At Hearts for Hearing, every child’s journey to listening and spoken language is as unique as them. By highlighting these patient stories, we aim to restore hope and provide perspective on the limitless outcomes possible for children born with hearing loss.
Today, we’re honored to introduce you to Maya, a bright and driven young woman who is sure to one day conquer the world.
When Everything Changed
Maya was born in 2011 to first-time parents. Shortly after birth, Maya failed her newborn hearing screen, which for many children can be the first indication of hearing loss. This left her family facing uncertainty around their culture and their baby’s future. At just 4 months old, Maya was referred to Hearts for Hearing, where she was diagnosed with hearing loss.
“We’re an Indian family,” Elsa, Maya’s mom, explains, “Any disability is seen as a shameful issue, a punishment from God for one reason or another. Being that this was all new, both being a mom and having a child with possible hearing loss, I was uncertain about her future.”
Choosing Spoken Language
Living in a bilingual household, Elsa struggled with concerns about Maya’s language development. “We are a listening and hearing family who uses spoken language,” she explains. “It was vital for me that my parents and other extended family members could communicate with Maya. I knew that deep relationships would be challenging to develop if we didn’t choose spoken language.”
Shortly after Maya received her hearing loss diagnosis, she was fit with hearing aids and began weekly listening and spoken language therapy sessions. However, when she was 18 months old, Maya’s hearing loss progressed due to bilateral ear infections. It was at this point that cochlear implants were recommended to provide Maya with the best opportunity for a listening and spoken language outcome.
Changing Perspectives
After Maya received her cochlear implants, her language truly began to flourish. At four years old, she was deemed to be on track with her normal hearing peers and graduated from listening and spoken language therapy! This bittersweet moment meant that while Maya’s weekly visits to Hearts for Hearing would end, she could now do what may have previously seemed impossible.
When reflecting on the early days, her mom says “I really struggled at first. I’d introduce her by saying, ‘This is Maya, she’s deaf’ – like that was the most important thing about her. I worried about everything – school, friends, learning, all of it. Hearts for Hearing introduced sound as early and consistently as possible, but more importantly, they showed me that being deaf is what she has—not who she is.”
Beyond Expectations
Today, Maya is 13. She has blossomed into a vibrant young woman who loves reading, swimming, painting, creating, and spending time with friends. Her identity extends far beyond her hearing journey, though that journey has certainly helped shape her into the resilient person she is today.
The anxiety that once consumed her parents has transformed into hope and pride. “She is bright and driven,” Elsa says. “She loves learning, and I hope she finds herself giving back to the cochlear community someday, helping families or other kids with hearing loss.”
For other parents beginning this journey, Elsa’s advises: “Find a support system—not one with their agenda, but one that supports your vision for your child. Hearts for Hearing was that support system for us. Your child will thrive and have a great future ahead. Don’t be discouraged and keep going. Start early, be consistent, and remember that hearing loss is just one aspect of your amazing child.”
Maya’s story reminds us that communication is about connection—between parents and children, between cultures and generations, between the world of sound and the heart’s understanding. With compassionate care and early intervention, these outcomes can be possible for a child born with hearing loss.
