Person

Saunders, Rod

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    Photograph showing Rod Saunders speaking with his wife using the first speech processor developed by the University of Melbourne's Department of Otolaryngology, courtesy of Graeme Clark Foundation website http://graemeclarkfoundation.org/how-the-cochlear-implant-bionic-ear-functions/.
    Details

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    Rod Saunders speaks with his wife Margaret with his new wearable speech processor, 1979, courtesy of Graeme Clark.
    Details

Summary

Rod Saunders was the first person to have their hearing restored and understand speech with the aid of a cochlear implant (bionic ear). Saunders received the implant in a surgical procedure conducted by Graeme Clark at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne on 1 August 1978.

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Related Cultural Objects

Related People

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection

  • Papers of Graeme M. Clark, 1944-2012 [manuscript], 1944 - 2012, MS 8696; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details

The University of Melbourne Archives

  • Department of Otolaryngology - Bionic Ear Records, 1949 - 2000, 2004.0043 at U77/46-55; The University of Melbourne Archives. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Worthing, Mark, Graeme Clark: The Man Who Invented the Bionic Ear (Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 2015), 221 pp. Details

Resources

Digital resources

Title
Photograph showing Rod Saunders speaking with his wife using the first speech processor developed by the University of Melbourne's Department of Otolaryngology
Type
Image
Source
Graeme Clark Foundation website http://graemeclarkfoundation.org/how-the-cochlear-implant-bionic-ear-functions/

Details

Title
Rod Saunders speaks with his wife Margaret with his new wearable speech processor
Type
Image
Date
1979
Source
Graeme Clark

Details

Title
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Bionic Ear Institute and meets the first adult (Rod Saunders) and young child (Bryn Davies) who previously had implants
Type
Image
Date
2000
Source
Graeme Clark

Details

Jack Roberts

Created: 26 June 2016, Last modified: 10 October 2016

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