About Michael
Michael is a defense sector professional, hearing advocate, and single father living in Columbus, Ohio. In 2022, he became one of only three people in the world selected for a groundbreaking clinical trial of the fully internal Envoy Medical Acclaim® implant. His extraordinary adaptation has since redefined what’s possible in hearing science.
Diagnosed with severe sensorineural hearing loss, Michael had just 10% word recognition, even with hearing aids. Still, he navigated the world using instinct, lip-reading, and intuition—often surprising doctors who couldn’t explain how he was functioning.
After receiving the Acclaim® implant, Michael achieved full speech recognition in only four days—without therapy, hearing aids, or training. His experience is now considered a milestone in cochlear implant adaptation and a possible first in human history.
Michael didn’t pursue the trial for recognition—he did it for his 13-year-old son, Mickey, to finally hear every word, every laugh, every “I love you, Dad” without struggling to fill in the gaps.
The Heart Behind it All
At the heart of it all is Mickey. Below are a few moments that remind Michael why he started this journey—and why he won’t stop.
Michael didn’t pursue the trial for recognition—he did it for his 13-year-old son, Mickey, to finally hear every word, every laugh, every “I love you, Dad”