First off, i would like to say that having a Cochlear Implant has changed my life. I can't begin to describe it in words... I don't know what i could do with out it. It is like having a best friend attached to you at all times. Having a CI has helped me improved so much. I love taking to people these days. I was born profoundly deaf (June 16th 1988) and i am the only one in my family who is deaf. I started going to see a speech therapist when i was only 3 months old. I got two hearing aids at the age of 3 weeks. Wore hearing aids from age 3 weeks to 7 years old. In November of 1995, i was implanted at University of Iowa Hospital. I have been going to school in a mainstream for ever. If you would like to contact me, feel free to do so. I would be more than happy to talk to you. my e-mail is awm616@aol.com (please put CAN some where in the subject header). You can also AIM me at awm616. I currently wear an Esprit 3G.  I have been an Advocate for Cochlear Americas since January of 2006, and love it. I have meet SO MANY different people and types of hear lost. Most of the time i am talking with teens, parents, or younger kids. If you have any questions please feel free to send me a message and i will do my very best to help you :) I am a college student at Kent State University in Kent Ohio. I am majoring in Early Childhood Education.  Since i now have a CI (since 1995) and i can hear better, i also love talking to people, i started volunteering more at local events and organizations. Since 2005, i have been one of the managers for several different large events in Chicago IL.