Click the image to enlarge the story published in The Courier August 2007
Transcript - Sounds of Nature a 'Miracle'
By Jordainne Liddy
Bethany Miller is proof that miracles can happen. Born profoundly deaf, she had a cochlear ear implant inserted in her left ear when she was almost four years old.
Two weeks ago, at 13 years old, she underwent a three hour operation to insert a second cochlear ear implant in her right ear. Now, thanks to the implants, she can hear and speak clearly.
Her deafness was picked up in her first year after she failed to respond to loud noises or her name. Her parents, Nairne residents Cathy and Greg, sought advice from the Cora Barclay Centre for the deaf and hearing impaired in Adelaide where it was suggested she be given her first cochlear implant. Told by doctors previously that the only way Bethany would be able to function normally was to learn sign language, her parents were determined to try the implant to give their daughter the best chance at living a normal life. "I am constantly amazed at the outcome," Mrs Miller said. "She is about one of the most confident girls I have ever known."
Bethany attends Cornerstone College in Mt Barker, plays netball and loves public speaking. "(Deafness) is just a part of my life," she said. Bethany said she would never forget the feeling she had after her first implant was inserted. "There are two parts to a cochlear implant - one part went into my head during the operation and the other part looks a bit like a hearing aid and sits on my ear and is held in place using a magnet to match the one now inside my head," she said.
"Two weeks later, I was switched on and for the first time I could hear the birds singing, the sprinkler and the planes above." At four, Bethany had to try and learn to speak. After much training with her "amazing mum" she did, and started kindergarten at Hahndorf Primary School in 1998. "There were concerns about me being able to cope with the first year of primary school because I still only had the language skills of a two-year-old but I was nearly five," Bethany said.
"However, the teachers decided I could start reception and if needed, I could repeat - but I got through that year and passed to grade one the next year. I am in Year 8 now and I haven't had any problems with my hearing since. Because I learned to hear and speak even though I am deaf, I truly believe miracles happen."
Bethany is involved in the Cochlear Awareness network and often talks to groups about her story.