When 9-month-old Hanah contracted life threatening meningitis it left her with irreversible hearing loss. Hope was close by when her parents learned that the cutting edge cochlear implant would restore her hearing. However, at a large cost the transforming solution was out of their reach. Al Jalila Foundation stepped in to fund the procedure and young Hanah, now 7-years-old, is a confident, adventurous, bright young child who excels at school and loves music. The overjoyed parents expressed: “Thank you for changing our child’s life forever. We are eternally grateful to Al Jalila Foundation for giving Hanah the greatest gift of all – the gift of hearing.”
According to the World Health Organization, 32 million children globally are affected by hearing impairment and in the Middle East, hearing loss is one of the region’s top five health problems, estimated to affect 1 in 25 people. Cochlear implants are highly effective in young children as the early stages of brain development maximises the child’s ability to develop speech, language and listening skills, ultimately transforming their life.
Hanah is one of 37 brave little warriors, sponsored by Al Jalila Foundation, who underwent a cochlear implant to restore her hearing. This innovative technology was only made possible by advancements in research and today, we are able to witness the transformative power this medical marvel has had on young lives like Hanah.