Personal Experience & Impact - The individual experienced profound hearing loss after an assault, leading to the need for a cochlear implant [4][7][8] - The cochlear implant is described as a lifeline, bringing positivity and new opportunities [17][19] - The individual emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptation, and humor as coping mechanisms [20][21] - The experience led to advocacy work with deaf charities and mentoring others considering cochlear implants [18] Cochlear Implant Technology - A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that helps people with severe or profound hearing loss gain access to sound, bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear [11][12] - The technology involves a surgically implanted internal processor and an external magnet that connects to the processor [11] - The sound experienced through a cochlear implant is different from normal hearing, often described as robotic or artificial initially, requiring retraining of the brain [13][14] Accessibility & Advocacy - The individual encountered challenges in the workplace regarding accessibility, including people speaking unclearly or from behind, and feeling ignored when requesting accommodations [16][17] - The experience highlighted the need for self-advocacy and advocating for others with hearing loss [17]