Lorry driver Gerald Hall thought the batteries in his hearing aid had gone when he woke up.

But within a short time he and his wife Ann realised that he had been suddenly plunged into a silent world.

His hearing loss happened two years ago and since then Mr Hall, 60, has put up with being profoundly deaf.

"He loves comedy and music but he can't hear a thing now, it's very frustrating for him," said Mrs Hall.

A recent cruise to celebrate his 60th birthday was spoilt by his inability to enjoy entertainment or join in with conversation.

But tomorrow, the Trimdon Grange grandfather's world is due to change when he should become the 200th person in the region to have a cochlear implant fitted.

The sophisticated electronic device stimulates the auditory nerve and transmits nerve impulses to the brain, where they are understood as sounds.

"We can't wait until Gerald can hear again," his wife said.

Since the regional cochlear implant service was set up at what is now the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in 1990 scores of profoundly deaf people have been given the chance to hear again.

Ear, nose and throat surgeon Maurice Hawthorne, lead clinical for the regional centre, said: "Cochlear implants are still relatively unusual and they're only suitable for people who are profoundly deaf or have such severe hearing loss that hearing aids don't help them.

"Implanting the device takes about two hours. After the patient has recovered the cochlear implant team get to work with the patient switching on the device and teaching the patient how to make sense of what they can hear. This usually happens a few weeks after the operation and continues until the patient and team are happy with the result."

In Mr Hall's case Mr Hawthorne expects this to be easier, because he had some hearing up until a couple of years ago.

The 100th patient to receive an implant was Jack Andrews from Houghton-le-Spring who was two at the time.

Jack is now eight and doing well.

"It's made a huge difference to his life," his mum, Julie, said.