Loud Shirt Day ambassador and Hearing House client Hayley Bastin has her sights set on running a half marathon after receiving a cochlear implant six months ago. Read more about how an implant has helped change the life of this exercise-mad Aucklander, and how the support of The Hearing House has got her to where she is today:
“I was born severe profoundly deaf in both ears with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (a structural deformity of the inner ear) and got my first set of hearing aids when I was 15 months old.
“My parents decided that it would be best for me to decide when I was ready for a cochlear implant. Growing up, I was extremely lucky to be surrounded by amazing people who helped and supported me in every possible way.
“I grew up in a hearing world, but learnt basic NZSL as a young child as a way of communicating while I learnt how to speak.
“I had no fear of trying and doing lots of sports as a kid growing up. My parents didn’t want to bubble wrap me, and I still waterski and snow board to this day.
It felt like the right time
“When I was 18, I had a knock to the head at the start of my university year and later again the same year which caused me to lose most of the hearing in my right ear. My family and I started to look into a cochlear implant as an option but unfortunately, I wasn’t eligible due to my lipreading ability.
“Then two years ago, I had another knock to the head from netball, which caused my hearing to drop even more in my right ear. So last year, when I’d turned 30, I pushed my case again for a cochlear implant as I realised that with just one more knock to the head I’d lose my hearing completely on my right side. It felt like the right time.
“In August last year I was accepted for a cochlear implant, and I had surgery six months later.
Discovering sounds I never knew existed
“I did have a challenging start to my cochlear implant journey, as due to my enlarged vestibular aqueduct my balance was thrown completely. It’s improving every day, but still not the best when it comes to exercise.
“I found processing sound very tough at the beginning, especially when I had grown up with hearing aids my whole life. I had to relearn how to hear and listen to words, with the help of my hearing aid that I wear in my left ear. There have been ups and downs as I expected, but every day is a new day. I’m experiencing more positive changes, and hearing new sounds that I’ve not heard before – birdsong, whispering, even the sound of rings when they rub together.
“Since receiving my cochlear implant, the team at The Hearing House has been an incredible source of support, guiding me through my recovery and helping me discover sounds that I never knew existed. They have made me and my family feel so welcome and a part of The Hearing House community since the moment I walked in for my first appointment.
Taking it one step at a time
“I was training for the Hawkes Bay Half Marathon before my surgery, but have had to put my running on hold in the meantime. I’m slowly easing myself into jogging, but just taking it one step at a time.
“Exercise is a huge part of my life – I love waterskiing, snowboarding and running. Running is my form of stress relief and coping with anxiety. Running around the waterfront on a beautiful sunny day is so rewarding and I can’t wait to get back into it.”
You can donate to Hayley's fundraising for Loud Shirt Day 2024 here: https://loud-shirt-day.grassrootz.com/loud-shirt-day-2024/hayley-1
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