20 years on, the world's first cochlear implanted child celebrates
Holly McDonell was the first child in the world to receive the commercially approved Cochlear implant when she was fitted with it on June 4, 1987. Holly lost her hearing at the age of four after contracting bacterial meningitis.
As she received no benefit from hearing aids and her speech deteriorated, Holly's parents were told the only option was for their daughter to learn sign language, unless they wanted to try a radical Australian invention.
"At the time it was very new and it was a really hard decision for them but it was by far the best decision they ever made - that decision has made my life," Holly said.
The implant meant she could attend mainstream school with no special support. Now 24, Holly has just graduated with first class honours in law and this month she celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the cochlear implant with the surgeon who made it possible, Professor Bill Gibson.
She said she was thankful that Cochlear implant inventor Graeme Clark ignored those who said a bionic ear implant was not possible in the foreseeable future.
Prof Clark's pioneering 1960s Melbourne University research led to a prototype bionic ear in 1978, and an approved Cochlear implant in 1985. Today more than 50,000 profoundly deaf people in 120 countries can hear, thanks to him.
"To enable deaf children to communicate naturally in society with hearing people has been a special privilege that I hardly thought possible when I started my research 40 years ago," Prof Clark, 71, said.
He is now working to create spinal cord implants to help paraplegics walk again.
Click here for full interview.
