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Who are we?
We are an association of people who have had Cochlear Implant operations in Manchester, England. The purpose of the Club is to establish a bond and fellowship between these people through social events and related activities.

How the Club started and why it is called "Cicada"

The first Cicada club was set up in New South Wales, Australia. At the time there were only 12 implantees The name "Cicada" was dreamed up by the implant surgeon Bill Gibson. Originally Dr Gibson intended that it should stand for "Cochlear Implant Club and Deafness Association". However none of the newly implanted people felt they were still deaf, so a compromise was reached. The title later came to stand for "Cochlear Implant Club and ADvisory Association". Years later in Manchester, England, Professor Ramsden suggested the same name for our own support group, although Manchester Cicada does not profess to be an advisory association. The Club was started in 1993 with the late Michael Eagar as Chairman and Gordon Ledward as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. Another link between cicadas and cochlear implants was that the very earliest implantees in Australia (which was ten years ahead of the UK with this operation) said the sound they heard was rather like the buzzing of the flying insects which share the same name. A writer in the Australian "CicadaVic" Newsletter once described the noise made by the insects as "a loud persistent shrilling". Click here to listen to a cicada song.

How to join Manchester Cicada

There is a Membership Form here. Print it out, fill it in and mail it as directed. Welcome!