After being in the ICU for 22 days, COVID-19 survivor Michael Goldsmith woke up not being able to hear. Everything sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher, he explained. Goldsmith, 34, of Bergenfield, was the first NYU patient to get a cochlear implant due to COVID-19. But the hearing loss was only the start of his troubles. After returning home on April 18 to his wife, Elana, and two kids, he suffered mental problems including cognitive impairment, slowed speech and PTSD. Although his insurance can barely cover it, he said, therapy is his only answer. "It's grueling and it's extremely hard to talk about; I get PTSD just from that," said Goldsmith, referring to his prolonged exposure therapy, in which the patient is required to confront his or her worst fears.