Genevieve Khoury, a patient of the University’s Auditory Implant Service, has won a national award that recognises outstanding students who have conquered their hearing loss.
Originally from Fareham, Genevieve, 20, beat contenders from across the UK to win the Cochlear UK & Ireland Graeme Clark Scholarship Award. She was presented with the award last week (6 July) by The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Cathie McEwing, at a ceremony in Southampton.
On being presented with the award, Genevieve said:
“I am delighted and extremely grateful to be rewarded the Graeme Clark Scholarship. Having cochlear implants has opened up a world of opportunities for me and has allowed me to fulfil my dream of studying medicine. I am very grateful to have had continuous help and support from all my friends, teachers, family and the staff at the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service.”
Genevieve, who is in her second year at University of Liverpool Medical School, struggled at school due to her profound deafness. The watershed that changed everything in her life happened in July 2011 when she received her first cochlear implant at the University’s Auditory Implant Service. She said:
“Previously, my hearing of high frequency sounds was limited and, as a result, my speech and vocabulary were often hbehind my school year group. I was able to finally hear birds sing and the ticking of the clock – which I had always assumed was a figure of speech.”
Dr Carl Verschuur, Director of the Auditory Implant Service, said:
“For over 25 years, the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service has been enabling people with severe to profound deafness to access the world of sound and all that comes with that. Genevieve should be hugely proud of her achievements and she is a great example of how cochlear implantation transforms lives and opens up opportunities in education, work and leisure for implant users.”
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