Paige Elliott’s life changed when a car crash damaged her cochlear implant, leaving her deaf for the second time.
A young woman has lost her hearing for the second time after a car crash. Paige Elliott, 26, from Kinglassie, Fife was born deaf and was fitted with a cochlear implant at just two years old to overcome hearing loss.
The device worked as intended and helped her lead a normal life. But in 2024, she was involved in a collision which destroyed her implant, leaving her unable to speak on the phone or listen to music.
Paige now relies on a hearing aid dog for help and says the crash “emotionally and physically up-ended her life”. She said: “When I lost the implant it was terrifying.
“I had a normal life and to suddenly be thrust back into a world of silence was jarring, scary and you feel incredibly alone.”
Paige was a passenger in a relative’s car when they were struck from behind at speed by a Land Rover Discovery near Bankhead Roundabout in Glenrothes on July 15, 2024.
The crash caused her head to ricochet of the headrest and she suffered soft tissue damage to her face and neck. The strike to her skull resulted in a significant concussion which also dislodged her cochlear impact.
Paige said: “It was a few seconds after the crash that I realised something wasn’t right as I couldn’t hear people talking around me.
“It was really scary as on top of the shock and the pain I felt that I couldn’t communicate what has happening to me.”
Paige was rushed by ambulance to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where medics treated her physical wounds.
She then needed follow up treatment with hearing specialists at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire in a bid to restore her hearing. However the attempts of this have provided mixed results.
Paige explained: “I have my new implant but it’s not the same as the old one as there’s certain sounds that don’t get picked up the same. I can’t even hear fire alarms anymore and my grandfather’s voice now sounds like a woman’s voice which is unpleasant for us both.
“I used to enjoy music and concerts as my old implant basically let me hear things normally but now I can’t really hear anything properly. The last song I remember listening to without issue was All Of Me by John Legend and that was before the crash. I’ve had procedures to try and fix things but now I really rely mostly on Fiji, my hearing dog.”
It’s believed Paige is experiencing issues with her new implant due to internal scar tissue which may be impacting the device’s effectiveness.
Despite the challenges of losing her hearing for the second time, Paige remains positive and continues to accomplish and overcome obstacles.
Paige studied a BA (Hons) in Media, Hair and Make-up, Special Effects and Hair Design at York College University Centre and in September 2025 she graduated with a 2:1.
She is now being supported by Digby Brown Solicitors in a civil action against the driver of the Land Rover. It’s hoped a successful case will help secure enhanced treatment to improve Paige’s hearing and boost her future quality of life.
Ryan Smith, Partner at Digby Brown in Kirkcaldy, said: “Paige has suffered a truly life-changing injury through no fault of her own and we are committed to ensuring she gets the treatment and positive outcome she deserves.”
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