“Bang!!!” The McDonald’s balloon my 2 years old son was playing suddenly burst right in front of my 6 months old daughter, Ming Xuan. Instead of reacting to the loud noise, she sat there and looked at her brother who was screaming away. There was no reaction nor was there any sign of startle or fear in her at all. That was when we realised our Ming Xuan may have a hearing problem. It was the beginning of our journey……..
Our daughter went through tests to determine the level or degree of her hearing loss. Due to her young age, some of these tests required sedation to be given and some just by playing and distracting her with lots of toys. These are very time consuming and a lot of patience and team work from both the Auditory-Verbal Therapist and Audiologist. After all these tests were done, our fears were confirmed. Min Xuan has a profound hearing loss. Our reaction was one of shock and uncertainty.
Hearing aids were recommended for Min Xuan and at this point of time we were very stressed up by the features of the different models that they have and also the cost. The audiologist recommended a suitable model; ask them, they’re the best people to know what’s best. We had our fair share of trying to ensure our baby put on her hearing aids, only to have her pulled them out, but we persevered. Min Xuan was beginning to respond to the hearing aids in that she will vocalise to hear her own voice each time we put on her hearing aids. However, she did not appear to be progressing much.
We made many trips from seeing the doctor, to the audiologists to fit ear molds, adjust the hearing aids and seeing the Auditory-Verbal Therapist to guide us in helping our child to learn to listen and talk using the Auditory-Verbal approach. Over time, all these people who were total strangers to us in the beginning were becoming our friends, whom we could share our problems, fear and losses with them.
In early 2002 we were told that she may benefit from the cochlear implant. We thought about it and we decided that we want to give our child the benefit of hearing and developing spoken language with the cochlear implant. Min Xuan had to undergo an X-ray scan of the head to determine her ear structures were normal before the operation. The plan for the operation was discussed together with her surgeon, Associate Professor Low W.K., Auditory- Verbal Therapist and Audiologists.
On 18th March 2002, our Ming Xuan at 14 months old had her cochlear implant surgery. The surgery went on well and she was able to go home the day after the operation. She was even up and running about the very next day after her bandage was removed. Three weeks later, Min Xuan had all her electrodes switched on. It was the beginning of her journey to the listening world. We attended regular therapy sessions every week with our Auditory-Verbal Therapist, who taught us the techniques of developing her listening potential. We were given targets at every session to work with her at home. Min Xuan is listening so well that by Christmas she is able to call everybody at home and even the neighboring children by their names.
Today, she is 26 months old and she is able to understand and communicate simple words with us in her daily routine. She is picking up new words all the time and looking back, we have no regrets with our decision to give her the cochlear implant.
Gina Tan