Milestone reached at the University's pioneering cochlear implant centre

Mrs Karen McDonnell has become the 100th adult to regain her hearing after receiving an implant at the South of England Cochlear Implant Centre, part of the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research.

To celebrate this milestone, adults and children who have received cochlear implants at Southampton will be attending a special party at the University's Staff Club on Saturday 24 January.

Mrs McDonnell underwent a four-hour operation to fit the internal implant on 28 November 2003. The 37-year-old from Salisbury was then given the external part of the device in December and was able to hear sound for the first time in time for Christmas.

Karen's eight-year-old son, James said the implant was a wonderful gift for his Mum because it meant she could hear her six-year-old daughter, Sophie say "Happy Christmas" for the first time. Karen commented: "It's like music going up and down" when she heard through the implant for the first time. She is now able to recognise a ringing phone, which she could not do before despite hearing aids.

The 100 adults and children who have received implants at Southampton will be at a special party at the University's Staff Club, Highfield Campus, University Road, on Saturday 24 January at 12.00 noon.