A 103-year-old has become a world record breaker after becoming the oldest recipient to receive a cochlear hearing implant.

Leslie Hodgson, a retired architect from Penrith, walked into the Teesside hospital, on his 103rd birthday and asked for a cochlear implant to help him regain his hearing for the first time in ten years.

Mr Noweed Ahmad, consultant ENT, skullbase and auditory implant surgeon at the trust said: "Leslie walked into my clinic, told me it was his 103rd birthday and that (after researching it) he wanted a cochlear implant to restore his hearing.

"Discussing it with my colleagues and taking into account that he was also registered blind, we felt that we should carefully consider his request.

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"As long as it was safe and beneficial for Leslie – and he would have to be put through a number of tests to establish that – we could proceed, because quality of life in older patients has been shown to improve significantly with a cochlear implant.

"This remarkable man came to us for help and has shown that you are never too old to have a cochlear implant. It can be life changing," he said.

Deafness is the second most common disability in the UK. One in six of UK adults have a hearing loss and many suffer in silence. Only 5% of people in the UK who could benefit from a cochlear implant are estimated to have received one', said Mr Ahmad. 

The 103 year old also became the oldest person globally to receive a subtotal petrousectomy – a procedure to clear out the lining of his mastoid (part of the skull located just behind the ear).

Leslie whilst having trouble with his hearing is also registered blind and can only see things when they are up close.

"Blindness cuts you off from things but deafness cuts you off from people. Since his hearing deteriorated, Leslie had been trapped in a cocoon of silence made worse by blindness.

"He has no family left and used to communicate with friends through the telephone but could not any longer," Mr Ahmad said.

 

Ruth Cole, audiologist at the trust said: "We hope this will enable Leslie to communicate with those around him again and feel connected to his environment."

Despite the record-breaking operation to fix his hearing, Leslie looks to tackle his blindness next.

"Next year I want stem cell treatment for my eyes," Leslie said.

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