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Theo tells MPs: NextSense, early intervention, and my cochlear implant help me shine

Six children made a memorable trip to Canberra this week to address Federal politicians on cochlear implants and what can be achieved when children with hearing loss get support early
Photo of Theo speaking at a podium
  • Hearing

For many of us, addressing an audience in Parliament House, Canberra that includes some of Australia’s most senior politicians, would take a great deal of courage and be accompanied by a tummy full of butterflies.

But if his performance was any guide, 11-year-old NextSense cochlear implant client, Theo, felt at total ease and filled with confidence when he spoke at this year's Power of Speech breakfast.

The event, hosted by Cochlear, is in its tenth year and showcases the achievements of children who are deaf and have learned to listen and speak with the support of First Voice members including NextSense.

First Voice is a partnership that advocates for world-class early intervention services that give children who are deaf or hard of hearing the opportunity to listen and speak.

Theo travelled to the nation’s capital from the NSW Blue Mountains to join five other CI recipients from across Australia and NZ, aged 5 –13.

Picture of six young boys jumping in front of Australian Parliament House

He told the audience, which included Federal Health Minister, the Hon Mark Butler MP, that his CI and early intervention services provided by NextSense gave him “access to sound, speech, and the confidence to stand here today and tell you my story”.

“It didn’t just help me hear, it helped me be heard.”

Theo was born profoundly deaf and got cochlear implants when he was six months old.

“While other babies were chewing on toys, I was getting Bluetooth installed in my head,” Theo said.

“So basically, I was part cyborg before I could even sit up.”

— Theo

Theo attended NextSense preschool, where he “met other kids just like me”.

“At first, doctors thought the cochlear implant wouldn’t work very well for me as I had malformed cochlears.

“But with lots of hard work and lots of speech therapy and occupational therapy, I could hear, understand and talk well…to the point, now I don’t know how to turn off my voice, even when I am asleep.”

Theo is in Year 5 at a mainstream school and loves to read and perform.

“I really want to be an actor. I love drama—on stage, not in real life. I’ve been in an episode of ABC’s TV show Good Game, Spawn Squad, and I’ve done a couple of photo shoots.”

Theo said he enjoys gaming and LEGO.

“One teaches strategy, the other teaches pain – have you ever stepped on a Lego brick?”

Boy with medal around his neck

Theo said early intervention made it all possible.

“It didn’t just help me hear, it helped me be heard.

“So, if you’re wondering whether early support for deaf kids works—just take a look at me. I talk, I act, I game, I build, and I don’t have an off switch. I’m just getting started.”

NextSense Chief Executive, Chris Rehn, who is Co-Chair of First Voice, told the breakfast that listening to the six children “share their personal experiences of hearing loss, and the life-changing impact of cochlear implant technology when coupled with early support, is truly powerful”.

“The theme, The Power of My Team, was brought to life in every story we heard."

“Behind each confident child is a network of families, clinicians, educators, researchers, donors, policymakers, innovators and community supporters, all working side by side to help each child learn to listen, to speak and to thrive.”

— Chris Rehn