The Sound of Joy

Nicole Burr hears for the first time with her cochlear implant, 1987
Nicole Burr hears for the first time with her cochlear implant, 1987

The year was 1987. The Princess Bride hit the box office, stock markets around the world crashed on Black Monday and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted its first female artist, Aretha Franklin. It also marked the year that 7-year-old Nicole Burr, a kindergartner from Kalamazoo, became the first child to receive a cochlear implant in the state of Michigan.

Nicole was born with a hearing impairment that progressed to total deafness in February 1987. She recalls feelings of fear on the morning that she woke up with spontaneous hearing loss, unable to hear her mother’s voice. Nicole and her family pursued the expertise of the University of Michigan’s Cochlear Implant Program, widely-regarded as one of the foremost hearing centers in the United States. Nicole underwent rigorous medical and audiological testing to determine if she was a candidate for surgery. After approximately six months of testing, Nicole was cleared for surgery. She became Michigan’s first pediatric cochlear implant patient in December 1987.

“I will never forget the sweet sound of my parents’ voices when they first turned on my implant,” says Nicole. “It had been such a long time since I had been able to hear them.”

Nicole was fitted with a first-generation cochlear implant. The device was powered with four AA batteries, which Nicole carried in a pouch on a belt around her stomach. 

“It is absolutely amazing technology,” says Nicole. “It is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Nicole Burr
Nicole Burr, 2014

Fast forward 27 years, to January 2014. Nicole is a successful children’s case manager at North Country Community Mental Health in Petoskey. She has an associate’s degree in early childhood education, a bachelor’s degree in social work and is currently a graduate student in social work at Grand Valley State University. She is nothing short of a success story. 

That’s not to say that Nicole’s success didn’t come without struggles. 

“Everyone has challenges, but you can overcome them. With faith, courage and optimism, you can do anything that you set your mind to,” says Nicole.

This has been Nicole’s life motto, propelling her through elementary school, middle school, high school and eventually college. She was mainstreamed into Petoskey Public Schools in the fifth grade, where she received great support from her teachers and classmates alike. Speech therapy gave her the skills needed to maintain confident social interactions with her peers and to help her excel in school. She received all A’s and B’s during her elementary and secondary education and was frequently on the honor roll.

Nicole also enjoyed a supportive environment during college. She communicated regularly and openly with her instructors, who were very understanding and worked with her to meet her educational needs. 

“I’m not ashamed of my hearing loss, and I’m certainly not afraid to ask for help when and where I need it,” says Nicole. “I’m extremely independent, and I like to take care of myself.” 

Today Nicole looks forward to completing her master’s degree in May 2015. Her ultimate goal is to be a motivational speaker. She has taken the first step in that direction, volunteering with Cochlear Americas. She travels the country, sharing her story and encouraging others to remain positive.

“I have had so much support in my life. I just want to give back and make a difference.”

Nicole calls her hearing loss journey “The Sound of Joy" due to the great joy her cochlear implant has brought to her life. She credits her personal success to the many U-M medical providers, friends and family who have supported her along the way.

“I am forever grateful and blessed.”