Little Eloise can hear for the first time
Toddler gets implant in unique operation
LITTLE eloise Robinson can hear for the very first time, all thanks to a remarkable operation – and it’s certainly making her smile.
The profoundly deaf toddler underwent unique surger y to fit her with a “magic” hearing device.
Eloise now has implants that sit behind her ears, transmitting sound waves to her brain to enable her to hear.
The device was switched on last week – allowing Eloise to hear mum Pat, 41, dad Gareth, 34, and four- year- old sister Leila for the first time.
“It was a huge moment for us but Eloise took it all in her stride,” said Pat, who hails from Orkney.
“If she is anything like the girls in our family she will become a little chatterbox in no time.”
Eloise, who is 23 months old, is having intensive therapy to help her discover and process the world of sound she has newly been exposed to.
On Thursday, she was captivated as her rehabilitation specialist Janette Joyce taught her sounds and words, and how to respond.
She was helped by big sister Leila who was desperate to show her how.
Janette said: “We have to remember that children like Eloise have missed out on the learning process.
“This has taught hearing infants her age to appreciate and respond to sound.
“Sessions in learning to appreciate sound, respond and learn to form words last around 20 minutes and are, above all, fun. This is the ideal amount of time to get a child of this age to respond well.”
And respond she has – with each new sound and experience greeted with laughter, amazement and that cheeky green.
Things are all so different from when Eloise was born.
She was delivered extremely prematurely at just 24 weeks – an early arrival that caused finance officer Pat and doctors to fear the worst.
Pat had been flown down to hospital in Aberdeen for the delivery to be carried out.
When Eloise was bor n she weighed less than two pounds.
In common with other extremely early births, she was placed on a respirator to help her tiny lungs breathe.
“Doctors gave us no guarantees but fought hard to keep her alive,” Pat remembers.
“I felt useless standing by watching her so small and vulnerable in an incubator.
“Shortly after she was born she suffered a brain haemorrhage – something that obviously made her fight to survive even more difficult.
“But she held on to life and came through a rollercoaster of progress and setbacks over five months.
“Just as we were preparing
to take her home she was given a hearing check, and that’s when it was discovered she was profoundly deaf.
“Being born so early had robbed her of hearing.
“It was devastating news after all E loise had been through.”
The family returned to Orkney determined to make life as normal as possible for their two girls.
Then came the breakthrough news – there was an operation that could help, but Eloise would need to undergo tests to make sure she was a suitable recipient for a cochlear implant.
A medical team at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock could carry it out and it would involve fitting implants that could transmit sound waves to the brain, hopefully enabling Eloise to hear.
Last November, Eloise was tested to see if she was a suitable patient.
After the tests were deemed a success, the operation was carried out in February and she sailed through it effortlessly.
“Knowing her hearing has been restored is wonderful news, added Pat. “It’s everything we hoped for. “We have something to focus on and know she will be yapping in no time.”
Pat’s determination to help Eloise and other deaf children saw her set up the Orkney Deaf Children’s Society in January.
She said: “It is vital to support children like Eloise and ensure they get all the opportunities available to others on the mainland. Having a wee one who was deaf opened our eyes.”
Within the next few days Pat and Gareth will head back north to Kirkwall, allowing Eloise to hear the sounds of her beautiful island home.
“We can’t wait to get her home,” added Pat last night.