As an infant, Julianna contracted bacterial meningitis that resulted in significant hearing loss. Now, with the help of speech therapy and the Cochlear™ Kanso® Sound Processors, she is now excelling in school.
“At 5 months old, Julianna was diagnosed with a rare form of bacterial meningitis that almost took her life. Over a three-week span, she received many rounds of intense antibiotics, along with numerous tests and scans that monitored her heart and brain functions.
Due to the magnitude of the disease itself and the strong medicines that she was taking, Julianna was left unable to hear. We worried about how that would impact her future, so we quickly began researching options to ensure she could live a life of hearing.
Cochlear implantation
After being sent home from the hospital, Julianna was later implanted with her first cochlear implant device and was activated the following month. The second cochlear implant was implanted just a few months later and then activated a bit later!
Julianna received the Cochlear Nucleus® 6 Sound Processors around the same time that the new Cochlear Kanso Sound Processors were being released, so Julianna was able to be upgraded right away. The Kanso Sound Processors were such a blessing to us! At 1 year old, she could pop them on all by herself with no trouble at all.
Speech therapy, excelling in school, realizing endless possibilities
After over two years of speech therapy, we now have a 5 year old that can speak just as well, if not better than some of her peers. She is super excited being in kindergarten this year.
She loves to sing (in tune, I might add), dance, ride her bike and play with her baby brother. She is such a joy, and we can’t wait to see where life takes her!”
Is your child dealing from hearing loss from bacterial meningitis? Click here to learn more about Cochlear’s hearing solutions that may be vital to your child’s learning and speech foundation.
1- In the United States, the Cochlear Nucleus Implant is approved for use in children 9 to 24 months of age who have profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate hearing aids. Children 2 years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. In Canada, the Cochlear Nucleus Implant System (CI500 and CI600 Series) is approved for use in children 9 to 24 months of age who have profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears and demonstrate limited benefit from appropriate hearing aids. Children 2 years of age or older may demonstrate severe to profound hearing loss in both ears.
