BY MIKE CETERA
Too often, media are obligated to report on bad news. But here's some good news to pass along.
Loyola University Medical Center says it's a pioneer in a procedure that will allow an Aurora 2-year-old to have hearing on both sides. The hospital will host a press conference today.
Doctors will "turn on" a stimulator that will help the boy, Tom L., combat single-sided deafness in his left ear.
From the press release:
Loyola will activate Tom’s surgically implanted bone-anchored cochlear stimulator, which harnesses the ability of the skull bone to conduct sound vibrations. It will enable Tom to perceive sounds on both sides of his head, which is critical for the 2-year-old’s speech development.
Pretty cool.
Very exciting stuff! I wish this family all the very best. The world of the deaf can be very lonely. The deaf community is one that is near and dear to my heart. My mother was deaf since the age of 6 months. I became very familiar with the challenges deaf people face in their everyday lives. It is a world of isolation and misunderstanding. If you know someone deaf, reach out to them and help them to feel welcome in this very hearing oriented universe. Thanks to the Beacon for an uplifting and touching story.