Chezi Pollack: Teen with Cochlear Implants Shares His Hearing Thoughts

Join me on this empowEARing podcast with Chezi Pollack! Chezi is a teenager with bilateral cochlear implants who has advice for all of us…don’t give up!  Life has its challenges, you can climb over those challenges, and greatness will come your way. Chezi was born in the United States and spent his first 11 years here before moving to Isreal. Join me for this empowEARing episode as Chezi shares about the obstacles he has overcome, his cochlear implant journey, a move to his new country of Isreal at the age of 11 years, and now his mission to share his everyday hearing journey of living with hearing loss with the world on his podcast, My Hearing Thoughts.  

Take a listen to Chezi’s podcast on Spotify at:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5sB8mardhGjHC9sQimRqVs?si=40f9969fc21b424a

You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/empowear-audiology-podcast

For more information about Dr. Carrie Spangler- check out her Linktree at https://linktr.ee/carrie.spangler.

For transcripts of this episode- visit the podcast website at: https://empowearaudiology.buzzsprout.com

Transcript

Announcer: [00:00:00] Welcome to episode 52 of Empower Ear Audiology with Dr. Carrie Spangler.
Carrie: [00:00:16] Welcome to the Empower Ear Audiology Podcast, a production of the Digital Media Network. I am your host, Dr. Carrie Spangler. A passionate, deaf and hard of hearing audiologist. Each episode will bring an empowering message surrounding audiology and beyond. Thank you for spending time with me today and let's get started with today's episode. Welcome to the Empower Audiology podcast, and I have a special guest joining me today from all the way across the world for me. He is an Israel and it is a pleasure to finally connect with you. Chezi, thank you for joining me today.
Chezi: [00:01:01] No, no worries. Thank you so much for having me.
Carrie: [00:01:04] So I must say that our deaf and hard of hearing world is a really small community and people can get connected when you least expect it. So for us, we have a common connector, Dr. Don Goldberg. And I know as we get into the interview today, I'm going to ask you later on how he became an important part of your life. But to get started today, I'm just wanted to share a little bit about you. You are a teenager that has a really empowering story to tell about your own hearing journey, about getting cochlear implants, about starting a podcast called My Hearing Thoughts. And I just can't wait to get started with this interview. So to begin today, can you just share a little bit about how you were identified with hearing loss? Kind of go back in time and give me a historical perspective. Yeah.
Chezi: [00:02:04] Yeah. So I'm going to jump all the way back from the beginning. So my mom and dad had me on October 4th, 2006, and originally I was born meant to be born on January 21st, meaning I was a preemie. I was born 16 weeks early. And as you know, that baby has to go on the next year and get a lot of support and medicine. And this for me, it was really hard for my parents because they were like, I could have died. So they had to give me medicine. Now, at the time it was very emotional for them. So they were there like literally every step of the way. I was there for four months and the time they didn't, they gave me medicine and. It helped me a lot. I think I don't know so much, but all I know is that throughout when they gave me the medicine, it affected my hearing. And at the time, my parents didn't know that I couldn't hear.  Around when I was finally one year old, when I was finally a baby, one year old. They took me to a hearing test. And the doctor, I don't know who the doctor was, but he said. Um, to my parents. Because you can't hear. He can't hear anything. He didn't respond to any of the. The things that they were doing to any of the tasks that they had given me involved doing. So at the point my parents were really. Devastating. They did the most they could. Everyone prayed for me in the community. And then this is when they started looking into where I lived in for basically my whole life.
Chezi: [00:03:49] Originally, I lived I was born in New York and I lived there for one year. But after I got hearing loss, they started looking into more where more places were. It can help me with my hearing. So they found Cleveland and over there they found Cleveland Clinic and that's how they found Dr. Don, which I'm sure we'll get into later. And what they did was so they looked into it and seeing how it could help me with my hearing loss. And they also had to see how they could build on the life they got, what jobs they could do and how they know help me. And eventually they found Cleveland Clinic. And now how it's like the number one hospital for heart surgery and it's really great hospital. And at the time they were like, this seems that it can be really good for Chezi, can help him with his hearing loss. And then we moved it and we lived there for 11 years until we moved to Israel. So it was like a big part of my life also because my friends was the my friends were there and my teachers were there. And so we're getting a little off topic, but. I got my first implant, The Cleveland Clinic, by Dr. Woodson. I think I can't I don't know if I'm saying that, but anyway, she gave me my first cochlear implant when I was four years old. But from a baby. When I was a baby, I had a hearing aid. But at four years old I got my first cochlear implant on my left ear. So this one.
