Cidersomerset
28th March 2014, 18:47
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Published on 28 Mar 2014
Joanna Milne was filmed by her mother as medical staff activated her cochlear implants,
enabling to hear sound for the first time in her life.
The moving video footage quickly became a global news sensation, and today she
described as "so moving" the moment she heard the voice of a young relative.
She said her five-year-old niece had come up to her and asked: "Auntie Joanne, where's
the biscuit?"
"I just heard what she said and it was just so sweet to hear a child's voice," she said.
Ms Milne suffers from Usher Syndrome. The rare condition meant that not only was she
profoundly deaf, but the condition also caused her eyesight to deteriorate to the point
she was registered blind, meaning her new sensory ability is all the more valuable.
Source: ITN
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28 March 2014 Last updated at 16:26 Share this pageEmail Print Share this page
Deaf woman Joanne Milne hears for first time
A woman from Gateshead has heard sound for the first time, as Danny Savage reports
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
William's cochlear implants Listen
Deaf girl fitted with bionic ear
Deaf debate: Caught between two worlds
The moment a 39-year-old woman heard for the first time, thanks to cochlear implants,
has been captured on video.Joanne Milne burst into tears when she heard a nurse
reading out the days of the week.Ms Milne, from Gateshead, was born deaf and during
her 20s she also began to lose her sight due to the rare medical condition Usher
syndrome.She said she was delighted by the results of the "life-changing" procedure to
fit implants.
'So happy'
Ms Milne said: "The switch-on was the most emotional and overwhelming experience of
my life and I'm still in shock now."The first day everybody sounded robotic and I have
to learn to recognise what these sounds are as I build a sound library in my brain.
"Hearing things for the first time is so, so emotional, from the ping of a light switch to
running water. I can't stop crying.
"I can already foresee how it's going to be life changing and the implants will get better
and better over time. I'm so, so happy."
Ms Milne, who works for charity Sense, said she was now a lot more aware of things
around her.
'Studio in floods'
She thanked the team at the Midlands Implant Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Birmingham, for the procedure, which was carried out last month.
In an interview with BBC WM, her mother Ann said: "She is just overwhelmed by it all.
"To be able to hear footsteps and we went out for a meal and she said she could
actually hear the clinking of the plate when she was eating. Things we just take for
granted."
As a result of the transformation, Ms Milne's friend Tremayne Crossley decided to make
her a compilation of songs - selecting one track from each year of her life.
He then sent the compilation to BBC 6 Music radio presenter Lauren Laverne.
After the playlist was featured on the show this week, Ms Laverne tweeted: "Just
watched a video of today's #Memory Tape recipient having her cochlear implant turned
on and hearing for the first time. Studio in floods."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26779079
Published on 28 Mar 2014
Joanna Milne was filmed by her mother as medical staff activated her cochlear implants,
enabling to hear sound for the first time in her life.
The moving video footage quickly became a global news sensation, and today she
described as "so moving" the moment she heard the voice of a young relative.
She said her five-year-old niece had come up to her and asked: "Auntie Joanne, where's
the biscuit?"
"I just heard what she said and it was just so sweet to hear a child's voice," she said.
Ms Milne suffers from Usher Syndrome. The rare condition meant that not only was she
profoundly deaf, but the condition also caused her eyesight to deteriorate to the point
she was registered blind, meaning her new sensory ability is all the more valuable.
Source: ITN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.60.1/desktop/3.5/img/blq-blocks_grey_alpha.png
28 March 2014 Last updated at 16:26 Share this pageEmail Print Share this page
Deaf woman Joanne Milne hears for first time
A woman from Gateshead has heard sound for the first time, as Danny Savage reports
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
William's cochlear implants Listen
Deaf girl fitted with bionic ear
Deaf debate: Caught between two worlds
The moment a 39-year-old woman heard for the first time, thanks to cochlear implants,
has been captured on video.Joanne Milne burst into tears when she heard a nurse
reading out the days of the week.Ms Milne, from Gateshead, was born deaf and during
her 20s she also began to lose her sight due to the rare medical condition Usher
syndrome.She said she was delighted by the results of the "life-changing" procedure to
fit implants.
'So happy'
Ms Milne said: "The switch-on was the most emotional and overwhelming experience of
my life and I'm still in shock now."The first day everybody sounded robotic and I have
to learn to recognise what these sounds are as I build a sound library in my brain.
"Hearing things for the first time is so, so emotional, from the ping of a light switch to
running water. I can't stop crying.
"I can already foresee how it's going to be life changing and the implants will get better
and better over time. I'm so, so happy."
Ms Milne, who works for charity Sense, said she was now a lot more aware of things
around her.
'Studio in floods'
She thanked the team at the Midlands Implant Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Birmingham, for the procedure, which was carried out last month.
In an interview with BBC WM, her mother Ann said: "She is just overwhelmed by it all.
"To be able to hear footsteps and we went out for a meal and she said she could
actually hear the clinking of the plate when she was eating. Things we just take for
granted."
As a result of the transformation, Ms Milne's friend Tremayne Crossley decided to make
her a compilation of songs - selecting one track from each year of her life.
He then sent the compilation to BBC 6 Music radio presenter Lauren Laverne.
After the playlist was featured on the show this week, Ms Laverne tweeted: "Just
watched a video of today's #Memory Tape recipient having her cochlear implant turned
on and hearing for the first time. Studio in floods."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26779079