Finding out your child is deaf can be devastating for any parent. Many babies are born deaf, and while they are able to learn sign language and other communication skills, it’s not the same as hearing. All parents want their children to experience life to the fullest. That is why Annie’s parents decided to get her a cochlear implant.
Cochlear implants are surgically inserted in the ear of patients and allow them to hear.
They do not work for everyone, and they are usually inserted at an early age.
According to WebMD:
“It isn’t a hearing aid, which makes sounds louder. It’s a small device that a doctor puts in your ear through surgery. It sends impulses directly to your auditory nerve, which carries sound signals to your brain. The implant doesn’t make you hear normally again, but it can help you with sounds.
“Most people with severe to profound hearing loss can understand speech in person or over the phone better than they did with a hearing aid. It can usually help you know sounds around you, including telephones, doorbells, and alarms. Many people also can pick up on speech in noisy places better than they did with hearing aids, or even enjoy music again.”
At the beginning of the video, Annie was playing with toys at a table with her dad.
The two were signing back and forth, and the toddler wasn’t even aware that her doctor had walked in behind her. Her dad started to whisper to her as the doctors switched on the implant.
Annie’s little face lit up when she realized she could hear her dad’s voice. She was surprised that she could hear him. She quickly moved over to her dad’s lap. Her mom, who had been behind the camera, also started to talk to Annie. Annie reacted with the same sense of surprise. Her dad told her that she was hearing Mommy’s voice.
It was a lot of the toddler to take in, and she became a little overwhelmed.
She stayed excited, though, and continued to try to understand what was happening. She eventually started to get used to the sounds she was hearing. When she felt comfortable, she started to smile and laugh. Her parents instantly realized that they made the right choice to have the implant.
The video has been viewed more than 3 million times and shared thousands of times.
It also received thousands of comments. Many people shared the joy and happiness they felt for the family and the little girl when she finally hears.
Others shared their own personal stories with deafness and cochlear implants.
Nuvia Montoya wrote:
“My daughter has cochlear and honestly, they are the best thing in the world. And to watch and see my baby learn and grow with them makes my heart melt.”
Scheron Wolfe wrote:
“I went here this with my daughter I cried my eyes out when I found out she was partially deaf! We started off with hearing aids and then we moved to one hearing aid on the left and a cochlear implant on her right she had the same reaction to this was excited and opened a whole new world to her.”
Christine Ramirez wrote:
“I’m in tears. My severe to profoundly deaf toddler 2 months ago received her left CI and we are working hard to get her to talk and listen. This makes my heart happy and emotional.”
Danielle Smith wrote:
“My son has a BAHA, made by Cochlear and I remember the first time he heard a bird sing. Yep, I cried like a baby. Hardest decision of our life, as parents, was to have him implanted.”
This little girl can now hear, and her life will forever be changed.
Her parents wanted the best for their child, and although they were willing to learn sign language and help her the best they could, they were happy to be able to give her the gift of hearing. Cochlear implants might not be for everyone, but they are clearly making a big difference in the life of this little girl and her family.
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Toddler With Cochlear Implant Hears for First Time
A little girl receives a life-changing gift 😊
Posted by Poke My Heart on Thursday, March 22, 2018
