"That’s my voice. My voice."

After more than four decades of silence, Ricky McLeod could finally hear himself speak again – thanks to a publicly funded cochlear implant.

This powerful story by Andrea Vance and Iain McGregor was part of a national collaborative advocacy campaign that successfully increased public funding for adult cochlear implants from just 40 a year to 120 – ensuring every eligible adult in New Zealand can now receive one implant.

While this was a huge step forward, bilateral implants and implants for single-sided deafness remain unavailable under public funding. For many adults, that means they still live with significant hearing challenges every day. This in-depth feature captures more than the return of sound – it’s about restoring connection, dignity, and the everyday moments most of us take for granted.

🔗 Read Ricky’s story here: https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2020/03/living-in-silence/

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