- Joey Augusta only had 50% hearing in his right ear after contracting condition
- The 31-year-old, from Texas, overcome with emotion as he hears his loved ones
- As the camera pans around the room it shows his entire family crying with joy
This is the heart-warming moment a man hears for the first time in 30 years with his family surrounding him.
Having contracted spinal meningitis at 14-months-old, Joey Augusta was left with just 50% hearing in his right ear before receiving an implant in March 2012.
Just 30 minutes after the cochlear implant was activated, the 31-year-old can already hear the differences in people’s voices – something that is meant to take much longer than half an hour.
Having contracted spinal meningitis at 14-months-old, Joey Augusta was left with just 50% hearing in his right ear before receiving an implant in March 2012
Mr Augusta is overcome with emotion as it sinks in that he can actually hear his loved ones talk for the first time since he was a baby.
Composing himself, the audiologist begins to read out the names of colours, so he can repeat the sound and, after an initial mix-up, he reels them all off before breaking down into tears again.
After a quick pan of the room, the camera reveals there isn’t a dry eye in the house as Joey’s family react to this momentous occasion.
Just 30 minutes after the cochlear implant was activated, the 31-year-old can already hear the differences in people’s voices – something that is meant to take much longer than half an hour
The audiologist begins to read out the names of colours, so he can repeat the sound and, after an initial mix-up, he reels them all off before breaking down into tears again
Joey, from Austin, Texas, USA, said: ‘It was overwhelming to be able to hear things I’d never experienced before.
‘Just little things like leaves blowing in the wind, a clock ticking, birds chirping.
‘Everything was amazing. Finally, I didn’t have to rely on lip reading as much.’