Miraculously, the little girl heard after many years of living in silence.
(Baonghean.vn) - Born deaf, luck smiled on little girl Nguyen Thi Anh Linh (4 years old) when she received cochlear implant surgery. Linh was able to hear again after many years of "living in silence".
Like a miracle…
Not as lucky as other children, newborn baby AnhLinh (4 years old) from Hai Thanh commune, Tinh Gia district (Thanh Hoa) is deaf in both ears. Anh Linh's childhood was spent in a "silent world". To communicate with her parents and everyone else, Linh could only use gestures, facial expressions... Truly, it was an extremely difficult time for her and her family.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (Anh Linh's mother) sadly said: "Because Linh cannot hear and can only mumble a few words, every time she is sick, tired, hungry or wants to express her wishes and emotions, she can only pull her parents' hands, point, and babble. Many times, her parents do not understand, so she can only cry. Seeing her living in a world without sound, not developing normally like other children, as a mother, my heart is broken."
Anh Linh's family situation is very difficult, not enough to afford surgery. But luck smiled on her, recently, Linh received support from Medel HCMC to partially cover the cost of surgery to implant a cochlear implant - a modern electrode device, helping her to fully hear the real sounds of life.
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| With the help of cochlear implant surgery, baby Anh Linh was able to hear again after many years. Photo: Lam Tung |
Although she was still in rehabilitation, Anh Linh began to hear the sounds of life, the warm, familiar voices of her parents. She was extremely happy, constantly making unclear sounds. Having lived in silence for many years, she was able to harmonize with the sounds of life. That happiness came like a miracle that Linh's family did not dare to dream of before.
“The simple wish that my husband and I have longed for so long is to have our child call us “mom, dad”…; to see our child develop normally like other children, to go to school, play, and integrate with friends of the same age is about to come true” -Ms. Thuy was filled with happiness.
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| Baby Anh Linh is happy to hear the vibrant sounds of life. Photo: Lam Tung |
The first cochlear implant surgery in the Central region
Baby Nguyen Thi Anh Linh is the first patient in the Central region to undergo cochlear implant surgery. The surgery was performed by the Central Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital in collaboration with Medel HCMC.
It is known that this is a difficult technique, requiring adequate medical facilities, a standard operating room, and modern equipment. The surgical team includes cochlear implant specialist, Master, Doctor Le Tu Thanh Nhan from Ho Chi Minh City, along with highly skilled and experienced doctors and medical staff from the Central ENT Hospital.
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| Experts and doctors of the Central ENT Hospital performed the first cochlear implant surgery in Central Vietnam. Photo: PV |
The surgical team had been thoroughly prepared. Over the course of nearly two months, the doctors had conducted numerous examinations, CT scans, and MRIs to check ear function, measure hearing, tympanometry, cochlear condition, and perform a general health check on the child. Once all conditions were met, the doctors prescribed a cochlear implant to improve the child's hearing.
The surgery was performed on a modern surgical microscope screen and was successful after more than 2 hours of surgery. The cochlear implant device implanted in baby Anh Linh's ear responded well to treatment.
Currently, the baby is recovering well and can hear the first sounds. After 3-4 weeks, the hospital will cooperate with Medel to install an external hearing aid to go inside and adjust the sound to help the baby hear sounds more clearly and completely. Next, the baby will attend a training class to develop language.
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Cochlear implantation is the most modern method of treating hearing loss today, with many outstanding advantages. Doctor Dang Van Thang - Director of the Central ENT Hospital, said: "The cochlear implant system is an electrode device inserted into the cochlea to help transmit sound signals through damaged parts of the inner ear and directly to the auditory nerve for hearing analysis. The device used in this technology ensures safety for the implanted person, limits damage to the cochlea, preserves the remaining auditory nerve hairs, to maintain the best possible hearing level for the patient."
The advantage of cochlear implantation is that it helps the recipient hear full, true sounds without any discomfort; confidently integrate into the community, and improve the quality of life.
The successful implementation of cochlear implantation technique in the treatment of hearing-impaired patients at the Central ENT Hospital aims to help patients access modern techniques locally, saving costs, making medical examination and treatment convenient, without having to transfer to another facility.
In the coming time, the hospital will continue to invite domestic and foreign experts to coordinate to conduct routine cochlear implantation techniques to treat many hearing-impaired patients.
Currently, the Central ENT Hospital is performing ENT surgeries such as tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, laryngeal microsurgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, surgery for congenital fistulas in the head and neck area, ear and mastoid surgery, cochlear implantation, etc.
CENTRAL ENT HOSPITAL
No. 12 - Lenin Avenue - Vinh City - Nghe An
Hotline: 0238 3574 888
