Hearing miracle in Pretoria for girl (2) born with rare syndrome.

The implanted device will be switched on for the first time on 15 March allowing the toddler to hear sound for the first time.

The cochlear operation on a two-year-old Ghanian girl at the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Muckleneuk was successful.

Chogtaa Dumeh from northern Ghana was born with a rare condition, Waardenburg syndrome type two, which was also the cause of profound hearing loss in both her ears.

Waardenburg syndrome is also characterised by varying degrees of depigmentation of the eyes.

The operation was done in South Africa because it was is not available in her country.

She was due to have her bandages removed on Monday.

The head of the cochlear implant division of the Ear Institute in Pretoria Dr. Catherine van Dijk described the procedure as a success, adding she had received a good reading in theatre.

After the operation Chogtaa’s mother, Florence Ziniel said she was very relieved that the operation was such a huge success.

“I am extremely grateful for all the support we have received so far to have made this miracle operation possible,” she said.

She said she was very positive about a future in South Africa that would provide her little girl with the best opportunities concerning her circumstances.

The implanted device will be switched on for the first time on 15 March allowing the toddler to hear sound for the first time.

An intensive rehabilitation process of a minimum of six to nine months would follow, consisting of speech and language therapy as well as regular programming of the device as her brain adapts to sound.

The operation was made possible by the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in SA who raised funds – and received donations from generous individual donors as well as Studex South Africa, community chest of the Western Cape and Isa Gold.

Other sponsors were: Afi Antonio and her foundation in Ghana received donations from donors across Africa; St Raphael Catholic Church Lashibi in Ghana; and Doctors and Hospital Discounts (Zuid Afrikaans Hospital).

Erika Basson manager of the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss would assist Chogtaa and her mother to get permanent residence in South Africa in order for Chogtaa to receive the best audiological management for a better future with her cochlear implant.

“We are also aiming to start raising funds for Chogtaa’s second implant – the goal is to receive the second implant early in 2020,” she said.

Basson said a bursary placement has been secured for Chogtaa at a mainstream school in Pretoria, the Eduplex, which catered for deaf children with assistive devices.

Chogtaa will receive quality mainstream education including the required speech and language therapy, audiology management, as well as parent guidance for her mother as long as she attended this school.

The Ear Institute in Pretoria promised to assist Chogtaa with future repairs on her cochlear implant device when needed, including the programming of her device on a regular basis.

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