A car collision last summer has left a 26-year-old woman in Fife once again unable to hear after a crash destroyed her hearing device. The case, now the subject of civil action, highlights how physical trauma can undo years of medical progress and raises fresh questions about safety and support for people who rely on implanted hearing technology.
Paige Elliott was born deaf and received a cochlear implant at age two, a device that allowed her to take part in everyday life, enjoy music and make calls. On 15 July 2024 she was a passenger when a Land Rover Discovery struck the car she was in, causing a violent jolt that damaged the implant and left her facing silence again.
The collision and immediate aftermath
Emergency crews took Paige to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after the crash near Bankhead Roundabout in Glenrothes. Medics treated cuts and soft-tissue injuries to her face and neck and diagnosed a significant concussion. It was only after the accident, she says, that she realised she could not hear the people around her.
Shortly afterwards she was referred to hearing specialists at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock for attempts to restore auditory function. Those interventions have produced inconsistent results: she now has a replacement implant, but it does not reproduce sound the way her original device did.
“I had built a life around being able to hear,” Paige says. “To be thrown back into silence so suddenly was terrifying and isolating.” She now depends heavily on her assistance dog, Fiji, for day-to-day support.
- Date of crash: 15 July 2024
- Vehicle involved: Land Rover Discovery (reported)
- Initial injuries: concussion, facial and neck soft-tissue damage
- Hearing outcome: original cochlear implant damaged; replacement fitted but with reduced function
- Current support: hearing dog and clinical follow-up
Why the replacement isn’t restoring normal hearing
Consulting clinicians suspect internal scarring around the implant site is interfering with the new device’s performance. Scar tissue can affect the way electrodes interface with the auditory nerve, meaning some frequencies or warning sounds — notably fire alarms — may not be detected reliably.
This problem has practical implications: disrupted alarm detection and altered perception of familiar voices can increase risk and erode independence. Paige reports that familiar sounds now register differently; she cannot always pick out family voices and has largely stopped attending concerts, an activity she once enjoyed.
Legal proceedings and the road ahead
Paige is represented by Digby Brown Solicitors, which has opened a civil claim against the driver of the Land Rover. Her legal team says they are seeking compensation to cover advanced treatment and rehabilitation intended to improve her hearing and quality of life.
Ryan Smith, a partner at Digby Brown in Kirkcaldy, described the injury as life-changing and said the firm is working to secure the medical care Paige needs. The outcome of the case could determine access to further surgical or rehabilitative options.
Paige remains determined. She completed a BA (Hons) in Media, Hair and Make-up, Special Effects and Hair Design at York College University Centre and graduated in September 2025. Despite ongoing challenges she continues to pursue her goals while managing the practical and emotional consequences of renewed deafness.
What this means for others
The incident underlines two broader issues: the vulnerability of implanted hearing devices to blunt-force trauma, and the importance of contingency planning for people whose hearing depends on electronic implants. Families and support networks, emergency services and healthcare providers may need clearer protocols for situations where implants are damaged and hearing is suddenly lost.
Paige’s case is ongoing; further medical assessments and the civil claim will determine whether additional treatment can restore more of her hearing. For now, she is relying on specialist care and the companionship of Fiji as she adjusts to a second period of deafness.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
