>> her lifetime, 39 years joe millen had been deaf until last year, when she had a small electronic device put into her ears. birds, music her mother's voice, it all came rushing in. but more importantly being able to hear, has helped joe cope with going behind. she has progressive tunnel vision and another symptom of her rare genetic condition usher syndrome. >> i will never be a hearing person like the next person, but i can hear things that i couldn't hear before. and then with regards to being behind, i feel less behind, because i can feel like the world around me. >> joe was born deaf into a hearing family. and works hard with her grandfather on her speech. coins were the. >> every time i pronounced the word right he would give me a coin. and i was so determined to try and get the coin and i remember really trying before she could hear, she would dance with others and try to hear music through vibrations. >> music is probably -- but the world is not all beautiful music, and joe has been surprised by angry sounds she once was oblivious to. >> i was very unaware of the bad side of sound