Advanced Bionics

09/09/2026

Sarah Barney’s mum shares his cochlear implant journey and incredible rugby success 💙🏉

“Barney was born profoundly deaf with no known cause and received AB cochlear implants at 15 months. From the very start, he embraced sound—his switch-on was full of fascination, not fear.

He attended a mainstream primary school and quickly showed a love for physical activity (including being the first to climb the ‘non-climbable’ fence!). Football came first, but tag rugby in Year 5 sparked something bigger.

At 12, after months of persuasion, we let him join a local rugby club. With the right advice and protection—and inspired by Jodie Ounsley—there was no stopping him.

Since then, Barney has gone from strength to strength. In 2024 he was selected for Bracknell’s first team, earned a place in Bath Rugby’s development squad, and progressed into their Academy. Now 6ft 5, he’s training intensively while studying at The Henley College’s elite rugby programme, playing for Ealing Trailfinders and training with Deaf England U18s.

We are so proud of everything he’s achieved so far. His dream is to become a professional rugby player—and we can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Thank you to Barney and his family for sharing such an inspiring story 💫



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

19/08/2026

“I first began experiencing minor hearing challenges around the age of 30. At the time, it was believed to have been caused by an ear infection. Over the years, however, my hearing continued to deteriorate and eventually affected both ears. By the age of 48, I was fitted with hearing aids through the NHS. During this time, I had also started circuit racing around the UK — something I had dreamed of since I was 11 years old. As I gained experience, I pushed myself further, moving into larger and faster cars and competing at higher levels.

By 2005, I had progressed to racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time. It was an incredible achievement, but my hearing was becoming an increasing challenge. In the car, surrounded by engine noise and track conditions, it was becoming harder and harder to hear what the team was telling me from the pits. My hearing aids could not work in the same way as other drivers’ ear plugs, and there simply was not enough amplification to give me both the volume and clarity I needed.

Over the next 20 years, I continued racing across Europe and further afield, but communication from the pits became an ever-growing challenge. In 2021, Aston Martin and Prodrive created a message system for me that worked a little like texting, using 32 pre-programmed messages. It was a great help, but it still did not offer the same level of communication available to other drivers.
In 2025, I received a Marvel cochlear implant from Advanced Bionics, and it has been superb. It has improved my hearing in ways I never dreamt were possible. Working with Roger 3 and the waterproof kit has opened up even more possibilities. I have even been snorkelling – a completely new experience for me. I am also able to wear a crash helmet over my implant using the waterproof kit, which means I can hear the car better and pick up on potential issues before they become more serious.

In 2026, I am racing an Aston Martin in British GT, competing across circuits from Spa to Silverstone. The season has already been successful, with two podium finishes so far. We are now working with the amazing GBR Stratton, MRTC, and the wonderful Team BRIT — who support disabled drivers — to maximise the potential of Roger 3, including communication from the car to the pits. This could help bring me even closer to the level of communication other drivers experience.

Advanced Bionics has not only helped me hear better in everyday life; it has helped me continue doing what I love at the highest level. My Marvel CI has given me access to sound, clarity, and confidence I never thought possible.”

Good luck for the rest of the 2026 season John and we can’t wait to hear how you get on! 💙

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

10/08/2026

Sometimes it’s the little things. 💙
Hearing your name.
Catching laughter.
Feeling part of the moment.
These are the moments that matter.

What’s a recent hearing win you’ve had?

29/07/2026

"Being prepared with a daily routine gives me confidence for spontaneity and fun, especially on holidays. To make sure I’m prepared, I always keep my cochlear implant and other medical supplies in my carry-on baggage in case my check-in baggage gets lost – such as the wire, headpiece, microphones, extra accessories for my aqua kit to wear my cochlear implants during swimming, etc. After swimming, I ensure my waterproof headpiece is kept in the dehumidifier. I also keep my processors in the dehumidifier that night to ensure the implants are completely dry after swimming.

Keeping my supplies in my carry-on is a highly crucial step to take. Additionally, I keep a note from my audiologist in case the airport security questions your cochlear implants and spare parts, especially in counties where cochlear implants are uncommon. Since technology in security has improved, we can go through metal detectors.

During overnight flights alone or with a loved one, I usually take my implants off when the cabin crew dims the lights to ensure I get better sleep and feel refreshed when I land."

Read more about Shobana's tips for travelling with a CI:
https://www.advancedbionics.com/com/en/home/communities/1/ab-connections-blog/blog-articles/shobana-daily-life



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

15/07/2026

Amanda, Alana’s mum, shares Alana’s recent synchronised swimming success…

“Alana recently competed in a synchronised swimming competition, and we are so proud to say that she and her partner won both the Club Duet Competition and the South West Grade 2 Competition — taking home two gold medals and a trophy!

