From Silence to a World of Colours: Celebrating Cochlear Implant Users’ Achievements in Libya
Aya Elshikhi reports on the Libyan Conference of Otolaryngology and the 5th Libyan International Cochlear Implant Conference, hosted by the University of Benghazi.
About the Conference
The event brought together many experts and specialists in cochlear implantation, including ENT surgeons, audiologists, cochlear implant programming specialists, and auditory-verbal rehabilitation specialists.
The conference welcomed experts from several Arab countries, including Qatar, Oman, two experts from Jordan, and six experts from Egypt. They represented different areas of cochlear implant care, including surgery, audiology, device programming, and rehabilitation.
The scientific programme included several lectures and specialised workshops. These activities focused on sharing knowledge and improving practical skills. They included training workshops for cochlear implant surgeons, as well as workshops on auditory rehabilitation and cochlear implant programming.
The conference was an important opportunity for local and international experts to meet, share experiences, discuss the latest developments in cochlear implantation, and strengthen cooperation between surgeons, audiologists, and rehabilitation specialists. All these efforts aim to improve the services provided to cochlear implant users.
The Cochlear Implant Team in Benghazi
The Cochlear Implant Team at the Specialized Surgery Center in Benghazi plays an important role in the journey of cochlear implant users. The team provides medical care, follow-up, device programming, and auditory-verbal rehabilitation.
Cochlear Implant Users Take Part in the Conference Opening
Alongside the scientific programme and specialised workshops, the opening ceremony included a special participation by a group of children, young people, and adults with cochlear implants.
They shared a common journey of cochlear implantation, auditory-verbal rehabilitation, learning, and personal development.
Their participation showed different stages of the cochlear implant journey. It included young children taking their first steps in listening and communication, school and university students, and graduates who had completed their education and achieved academic and professional goals.
Their contributions included a technology project presentation, a group song, and a celebration of their achievements through an award ceremony.
First: Graduation Project Presentation – Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation
Aya Elshikhi , a Software Engineering graduate, presented her graduation project titled:
“Online Arabic Pediatric Cochlear Implant Speech Therapy Game-App Design”
The project is an interactive Arabic therapy application designed for children with cochlear implants aged 3 to 8 years.
It combines educational games, artificial intelligence, and speech recognition technology to help children practise pronouncing words and improve their speech skills.
The application also provides immediate feedback and tracks children’s progress during their training sessions.
The main goal of this project is to use technology to support auditory-verbal rehabilitation and provide interactive digital tools in the Arabic language.
Second: “Qoq’ati” Song – We Sing and Feel Proud of Our Cochlear Implants
One of the most beautiful moments of the opening ceremony was a group performance of a song titled “Qoq’ati” (My Cochlear Implant).
Children, young people, and adults with cochlear implants came together on stage to perform the song. Their performance expressed their pride in their cochlear implants and appreciation for the journey they had experienced.
The performance brought together different generations and educational backgrounds, including young children, school students, university students, and graduates who had completed their education and achieved their goals.
Among the participants were nine graduates who had completed three years of auditory-verbal rehabilitation at the Specialized Surgery Center – Cochlear Implant Department, in Benghazi, Libya.
The song was more than just a musical performance. It carried an important social and personal message about confidence, belonging, and pride. It showed that a cochlear implant is part of each person’s journey towards communication and taking part in society.
Bringing people of different ages and educational backgrounds together on one stage was a special moment. It showed that although everyone’s journey is different, they all share a common experience.
After the performance, all participating cochlear implant users received recognition for their participation, presence, and achievements.
Cochlear Implant Creativity Exhibition: From Silence to a World of Colours
Alongside the activities in the main conference hall, a special exhibition was organised under the title:
“Cochlear Implant Users’ Creativity Exhibition: From Silence to a World of Colours.”
The exhibition provided a special space to show the talents, artwork, and creativity of children with cochlear implants. It also gave them an opportunity to express themselves through art and educational activities.
The exhibition included different types of children’s work, such as paintings, drawings, and creative projects. These works showed their imagination, talents, and individual abilities.
It also highlighted auditory-verbal rehabilitation activities and the educational tools used to help children develop listening skills, recognise sounds, and improve their speech and language.
The exhibition activities were organised and prepared by the following specialists:
- Fatima Al-Shukri
- Sana Al-Najjar
- Maryam Al-Kilani
Their work showed an important part of the rehabilitation journey and highlighted the specialists’ role in developing children’s skills and supporting them as they learn to listen, communicate, and express themselves.
The exhibition was not just a place to display artwork. It was a window into another side of the cochlear implant journey: creativity, learning, and self-expression. It gave children the chance to show their abilities and share their achievements with the community.
A Message to the Global Cochlear Implant Community
From young children taking their first steps in listening and communication, to young people working towards their university dreams, and graduates achieving their goals, every cochlear implant journey has a unique story worth sharing.
Our participation in this conference, hosted by the University of Benghazi, was an opportunity to celebrate these journeys, highlight the achievements of cochlear implant users in Libya, and share a message of inclusion, confidence, ability, and pride.
We hope that experiences like this will encourage more cochlear implant users to take part in medical conferences and community events, both locally and internationally. We also hope they will create more opportunities for people to share their stories and experiences with the global community.
By sharing our stories, we can help raise awareness, inspire families, encourage children and young people, and remind the world that every cochlear implant user deserves to have their voice heard, to be an active member of society, and to have their achievements recognised.
From Silence to a World of Colours, from the first sound to achieving dreams… Every cochlear implant has a story, and every story has a voice that deserves to be heard.
Aya also sent us a video message for our Young Adults section – you can watch the video here!
9 November 2026