Carrie: [00:05:21] Okay.
Chezi: [00:05:22] Then when I was in first grade, so seven years old, I got my second implant. On my right side. And that's pretty much how I got my hearing loss and how we came to Cleveland and why we're out.
Carrie: [00:05:36] So I'm. Your diagnosis at age one to age four, you are hearing aids in both ears. Is that correct?
Chezi: [00:05:46] I'm pretty sure one year, but yeah, two years.
Carrie: [00:05:49] And then you got Do you remember anything about getting your cochlear implant at least when you were seven? Do you remember?
Chezi: [00:05:59] I think if I remember from four years old. So when I was little, I was obsessed until, like, these little animated kids shows. So I don't know. Have you heard of Strawberry Shortcake? Yeah. So all I can remember is when I woke up. This is when I was four years, by the way. So when I woke up, I remember there being a DVD player on my lap, having strawberry shortcake, and I just woke up from the surgery. I'm like, to my mom and dad. What is this? That I could barely speak. So I was probably talking like a baby's voice, like, what is this? But the I was just watching. They gave me a popsicle. It's like help. It'd be easier. And I'm pretty sure of like, I'm pretty sure I got a headache after. So they gave me a popsicle to calm down. And I just remember waking up to the theme music and then watching that. And then there's another I have another memory of getting mine at seven years old. And this time it was I woke up, but I saw my mom in front of me and the doctorr said, Just finished. I got another popsicle. I don't I forget what this one it's called, but it's red at the top. White in the middle and blue on the bottom and. I never asked for help. And I went to the and I was zig zagging.
Chezi: [00:07:20] I had just woken up and it was so hard to walk. Also, because I had this big bandage on my head since I just got my second implant. So my parents were. And then right after, not long after they closed. I don't know how to describe it, but it's Cleveland Clinic where they do the surgery. It was like a big film notch, like, What's my room? So they put a coat around me. I change, and then I just left. They were done. They told me the next time I need to come in and check in. And that was it. I remember my mom carried me and and my grandparents were there because my mom and dad both work at the same school. So they went to the. One the hospital to put it back. My dad went back to teaching. My mom stayed for this day also because she had just given birth to my little sister Habiba, who was a few months old. So she stayed home for the day and my grandparents with my sister. She wanted me because she was a baby, but I stayed home. My grandparents from my mom's side were there and just kept after me and watched me for I think if I'm correct, it was two weeks I got off and yeah, that's how that's the only thing I know.
Carrie: [00:08:37] Do you remember when you were activated then for the first time when they actually put that turned on the implant?
Chezi: [00:08:47] I do remember a little bit. It was like life changing because to me, I always like to put on hearing aid. But when I put the cochlear implant on, it was like a new life experiment, I guess you could say, because it had a new way of being a processor and adjusting. And normally, like this happens a few times where I lose my implant or it dies throughout the day. So I wear a different one and I take to school. And only when that other one's on, when I put the other one on, it just goes really. And that like that moment before it heals that way because I'm wearing like the Nucleus 6 and now I'm putting back on the Nucleus 7 and they have a similar viewing program, I guess you could say. So it's a different way of hearing and his way differently. So that's how I felt and what sound like when I first put out my. I'm like, This is life changing. It's just so much better. And it's just been amazing.
Carrie: [00:09:51] And I know when you first get the cochlear implant, it sounds so much different than what a hearing aid would sound like. So I am assuming that that's kind of where Dr. Don Goldberg came into your life. Can you share a little bit about how you met him?
