Cochlear implant restores hearing for Dubai girl, Zahra

A four-year-old girl named Zahra Adeel has regained her hearing after receiving a cochlear implant. Zahra lost her hearing due to a severe infection that required her to stay in intensive care when she was just over one year old. Her family had not noticed her hearing loss until she reached four and wasn’t speaking. After seeing a doctor, Zahra was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears, affecting more than 90% of her hearing ability. This diagnosis was linked to her previous infection and had impacted her speech development. The family consulted Dr. Mounika Reddy Yalaka, an ear specialist at Zulekha Hospital in Dubai. She determined Zahra was a good candidate for cochlear implantation after conducting tests and scans. Before the implant, Zahra communicated with her parents using sign language, which made daily life challenging. The family decided to proceed with the surgery after learning about the potential benefits of the cochlear implant, including improving Zahra's speech and language. The cochlear implant surgery was successful. Two weeks later, Zahra had the "switch-on" procedure, which activated her new device. For the first time since losing her hearing, she was able to hear sounds and responded with excitement. Ongoing care is crucial for Zahra’s recovery. She will need regular check-ups and intensive therapy to develop her listening and speech skills. Doctors believe that with the right support, Zahra can achieve age-appropriate speech and language abilities. This case shows the importance of early detection and intervention in hearing loss. The medical team at Zulekha Hospital has been praised for their dedication to Zahra's care.