As a child, one of the most exciting parts of growing up is having every experience be a new experience. Your formative early childhood years are when you first make sense of your senses–learning different tastes, smelling different smells, seeing different sights, touching different textures, and hearing different sounds.
Born in the Philippines with Microtia and Atresia of her right ear, 4-and-a-half year old Annika Silang-Ferrer experienced the world, but she did so with moderate to severe hearing loss.
Her family battled through financial roadblocks, and insurance coverage roadblocks in their quest to help Annika fully hear the world’s wonderful sounds. The plan was to fit Annika with a Bone Anchored Hearing System (BAHS), but they could not afford a procedure on their own, and they were denied medical assistance. Although their income barely covered living costs, they were officially considered “overqualified”. Annika’s parents thought their daughter would have to go through life without full sound.
Then they came across Ear Community. In Ear Community they found support.
Their application was approved and on April 16, 2015 Oticon Medical fit Annika with a Ponto Plus processor and an Oticon Medical Streamer. The BAHS allows her to enjoy everyday sounds with less whistling than other options, and she can connect directly to wireless devices. She now gets to hear the birds, the rain, and everything in between, and just in time for the beginning of school in June.
Her smile brighter than ever, her parents say, “It’s a whole new experience for her!” A new experience. Isn’t that exactly how it should be for a child?
Learn all the details of Annika’s story over at Ear Community!