The day finally arrived and it was time to turn her device on. We left early that morning and made the 5 hour trip one way to Naval Hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital, we grabbed some lunch and I fed the baby. Then we went to see the audiologist for her new device. The audiologist came to the waiting room and called us back. Once we got into the room, she gave my daughter her new friend, the Cochlear Kola Bear.
The audiologist hooked up her new device and placed it onto the magnetic spot, just behind her ear. She turned it on and the look on my daughter’s face was priceless. The audiologist asked my daughter, “Did you hear that?” My daughter responded with a head nod saying yes. (I wish I had a video to share but I don’t) I was excited and happy for my daughter. The audiologist continued programming her device. Then she showed me how her device worked and all of the extra parts and accessories that went with her device. Her first device was big and bulky and she had to wear it around her waist.
Once we were finished, we loaded up the car and headed home. My daughter had her device on in the car and seemed excited that she was finally able to hear until her baby brother decided her wanted to make loud cooing noises. I glanced in the rear view mirror and noticed that my daughter was signing “loud”. I didn’t want her first hearing experience to be unpleasant and since we were travelling in the car, I told her that she could take it off.
Continue reading: “Will Adding a Second Cochlear Implant Improve My Daughter’s Hearing?”
Do you know anyone who has a cochlear implant?
