Click the image to enlarge the story published in The Advertiser April 2008
Transcript - Charlotte can now hear how much dad loves her
Tory Shepherd - Health Reporter
Ten-month-old Charlotte spent yesterday trying to work out what was different.
For the first time in her short life, she could hear. Charlotte had her cochlear implant switched on at 9am. Her father, Jeremy Hubbard, said she was curious and slightly suspicious of the first sounds she heard.
"She's sort of suspicious and looks at everything like she's saying: 'What are you doing that for?'," he said. "I think it's going to be a discovery for her, but she's taken it in her stride. She is a curious and bright little thing.
"We've dreamed of this since she was born. You dream of the day when she can hear you say 'I love you' and say it back." Charlotte had the life-changing procedure done in the revamped Audiology Unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital, which officially opened yesterday.
The facility has had a $250,000 upgrade thanks to money raised by the WCH foundation. Foundation executive manager Michelle Eunson said the upgraded unit will help thousands of children. "The demand for audiology services is expected to increase signficiantly in the coming years and the four new test rooms have been specifically designed to cater for that need," she said.