Chezi: [00:10:10] Yeah, So if I'm correct, Dr. Don, in my interview, he said that when your baby it's normally a playdate with the kids and the parents, they go for learning because Dr. Don helps them learning with how they can talk to that and how they communicate with them because it's a little harder. So my mom and dad when I was a little baby, but. As time goes on, when I have my cochlear implant, that's when Dr. Don  really came into the picture. I remember learning all of these things. We would always this like browns black sack. I don't know what it's called, but he put it over his mouth. He would say the sounds and you would go over and over with the hearing. So it would help me, my sound and my words. And then we would also we learned all of the 50 countries of the 50 states not countries and us A and we would do like these games if I asked how much longer I would lose a penny and there was a whole jar penny or he'd give snacks and you had to wait and you had to choose and you had to, like, make these big life decisions between two big snacks. Like, oh my gosh, what do I want, a fruit roll up or Cheez-It? And all. All. It did just help me feel better. I think it helped me became a better person and helped me think positive and not be like, Oh, I'm never going to get this right. It helped me not give up and help me become a better person. So that's why my slogan is Cheer positive. Think positive. Like I only feel good and I hear better and I think positive. And I'm like, That was really hard. But I did it. But Dr. Don, he was with me for so long, and then he came into my the 13th birthday, my bar mitzvah. He came all the way from America to Israel. So that was a big moment. But he's really been a big part of my life now. I was so glad I got to have that interview with him.
Carrie: [00:12:10] Yeah, well, I'm glad that your parents did all that research ahead of time to find a great place for you to get your cochlear implants and have the follow up care that you needed afterwards, too. And to have a it always takes a village of people to surround you when in this community. So you found it.
Chezi: [00:12:33] Actually, I remember Dr. Don in an interview. He, my dad and mom were very protective then so they answer that a checked Dr. Don out,  which I thought was kind of funny. So they're like a madam. And I'm like, okay, what are your qualities? What what we do? What is your main goal? And that after that, everything when I was history, I become a better person in my healing was way better.
Carrie: [00:12:59] Good So kind of moving into your So you lived in the United States for the year for 11 years, right?
Chezi: [00:13:07] Yes. So when I moved to Israel, 12 and a half.
Carrie: [00:13:10] Okay. So how was it going to school in the United States?
Chezi: [00:13:16] Well, to me it's like really different because in the United States at school, I'm speaking my first language, but also, like all the teachers knew about my hearing loss, I knew how to dealt with it. They knew that I have a microphone. They knew that I got tooken out for speech and they knew that I was it was a call for me. And of course, they were teaching me my first language. So it was way easier. And I had like there were a few other kids in my old school, one kid in my other grade that has a hearing aid not a member thing. It's always nice to know someone that who understands and knows what it's like to learn enough hearing loss. And so it's way different than I expected. Like the first year I came, it was a new beginning. And then I'm like, No, now. The second year as a new beginning because the first year Corona happened and one it was on Zoom two, I was learning a different language everyone was in. It was way harder for me because of my hearing. I'm like in the first row of the class and so many computers. So the internet broke off. It was way harder. But really, to me it was the second year it was my beginning and it's when I developed the new words and understood everything and with my hearing loss, I finally did it. And then the first three years I did open, which means like you basically go put off class and you learn new words in a different language and sentences and helped you. So after three years, I'm on my fourth year now, I'm going to Israel and I still have a little hard time, but I can say that I now able to have a full conversation and I have managed. I pulled through.
Carrie: [00:15:00] Wow, that's amazing. So the different accommodations or supports that you ask for because you're learning a new language and then you have your hearing loss on top of it.
Chezi: [00:15:12] Yeah. So besides open, I've had I go to something called Shema where there's other kids like me who have hearing loss different ways. If it's a hearing aid, if it's I forget what's called the mic that you put on your head and you can hear.
Carrie: [00:15:30] Baha yeah.
Chezi: [00:15:30] Yeah. Or if it's a cochlear implant this I go every once they say I'll be going tomorrow because it's Tuesday anyway. So it's so great to have all these kids that are like me, different age, but we're all friends and they're like me and it's so great. And that's something I really like to do because open but also I don't know if I mentioned, but I have a twin brother. My twin brother Gobby were identical, so people say we always look alike. So I'm always like, Didn't I just see you? I was like, No, that's my twin brother, Gobby. So he's a main part of my life. He's helped me. So if I don't understand anything, go translate and he'll make sure my hearing is okay and that nothing's wrong. So Gobby is also a big part of my life helping me. And even though I don't say it to him, he's really an amazing brother.
