Stella's Journey to Clear Sounds
A Rare Diagnosis
Stella, a young girl from Utah, was born with a rare genetic disorder called Pendred syndrome. This condition caused her hearing to gradually worsen over time. At first, doctors thought her hearing issues were minor and could be fixed with simple drainage tubes. But Stella's mom, Kennedy Chugg, knew something was not right.
A Mother's Instinct
Kennedy noticed that Stella wasn't responding to sounds like other kids her age. She pushed for more tests, but her concerns were dismissed as first-time parent anxiety. It wasn't until Stella failed another hearing test that the doctors took her worries seriously. The diagnosis was progressive hearing loss due to Pendred syndrome.
The Search for a Solution
Hearing aids helped Stella at first. She did well with them, but as her hearing got worse, the aids just made sounds louder and muffled. Kennedy started looking into cochlear implants. She talked to other parents and learned that these implants could greatly improve Stella's hearing.
How Cochlear Implants Work
Cochlear implants work differently from hearing aids. They:
- Capture sounds
- Turn them into digital signals
- Send them to the brain
Choosing the Right Implant
Stella was already familiar with cochlear implants from her school for children with hearing impairments. Her mom chose the Cochlear Nucleus Nexa System because it was modern and could be updated. The day before Stella's surgery, Kennedy took out her hearing aids, marking the end of an era. She felt both sad and excited for the changes ahead.
Life After Surgery
After the surgery, Stella had to wait 10 days before she could hear anything. Then, she had to learn how to interpret the digital sounds. Now, Stella enjoys music and other sounds much more. She even heard the doorbell for the first time and played with it for half an hour.
A New Appreciation for Sound
The cochlear implant has also made the holidays more enjoyable for Stella. She loves hearing Christmas carols and looks forward to the fireworks on New Year's Eve.
