Laura was lucky; her health care trust took an autonomous decision in 2003 to sanction implants for adults who’d been deaf since birth. Within six months Laura could hear the whirr of her computer and conduct a conversation with Owen from opposite ends of the house. She could hear — rather than just feel – the engine of her car and spent time standing in her shower in the morning (even though you’re not meant to get the cochlear microphone wet) listening to the sound of the water. She was also horrified to discover the noises people made in public toilets. “Oh my God!” she said to her mother. “Do people hear this all the time?!”