn't be able to hear anything at all. Thanks to Prof. Dr. Riss at Vienna General Hospital and a very detailed consultation on the subject of cochlear implants, I decided to have the operation. He told me at the time: "Your life will improve a lot." And it has!

Today I am confident on the road. Being able to hear new sounds and noises every day is my highlight: the traffic lights for the blind, the cuckoo in the forest, baby cries (being able to tell whether they are angry or crying is simply great!) Being able to actively participate in conversations has only become possible for me with CI. I have happily arrived in the hearing world!