After repeated failed hearing tests and continually worsening hearing loss, Cameron K. faced a diagnosis at seven months old of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. His mom, Samantha K., embarked on a journey to get Cameron cochlear implants at 16 months to equip him with a future like his siblings, despite his enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome and hearing loss.
“Cameron was born in October of 2004 to a family of hearing siblings and adults. Our family had never dealt with hearing loss before, so we were surprised to have Cameron fail his newborn hearing screenings three times in a row! At five days old, Cameron was diagnosed with mild-moderate hearing loss, and he received hearing aids at only six weeks old. His discovery of new sounds during that period was fascinating and exciting, but was unfortunately short lived.
Cameron was diagnosed with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome at seven months, going overnight from mild-moderate hearing loss to severe-profound and qualifying for cochlear implants.
Cameron was fitted with his first CochlearTM Freedom® Sound Processor at 16 months old, and then he went bilateral at 2 ½ years old. Our choice to go with Cochlear came down to their reputation and the recommendation from his audiologist.
Although our journey has been both rewarding and scary, all of the speech therapy, mapping appointments and Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings have been worth it! Cochlear Implants have changed my son’s life. It is amazing how technology can bring someone from complete silence to being able to hear.
“It is amazing how technology can bring someone from complete silence to hearing everything.”
Fast forward to Cameron’s success today
With his upgraded Nucleus® 6 Sound Processors, Cameron enjoys life to the fullest every day. Cameron has been in mainstream school since age 3 and maintains A and B averages. His classroom experience of being the only deaf student has never stopped him from working hard in school, especially in his favorite subject, math. Cameron uses the CochlearTM True WirelessTM Mini Microphone 2 for all of his classes and occasionally while playing his favorite sport, soccer.
Cameron has found his passion in sports, and he has never let his hearing loss prevent him from playing any sport he could dream of. Cameron has played tackle football, basketball, baseball and indoor and outdoor competitive soccer.
Cameron started playing soccer at age 5 and has continued ever since, finding soccer to be his passion. Nine months out of the year, Cameron is on the soccer field, playing on teams that have won championships numerous times. Although Cameron has been the only player with hearing loss, Cameron exhibits true sportsmanship, always being the first to encourage his teammates on and off the field. Cameron says he wants to be a professional soccer player, but we will see how that changes over time!
Stopping to hear the birds sing
Hearing loss has made my son a stronger kid. My son and I are both so grateful for how his Cochlear Implants have changed his life. The hard work that Cameron continually puts into his hearing journey has been inspiring for me to watch as his mom. Every moment Cameron reminds me to appreciate the little things we take for granted; now, I stop to listen to the sound of birds and am grateful to hear even a whisper. My son will always be deaf, but through AMAZING technology, he is able to be involved in the hearing world.”
If you have a child with hearing loss and you’re looking for treatment options to help them hear, visit IWantYouToHear.com.
