Turn On My Ears!: Watch Drew Hear!

I came across this blog about Drew, an adorable 2 year, 9 month old boy who had simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants in June 2007. He was born with profound hearing loss due to Connexin 26, which is a known genetic cause of hearing loss. He was implanted at just 8.5 months old, making him the youngest child with bilateral implants in Ohio! 


You can read all about Drew’s process of cochlear implantation, his daily adventures and more on his blog: Turn On My Ears! 


Watch a video of Drew when he hears his first sounds with his cochlear implants! 

More videos of Drew’s cochlear implant activation: Turn On My Ears!: Watch Drew Hear!

Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) talks about their 3 month old son’s hearing loss

People magazine’s interview with Joey McIntyre gives a touching glimpse into one family’s experience with having their baby, Rhys, who was diagnosed with a permanent severe hearing loss at birth. They discuss their reaction to the news and how their now 3 month old son, who is wearing hearing aids, is able to be a part of the hearing world. When he is 12 months old, he will be evaluated for a cochlear implant.

This story is a wonderful example showing the progress a child can show with early identification of a hearing loss and subsequent early intervention. Read story on http://www.people.com: Joey McIntrye Opens Up About Rhys’ Hearing Loss.

It is also wonderful to recognize the outpour of support from readers’ comments! Enjoy!

Source: http://www.people.com; photo by Alison Dyer-People