Janine Roebuck, a 72-year-old former opera singer from London, has described her double cochlear implant surgery as "life-changing" after hiding her deafness for more than 30 years. The procedure, which restored her hearing, is now being trialled nationwide to determine if it could become the norm for thousands of NHS patients.
From Silence to Sound
Roebuck, who performed as a mezzo-soprano at venues including the Royal Opera House, concealed her deteriorating hearing for decades. She has the inherited condition sensorineural hearing loss, which accounts for about 70% of all genetic hearing loss cases and has affected her family for generations.
In 2019, she underwent cochlear implant surgery on the NHS for one ear, as per current guidelines, but opted to pay for the second implant simultaneously. Under National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines, most deaf adults are eligible for only one implant due to cost-effectiveness concerns and a lack of evidence for bilateral implants.
A New Lease on Life
Roebuck said having two implants was "light years away from just one." She explained: "Sound quality is so much better, sounds are fuller, clearer, louder and more natural. It's much easier to tell where sounds are coming from, especially in busy spaces." She added that the surgery broke a "generational curse" and that she no longer considers herself deaf.
The surgery dramatically improved her quality of life. "Struggling to hear can be extremely isolating and many people experience anxiety or depression as a result. The implants are life-changing. They reconnect you to the world and, most importantly, people," she said.
The Clinical Trial
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding a study into bilateral implants for adults, led by Addenbrooke's Hospital and the University of Cambridge. The trial involves 14 hospitals and more than 250 adults who became deaf later in life and have no existing implants. Participants will receive either one or two implants to compare outcomes.
Matthew Smith, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon at Addenbrooke's, and Professor Debi Vickers, a speech and hearing scientist at the University of Cambridge, are leading the study. Smith said: "We know from giving bilateral implants to children that it can have a transformative effect on their quality of life. Through this study, we can offer the same opportunity to adults."
Professor Vickers added: "Children routinely receive bilateral cochlear implants, providing three-dimensional hearing. Adults should be given the same hearing opportunities as children, resulting in reduced social isolation, enriched communication, improved mental health, and better overall quality of life."
Once the trial concludes, results will be submitted to Nice for review. Ralph Holme, director of research at the RNID, commented: "It's wonderful to hear just how life-changing this experience has been for Janine, and the impact it's had on her quality of life."
