Twenty Thousand Hertz He was deaf for 35 years + Listener Stories kickoff
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Mar 23, 2026 Dr. Chris Epstein, an audiologist who specializes in cochlear implants, and Jesse Herrera, a sound designer who crafted a personal audio story about his grandfather. They explore a grandfather regaining hearing after 35 years, the moment of activation and sensory overload, how implants work, and the rehabilitation and family support that follow.
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Grandfather's First Moments Hearing After 35 Years
- Jesse Herrera recounts his grandfather Jiddu living 35 years deaf and finally receiving a cochlear implant at 13 that restored hearing.
- The activation moment had 17 family members present and was described by Jiddu as “I can hear.”
Cochlear Implants Deliver A New Kind Of Hearing
- Cochlear implants provide a new type of hearing that requires extensive brain relearning, not a return to normal hearing.
- Dr. Chris Epstein explains recipients must identify sounds so the brain can deprioritize them, or they remain persistently distracting.
Everyday Sounds Felt Overwhelming At First
- After activation, ordinary sounds overwhelmed Jiddu: wind through a car window, turn signals, footsteps, restaurant noise.
- He described some sounds as alarming and said sometimes he wanted to "turn it off" because it was too much information.