However, he took a third option and in 2002 began studying towards his degree.

Weapons training in the NZ Army and being an avid hunter damaged his hearing, causing tinnitus. This motivated him towards building on his degree research project – a solution for tinnitus sufferers using digital signal processing.

Through his research, Mr Waldon aims to produce a digital hearing aid to enable tinnitus sufferers to hear clearly again. He is designing a real time system that will enhance sound frequencies that have been damaged within the normal hearing range.

“My lecturer Dr Len Jennings also suffers from tinnitus so he gave me a lot of support and leeway to take off on this tangent,” says Mr Waldon.

“I am pleased to have been able to undertake this research at MIT as while there has been some research in this area, nothing to date has been able to properly analyse the tinnitus sound.”

Mr Waldon’s postgraduate thesis will look at retraining the human brain to lessen the ringing sound using a specially designed hearing aid, which he is currently seeking funding for.

In addition to his studies he works as a radio frequency transmission engineer for Chiliad Communications in Botany.

He applies the skills he learned at MIT to his work which involves surveying, building and remotely managing high speed wireless data networks for large commercial companies.

“Studying at MIT has enabled me to become a professional engineer with a variety of technical skills, which assist me in my field of research and my employment as a radio frequency transmission engineer,” Mr Waldon says.

While his interests in aviation, computers and building electronic components attracted him to engineering, as an adult student he found learning subjects such as calculus and physics, which are embedded in all aspects of engineering, a major challenge.

He credits MIT lecturers and staff for supporting him with this throughout his studies.

“MIT endeavours to help its students strive for success, if you want to succeed then it will help you realise that goal. MIT’s open door policy gives it a relaxed atmosphere, where the lecturers are very accommodating to the students’ needs,” he says.

Mr Waldon will continue to strive for success and, following in the footsteps of his eldest brother, aspires to attain a PhD.

He is one of successful graduates in receiving his degree at MIT’s 2008 Graduation ceremony on May 27 at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre.

http://www.times.co.nz/cms/news/education/2008/05/art100020296.php