Thank you, Advanced Bionics, for the cochlear implant technology that allows her to hear while swimming. None of this would be possible without her Marvel CI and Waterproof Battery.”

Huge congratulations to Alana and her partner — what an amazing achievement! 👏🏅



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

09/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the world’s first Sound Free Concert.

Advanced Bionics was proud to sponsor this truly unique event, created exclusively for Advanced Bionics Marvel CI wearers.

A concert with no speakers, no instruments and no sound in the air — only live-coded music streamed directly to cochlear implant hearing devices.

Thank you to Outcome Path for organising such a thought-provoking and innovative experience, and to every Marvel CI wearer who joined us at King’s Place, London, for this special moment in music history.

It was a powerful celebration of access, creativity and what it means to experience sound differently.

Watch the highlights of the event here…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4dWt7tZOHg

A highlights reel for The World’s First Sound Free Concert took pla...

07/07/2026

“Hello, my name is David, and I am an Advanced Bionics bilateral cochlear implant user.

As a deaf Peloton rider and runner, technology has made a huge difference to my sense of inclusion. My Peloton Bike+ and Peloton Tread, combined with my Advanced Bionics cochlear implants, have helped me feel fully part of the experience.

For me, Peloton is about more than fitness. With subtitles available during classes, I can follow the instructor, take part in live rides and runs, enjoy the energy of the community, and feel completely engaged.

After years of feeling isolated in gyms, Peloton and my AB Marvel CIs have helped me feel 100% part of the community. They have given me motivation, connection, and the confidence to keep going — one ride or run at a time.

I have now maintained a continuous exercise routine for 282 weeks since getting my Peloton Bike+ and, later, my Peloton Tread. They have become an essential part of my health routine.

Thank you, Peloton and Advanced Bionics, for helping make this possible.”

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story, David. Keep up the fantastic work! 👏



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

13/05/2026

Neha shares Samarth’s inspiring swimming journey 💙🏊‍♂️

“Samarth was born profoundly deaf in both ears and received AB cochlear implants at just 13 months old. I truly believe his implants have given him opportunities he wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Now 12, Samarth has always loved being in the water. He started swimming lessons at 4½, and his passion has only grown stronger.
In 2025, he competed in the London Para Youth Games, representing Tower Hamlets. He achieved an incredible gold medal in the 25m freestyle with a time of 19.34 seconds, and placed second in the 25m backstroke. Although an administrative error meant he missed out on receiving his silver medal, we are so proud of his achievements. He was also felicitated by the Mayor of our borough.

This success has motivated him even more—he now trains three times a week and has joined a competitive club, Sharks Swimming. He’s currently preparing for the 2026 GB Deaf Swimming National Championships.

Having waterproof batteries means Samarth can hear his coaches, follow instructions, and respond to the whistle—something that’s made a huge difference. Swimming just wouldn’t be the same without his AquaKit.”

We’re so proud of Samarth and can’t wait to see what he achieves next 🌟



𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

27/04/2026

We’re proud to sponsor the world’s first Sound Free Concert.

Imagine this…A piece of music that doesn’t exist… until it’s created live only for cochlear implant wearers to access.

A composer and GenAI code it in real time. It’s performed once. Then permanently deleted.
No recording.
No replay.
No second chance.
And you can’t hear it… unless you’re meant to.
There are no speakers. No instruments. No sound in the air.
Instead, the music is live coded and streamed digitally directly to hearing devices worn by cochlear implant users.
This moment exists only for cochlear implant wearers. Even the composer, with typical hearing, will never experience their own work.
A complete reversal of what access to music means. Redefining what “sound” means, if there were never any soundwaves and those with typical hearing cannot hear it, reframing inclusion.
A one-off experience.
Gone the moment it ends.
Shared only by those hearing device wearers in the room.

📍 King’s Place, London
📅 Saturday 9 May 2026
🕠 5.30–9.00pm

This is an 18+ event.
Attendance is exclusively for Advanced Bionics Marvel CI cochlear implant wearers.

If that’s you… this moment is yours.
https://bit.ly/SoundFreeConcert

03/03/2026

Happy World Hearing Day from Advanced Bionics! 🎉

From communities to classrooms, we’re championing hearing care for all children. At AB, we’re proud to be part of Sonova—offering hearing care solutions which support children and their families along every step of their hearing journey. With their hearing aids and cochlear implants, countless children around the world are connecting with their communities and thriving in the classroom, living a life without limitations. Let’s take this day to celebrate their resilience and success!

Learn more: https://www.advancedbionics.com/