Carrie: [00:16:21] Wow, that's great that you have all of those supports and then that group of other students just like you, too, in Israel that you can connect with. And so do you have special like do you have special tutoring or do you use like assistive technology in the classroom, like a remote microphone or anything like that?
Chezi: [00:16:44] Well, I do use a microphone. It's called a mini mic. So it's like the pompom is that you say the thing you put on your head, like, that's metal. It's like that. Exactly. Except when I press the button on, I just hold my stance for 3 seconds and then it goes straight to the mini mic and the teacher will put it on it top of the shirt, whatever he or she's wearing. And I just feel way better. Like all of his or her words go straight to the microphone and I hear way better. I'm about special tutoring. For the last three years I went to AV, so that's like a speech therapy for me. So in Israel and then I'm from Shima that I go to every Wednesday. I had a tutor every Monday.
Carrie: [00:17:38] Okay, well, that's great. So I guess, like, kind of thinking about you now as a teenager, and I am an educational audiologist, so I work in the schools with a lot of kids from preschool all the way to graduation. And I know that the teenage years can be tough for anyone, but especially when you have a cochlear implant or your deaf or hard of hearing. Do you have any advice for teenagers who are out there that might be deaf or hard of hearing?
Chezi: [00:18:15] My advice is. Don't give up. I've always believed that life has its challenges, even if it's a challenge to the whole life, or just a time when things get tough. Life has its own challenges, but if you can climb over it and master it the right way, only like greatness will come to you. You will achieve only great things and you can do a few in a different way. So for me, I write my own songs and I just put out my own personal experiences for my hearing loss or how it affects me. And I just write it down. And to me that's my achievements. I'm writing songs, but I'm also sharing it on my podcast, my hearing thoughts, or I'm a few people I know are using it, and to me that's like my way of achieving it. But also I've had some challenges like having hearing loss and moving to Israel at 12 years old with learning a new language, especially with hearing loss. Those are my challenges, but I'm sure I have many more to come, but I will get through them. But to anyone who has hearing loss with a teenager, things get tough, but it's worth it to get through the challenges and everything will be okay. Trust me, I've had my share of trouble.
Carrie: [00:19:32] Well, that's a great mindset to have, and I love that you have an outlet of writing songs to get your emotions out there, but to be able to share with other people too, who may need the experiences that you have and share. So getting to your podcast too, I love talking to other podcasters and I know you have a podcast on Spotify called My Hearing Thoughts. So what made you start this podcast?
Chezi: [00:20:06] So it was all on a Saturday morning, but Saturday afternoon, but we call it Shabbat. I was with my dad. We were just chilling. It's this was like in the afternoon and I was like to my dad, Hey, Daddy. Hey, Dad. I want to have a more way to, like, end these questions. I always just ask questions when I meet new people or some of my friends about everything, about my hearing loss. And I'm like, How can I end it? How can I have a way? What if they ask questions? They just go to a website or something and they have all the answers from me. My dad's like, Why don't you make a podcast? Your uncle has a podcast. And I'm like, That is a great idea. So the whole rest of the day, I was just with my dad and my mom thinking of podcast ideas and I'm like, I want something to say about my thoughts, what I think and what I know of it and my perspectives, but also like something that mentions, Oh, I have a hearing loss. So that's how I came up with my hearing thoughts. And in the beginning it was just about saying my perspectives from each thing on how I listen to music straight to my implant, like Bluetooth or how I swim or how I sleep, or how I read or how I go in the shower or how I listen in the class or in big crowds, in stadiums, and eventually to also my music, the songs I write, because I also put my feelings through experiences of hearing loss or just regular trouble that I've had and challenges that go through my music.
