Soundtrack of Silence: How Irrational Persistence Helped Me Hear Again | Matt Hay | TEDxWrigleyville

In this powerful TEDx talk, Matt Hay shares his inspiring journey of resilience and innovation after losing his hearing to Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a rare neurological disorder. Faced with a life-changing decision between saving his hearing and his life, Matt chose survival but embarked on an extraordinary process to reclaim sound through an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI). His "irrational persistence" led him to defy expectations, not only restoring his connection to vital life sounds but also rediscovering the joy of music and communication. Matt’s story highlights the remarkable adaptability, the power of persistence, and the profound impact of embracing new challenges with courage. This talk is an inspiring testament to human resilience and the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals. Matt Hay, has a long journey toward deafness and even longer journey toward learning to “hear” again with an experimental brainstem implant. He first publicly shared his story on a National Public Radio podcast titled Soundtrack of Silence. The intimate, funny and authentic peek at what it’s like to start a career, fall in love and build a life while battling a rare disease inspired actor Channing Tatum and Paramount Pictures to option the motion picture rights to Matt’s life story. Matt’s memoir Soundtrack of Silence was released in January 2024 by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan. It immediately earned a spot as an Amazon Best Seller within the Disability category.
When Matt isn’t adding tracks to the soundtrack of his life, he passionately supports the hearing loss community as a member of the Columbia University Genetic Counseling Advisory Board and previously as a consultant to the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx