7-yr-old’s hearing restored with cochlear implants

It’s a special day for Kentaleen Akiuo at the Sanford Audiology clinic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Smiling from ear to ear, the 7-12 months-aged can the moment again listen to.

“When she acquired sick, that’s what occurred. She got listening to decline,” mom JoeAnn Wengu stated about her daughter’s traumatic journey.

Listening to reduction in each ears

Immediately after falling off her bicycle, Kentaleen went to the Sanford Worthington Professional medical Heart in the vicinity of her home in Minnesota. Whilst a CT scan was detrimental, she’d afterwards exhibit new indicators such as hearing decline. Turns out she had meningitis.

“I noticed her when we were being in the (Sanford Children’s) Castle when she was hospitalized,” said Sanford audiology specialist Jessica Hagg, Au.D.

“I diagnosed her with bilateral hearing loss immediately after acquiring meningitis, which was a extremely hard subject to have with her relatives to know that she could not hear at all.”

The younger girl, just commencing college, needed cochlear implant surgical procedure rapid.

“They reported she’s heading to get medical procedures. I was truly, truly afraid,” Wengu said.

From % to 89%

Sanford Fargo in North Dakota is home to the region’s only board-licensed ear, nose and throat doctors carrying out exact same-day, cochlear implants. Matthew Miller, M.D., and team do a lot more than 100 a 12 months.

“We are the only implant center in North Dakota and extend into much of northern Minnesota, eastern Montana, and also into South Dakota,” Dr. Miller claimed.

“I imagine which is one particular of the principal positive aspects of performing with Sanford and in the Sanford system. We seriously do cast a wide net over the region.”

Bringing access to care to folks across the Sanford footprint.

“Today, with equally of her ears on, she went from % to 89% of being familiar with speech in a tranquil area with no qualifications noise, which is wonderful,” Dr. Hagg stated.

An accomplishment that seems good to this family members.

“I was considering she’s not likely to hear anymore,” Wengu reported. “Excited for what they do to her. Genuinely satisfied. They are quite very good.”

Dr. Miller claimed, “nothing helps make me happier than viewing our clients out there with their processors on for the earth and acquiring people come up and ask them about it and just kind of serve as ambassadors for the software as very well.”

The medical professional confident has just one smiley ambassador with Kentaleen, who is aware of what she’ll be doing on her approaching birthday.

“Chatting with my pals,” Kentaleen stated.

Dr. Hagg included, “It makes me so proud. You can convey to with each and every person if they’ve found their career that they appreciate. It just comes out in everything they do. Sufferers, first and foremost, are my explanation why I do this.”

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Children’s, Ear, Nose & Throat, Fargo, Sioux Falls, Worthington