Shirley Ackehurst, right, in the audiology department with an audiologist at Flinders Medical Centre 40 years ago soon after receiving her cochlear implant. Image: FMC. South Australia’s first cochlear implant recipient Shirley Ackehurst has celebrated 40 years since her life-changing operation in April 1986, 10 years after Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) opened....
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Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No actionable change — this is a historical milestone piece with no new clinical guidance or evidence.
This milestone highlights how far cochlear implant technology and audiology services have come over four decades, underscoring the long-term life impact of early implantation programs in Australia.
- 01Flinders Medical Centre marks 40 years since South Australia's first cochlear implant surgery.
- 02Original recipient Shirley Ackehurst returned to celebrate the anniversary with the audiology team.
- 03The milestone reflects four decades of growth in cochlear implant programs across Australia.
- 04The story serves as a human-interest record of cochlear implant history in SA.