Chezi: [00:21:41] And I also talk about that on the podcast, on my hearing thoughts related to my hearing loss and. Now, recently, I just like I've been working on my songs and trying to find those challenges of making loss. So I just took a break from my podcast, but I'm now in back four new episodes every Sunday. But anyway, but my music really, to me, that's why I want to do my podcast. I want to get. Answers of. People have asked me about my hearing loss out onto my podcast. So listen, instead of asking me, but also my music. So I switched one episode, and normally in the music episode I did, I'm like, Please share this. It really means a lot to me. I want to grow up to be a singer songwriter and I want to inspire people. And I still do that. I still do that outside of podcasts. Well, now I grow into not just being by myself. I have on my podcast segment. So do games or do a segment about my song I write. I will do a segment about my hearing loss or a question someone asked me or I at the bottom of my description, there's a link where they can send a voice message and I play on my podcast.
Chezi: [00:22:54] But now what I really do is I, I realized a few months ago this is all wrong for my podcast like you do. I want to get other perspectives of hearing loss. I don't want to just get mine. I want I ask people, what is it like for them to break down the hearing loss barrier and what they think of hearing loss and what they how they feel about kids have hearing loss. And I try to get other perspectives, but I ask like I also get my family and friends on the show and ask them what the how their life was for when I came in the picture. And I really try to get those messages out with hearing loss. Be who you are, Don't give it. Everything happens for a reason and I try to get other perspectives out. And that's what I've been doing lately. And that's also one of the reasons why I'm really glad that I'm on your show, that you reached out to me because I'm getting my own perspective out on your show. And it can grow not just your podcast, but my podcast more. And we can help people hearing loss more and we can spread a message. So that's also a main thing about my podcast I love.
Carrie: [00:24:00] Yeah, No, I think that idea of having the everyday life questions and answering those is so important because those are the question that parents who, you know most of the time parents who have a child who has hearing loss, this is new to them because they that that's the first experience they've had with hearing loss. So for you to be a teenager thinking about your everyday life and the questions that you get every day and answering those questions in these small, thoughtful ways, and your podcast, my hearing Thoughts, is going to be a great resource for parents, for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing for teenagers, for young kids, and it really impacts a lot of different people. So thank you for putting all of that out there, because I know you have so many episodes already of, you know, advice and your own hearing thoughts. That's but I love expanding to other perspectives as well.
Chezi: [00:25:07] Thank you so much. That really means a lot like something I'm putting into. A lot can just help and make a difference.
Carrie: [00:25:14] Yeah, well, as we kind of wrap up today, is there anything that I didn't ask you that you had wanted to share today on the Empower Your Audiology podcast?
Chezi: [00:25:28] I actually wanted to ask you if it was okay, your hearing loss. I don't know if you explained on your podcast, but I'm curious to know, like during your hearing loss journey, was there any challenge that you went through that you think that's like? Something big that you could also take out as a message, like to me?
Carrie: [00:25:53] Yeah. I think your message of, you know, not giving up and and staying positive is is a message that is important to me as well. And that's kind of why I have the name of EmpowEAR Audiology. I wish that I would have had someone like you that was giving advice when I was younger. And I think that's probably one of the I think important takeaways for me is growing up, I never knew anybody else that was deaf or hard of hearing, and I thought that was hard. And I grew up in the Cleveland area as well, so south of Cleveland. And I think being able to have connections with others and know that you're not the only one out there who is going through this journey and your perspective or your journey might be different than somebody else's. But knowing that there's somebody that has a similar perspective or similar experiences, that is really important. So I think that would be my key takeaway is that connection piece.
Chezi: [00:27:07] Yeah, I totally agree with you. Yeah.
Carrie: [00:27:11] Well, I just want to say thank you for spending some time with me today sharing your hearing journey and this podcast and your willingness to share your everyday experiences and navigating life as a teenager who has cochlear implants is really going to help others. And thank you for your podcast, My hearing thoughts, and I would definitely link that up in the show notes today for anyone who would like to follow you and your day to day experiences and everything that you're going to do to continue to expand. So thank you for being a part of today's podcast.
Announcer: [00:27:53] Thank you so much for having me on the show. This has been a production of the 3C Digital Media Network.