In response to a mum’s recent mail, here’s what may be expected when a child’s cochlear implant is switched on for the first time.
After a cochlear implant is activated, a child can take more than a month to respond to sounds they hear. Then, “the real work begins”, families are told.
As the child learns to link sounds to words and knows words have meaning, the results can be worthwhile even if initial responses are subtle to parents. The key is to have a verbal, sound-rich environment at home. This develops the child’s listening skills and teaches them that sounds have meaning.
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