Bonitas Member Magazine B-Living Issue 2_2019 | Page 12

The criteria for being approved for a cochlear implant: Children of all ages are considered (from babies to children up to the age of 18) for possible cochlear implantation. Once a child is enrolled, each patient undergoes a multidisciplinary assessment and the following guidelines are used to determine candidacy for each individual child: • Age • Audiological criteria • Education • Medical • Psychosocial ‘The external device needs to be put in a dryer every night, the batteries need to be charged, the covers and cables checked, the spare parts packed every day. School teachers need to be trained, we even figured out a cool new haircut that helps the magnets stick better. What seemed overwhelming in the beginning quickly became routine and ultimately a very small price to pay for the rewards in return.' What is a cochlear implant? It is an electronic hearing device that was designed to bypass the damaged inner ear by electrically stimulating the hearing nerve. Unlike conventional hearing aids, a cochlear implant does not amplify sound, it replaces the functioning of the inner hair cells by stimulating the hearing nerve with electrical impulses. Saying her first words She can hear, she just doesn’t react the way everyone expects her to, it takes time and we need to be patient. It took about two months for her to start mimicking words like "nee" and "ja" and much later she started saying, "ma." The future for Kara ‘On 4 January 2019, Kara had a hearing test. After having NO response before the implants she reacted on high and low frequencies and that was with only one implant!’ On 22 January she received her second implant and on 20 February it was switched on, the response this time had no tears – only smiles!' 'Kara will be able to go to a mainstream school, just like her brother. This will present new challenges but ones we will deal with. Most important is that my daughter will not be separated or labelled. She will be able to do what her heart desires and not be held back by a disability or a mindset. This makes me so excited for what the future holds! I am proud to be her mother.' Page 11 Do you also have a story to share with us? We want to hear from you. Tell us how Bonitas came through for you and your loved ones in your time of need. Email [email protected] and your story could be featured in our next issue.