For more than 20 years, Dorothy struggled with hearing loss. While hearing aids would help for a time, they eventually stopped providing the clarity and support she needed. Multiple people referred her to Holy Name otolaryngologist Dr. Rosemary Ojo, who recommended a cochlear implant. These implants provide improved hearing for people with severe hearing loss when hearing aids are no longer effective.
“I knew it was time,” says Dorothy, who traveled over an hour to have the procedure done at Holy Name. “And I’m glad I did.”
Unlike traditional hearing aids, cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that provide sound by sending electrical impulses to the auditory nerve. Dorothy was Holy Name’s very first recipient of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implant System. With this cutting-edge innovation, patients with severe hearing loss have a new option for care.
Dorothy’s procedure took place on March 20, 2025. She checked in early — before 7 a.m. — and remembers feeling well cared for every step of the way.
“Holy Name is very well run — efficient, professional,” Dorothy says. “The nurses were excellent, and I say that as a former nurse myself.”
During the one-hour procedure, Dr. Ojo implanted a device into the cochlea to stimulate the auditory nerve. Since this is a same day surgery, Dorothy was able to leave Holy Name after recovering for a few hours. Three weeks after surgery, Dorothy visited her local audiologist to have the device activated. Since then, she’s continued with regular mapping appointments to fine-tune the implant, learning to adapt to the new way her brain processes sound.
With implants, patients initially hear sounds as robotic, but over time as the brain learns to interpret the new electrical signals the brain adjusts as the sound becomes natural. The implant bypasses the damaged part of the cochlea and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, whereas with typical hearing sound is transmitted from the cochlea to the brain.
“One of my exercises is listening to TED Talks to get acclimated to this new kind of hearing,” Dorothy says. “I recently listened to a podcast called The Secret to Happiness. Hearing only through the implant is very different — you really have to train your brain.”
But two weeks after activation, the change was profound. “The experience is completely different,” she says. “This isn't a natural sound yet, but it's improving every day.”
Through it all, Dorothy has been grateful for Dr. Ojo’s care. “I’m extremely happy with Dr. Ojo,” she says. “She explained everything so clearly and has been in touch several times to check on me. That personal connection means a lot.”
Dorothy’s journey marks an important milestone for Holy Name — and a transformative new chapter in her own life.
