Deaf No More

Laurie Pullins was born with a profound hearing loss, but unlike many deaf people she never learned sign language. Laurie learned to read, talk and read lips in a program at Ohio State while she was a small child. Laurie learned to play the piano, and went to college where she met her husband. In 1998 Laurie went back to finish her degree in accounting at UT. In 2005 Laurie learned she was losing what little hearing she had and decided to get a cochlear implant, an electronic hearing device that is surgically installed in the patient. In January 2007 Laurie decided to get a second implant. Now Laurie can hear everything from the birds singing to the clock ticking on the wall. Laurie was appointed earlier this year to the Tennessee Council for the deaf and hard of hearing. Laurie says she wants to be a source of information and encouragement to those who haven't had the support system that she has had. Laurie also has a blog that documents her journey as a cochlear implant patient that she one day hopes to turn into a book.