Download `Sounds for Sam` Book Launch - Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Media Release
Point Cook family gives back after they receive the gift of hearing
Thursday 8 March 2012
Kara Redmond received the gift of sound for her first birthday, when she had her cochlear implant
surgery in 2005 at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital’s Cochlear Implant Clinic.
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital is Victoria’s leading provider of eye and ear health
care, integrating eye and ear clinical care, research and education to optimise innovation and
produce the most advanced treatments for vision and hearing loss.
Kara was born with profound hearing loss, but now thanks to her cochlear implants, she can now
hear.
Her mother Kerry says that the change in Kara has been astounding.
“Initially we didn’t think Kara would even be able to have a cochlear implant, because of her
anatomy and the structure of her nerves.”
“Now, seven years later she has two!”
“I am so proud of Kara, it’s been a really long journey and she is just such a happy girl who can
now listen to music, play basketball and participate in activities just like any other kids.”
In 2008, Kerry and her family hosted a fundraiser to give something back to the clinic.
“I felt such a strong connection to the Eye and Ear and was so grateful for the care that Kara had
received.”
“We held our fundraiser at the Werribee Racing Club and raised over $44,000.”
The Redmonds donated half their funds to the hospital and half to the Bionics Institute.
“I wanted the money to go towards improving paediatric services at the Cochlear Implant Clinic
and came up with the idea of a picture book that would prepare other young children for surgery.”
Kerry’s vision became a reality today with the launch of ‘Sounds for Sam’, a picture book resource
that will assist young children to prepare for their surgery.
“We are seeing more and more children presenting for their second Cochlear Implant between
the ages of three and 10,” explains Clinical Director ENT Robert Briggs.
“These children don’t remember receiving their first implant as they were so young and when they
are ready for their second implant, it can be a lot more intimidating.”
“We hope that the book will help to prepare children and to make the experience less traumatic.”
“The more that a child in engaged in the experience, the better the outcome be.”
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-EndsMore information
What is a Cochlear Implant?
A cochlear implant is a device which provides useful hearing sensations and improves the ability
of adults and children who have a severe, profound or total hearing loss in both ears to
communicate.
Cochlear implants are an option for individuals who receive little or no benefit from hearing aids. It
takes time and practice before people become comfortable listening with their implant, and
thinking of the sound they hear as rich and meaningful.
When was the first cochlear implanted?
The first successful implant was performed at the Eye and Ear in 1978 by the pioneer of the
Bionic Ear, Distinguished Professor Graeme Clark AC, and a team of specialists.
Since then, more than 2,000 implants have been successfully performed at the Eye and Ear’s
Cochlear Implant Clinic, the first public funded cochlear implant clinic in the world which opened
in 1985. The iconic invention has provided the gift of hearing for more than 150,000 people in
more than 120 countries.
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital has been at the forefront of research and changes in
cochlear implant technology including the first auditory brain stem implant in the Southern
Hemisphere - a surgically-implanted hearing device, which is based on the concept of a cochlear
implant, but directly stimulates the hearing nerve on the brain stem.
About Hearing Loss Facts
Children may experience emotional difficulties and low self-esteem as a result of poorly managed
hearing loss, as well as learning and behavioural problems in school.
Hearing loss in children can lead to delayed speech, language and communication skills.
Regular listening, speech and language therapy is required to help a child learn and understand
the input from their cochlear implant in a meaningful way.
Research has shown that early diagnosis and early intervention do make a difference in
outcomes for children.
Babies diagnosed early, who access early intervention and hearing devices by 6 months of age
have the potential to achieve speech and language results that are equivalent to their normally
hearing peers.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rebecca Hennessy
Media and Communications Coordinator
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Mob: 0412 887 170
Ph: (03) 9929 8689