Nucleus Hero: Skye Graham

Skye Graham, 23 months old, bilateral cochlear implant recipient

23-month-old Skye Graham was implanted with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants on her first birthday. “While we knew that cochlear implants were a significant part of any solution, we had to think about the possibility of bilateral implants,” explains Jenny Graham, Skye’s mother. “We ultimately gave Skye simultaneous bilateral implants to give her the best opportunity to hear from both sides as early as possible.”

Immediate and ongoing results.
Two weeks after Skye’s surgery, the Graham family returned to the Cleveland Clinic to have her cochlear implants activated. “All of us, including the audiologist, could clearly see that Skye was responding well to sound,” exclaims Jenny. At first, Skye frequently removed her processors. However, after the program was modified, Skye was responding better and actually held the processors up to her ears if one fell off. Explains Jenny, “We knew that she was hearing sound and wanted to hear more!”

Since surgery, Skye’s progress has been steady. As soon as the implants are turned on every morning, Skye immediately becomes verbal. She sways to music, reacts to environmental sounds and is beginning to repeat sounds. At fifteen months old Skye responded to her name, mimicked animal sounds and recognized songs from different toys. In addition to 60-minute auditory-verbal therapy sessions every two weeks, her family was — and still is — determined to fill Skye’s days with language.

Wise beyond her (hearing) peers.
Now 23 months old, Skye has pre-reading skills beyond most hearing children her age. She knows all of her letters and has literally hundreds of words in her vocabulary. “We were trying to think of all the animals she can name, but the list is seemingly endless including animals such as porcupines, urchins and narwhals (a fish),” her parents explain. “She is also forming sentences with four words or more and is able complete sentences in books that we read to her.” 

Skye’s doctor, Don Goldberg, has no doubt that due to early intervention and bilateral implantation, she will grow to have a complete life as a child, teenager and adult. “Thanks to hearing screening as a newborn, early fitting of hearing aids and an FM system, enrollment in early intervention, and most importantly great parents and family support, I have always been optimistic about Skye’s future,” explains Dr. Goldberg. “Now, with bilateral cochlear implants, she has made excellent progress. I think she will be phenomenally successful.”

Set up for success.
Both Skye and her parents have come a long way since she was born. Hard work and an eager mind has helped Skye become a successful cochlear implant user. Her parents are no longer uncertain about her future. In fact they now confidently say, “Our expectations for Skye are unlimited. She will attend normal schools and have a fruitful, productive life.“