From CMV to Cochlear Implant
This is our family’s journey with single-sided deafness, congenital CMV, and cochlear implantation, through the story of our daughter, Camden. There have been highs and lows but ultimately Camden is thriving with her CI, which she affectionately calls her 'robot ear'.
We know everyone’s experience and journey is different, but we hope our story can help others .
This site reflects one family’s experience in Aotearoa New Zealand. We're not medical professionals - this is our story, shared honestly, alongside information and resources we’ve found helpful.
Camden's Journey
Camden was born after a fairly routine pregnancy and passed all her newborn checks, including her hearing test.
In her early years, she faced several health challenges - including hip dysplasia and surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids - but nothing suggested there might be an issue with her hearing.
In May 2023, during further medical investigations, we learned that Camden was profoundly deaf in her right ear. The diagnosis of single-sided deafness came as quite the shock.
Further testing revealed the likely cause was congenital CMV - a common virus that many of us will have had at some point in our lives. For most people, CMV causes no major issues, however when passed from mother to baby during pregnancy, it can lead to a range of medical issues, with progressive hearing loss being one of the most common.
After months of navigating unclear pathways and conflicting advice, we made the decision to self-fund a cochlear implant for Camden. A cochlear implant is a medical device that helps people with severe hearing loss by sending sound signals directly to the hearing nerve. She received her ‘robot ear’ at four years old and we haven’t looked back.
Today, Camden is a confident, social child who proudly wears her cochlear implant. By sharing her story, we hope to raise awareness, support other families, and help create better access and understanding for children who hear differently.
Cochlear Implants
An overview of cochlear implants, how they work, who they may be suitable for, and what families can expect on the journey.
Kids' Page
A kid-friendly page explaining hearing differently in simple, positive language, helping children feel confident, included, and proud.
Our purpose
We created this space for a few reasons.
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We want to help other parents who are navigating a new diagnosis and searching for answers or stories of what others have been through
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We want to help children who hear differently feel seen, understood, and proud
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We want to raise awareness of CMV and cochlear implants, in the hope that greater understanding can lead to earlier testing, clearer pathways, and fairer access in the future
CONTACT
If you have any questions or want to share your own journey, please fill out the form and we'll be in touch.