No More Laughing at the Deaf Boy

Geoffrey R. Ball was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1964 but raised in Silicon Valley. Diagnosed with severe hearing loss as a young child, he grew up to become a leading researcher in the field of hearing implants and co-founder of several companies. Today he is widely recognized as an entrepreneur and inventor who never took the easy road to achievement. The hearing implants he developed are now being implanted in over 60 countries worldwide.

"This story is a story like no other. It is from the most creative and passionate man I know. This story is about taking a personal challenge and turning it into a positive and pushing technology to its limits to reach a breakthrough that has helped many thousands of desperate people. It is about the limitless potential for creativity. Mostly, though this story is about someone who never ever gives up chasing a dream, a vision. When Geoffrey called me worried about the chances of survival for his Vibrant Soundbridge, I knew, this warm-heated, most creative and passionate man would be a perfect fit." Doz. DI Dr. DDr. med.hc Ingeborg Hochmair, CEO Med-El"It was the contagious originality and determination of Geoff that made me accept in 1994 his offer to lead his European Clinical Study Group in Zürich, Switzerland. The time I spent working with him and his team until the first surgical implantation of the Vibrant Soundbridge on August 27. 1997 has been one of the most inspiring of my professional life." Prof. Dr. med. Ugo Fisch, Professor Emeritus & Head of ENT Department University Hospital Zürich Switzerland, implanted the first Vibrant Soundbridge worldwide. "Life involves hard times and miracles for all of us. This is the story of a man who not only overcame his own disability but went the extra mile to pass on the miracle of hearing implants to so many others. Through Geoff's book, we learn about his spirit for which no challenge is too big, his never ending curiosity and his absolute determination to see it all through to the successful end."- Prof. Gregor Weihs, University of Innsbruck"If there is a way to sustainably use active middle ear implants in chronic otitis media, Geoff will find it."- Prof. Dr. med. Alexander Huber, UniversitätsSpital, Zürich(during the 'Wiener' Dinner in Goteborg 1996)"Geoff's mind is a unique blend of unbounded curiosity, lightning quick intelligence, and joyful good humor. Given that, interesting things