Michael Goldsmith spent 32 days on a ventilator battling coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in March 2020. When recovering in a step-down unit, the father of two young children began to experience hearing loss in his left ear. After discovering his single-sided deafness and tinnitus, Goldsmith turned to J. Thomas Roland Jr., MD, director of NYU Langone’s Cochlear Implant Center and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

Dr. Roland told Goldsmith that while he would be the first patient he provided a cochlear implant for after a COVID-19 diagnosis, he was very optimistic Goldsmith was an excellent candidate.

Goldsmith had his surgery on September 25, 2020, followed by his activation on October 19. Since then, he is experiencing less tinnitus, which has contributed positively to his overall quality of life.

Read more from the American Cochlear Implant Alliance.