Mia

Mia has a condition called Microtia and has had hearing loss in her right ear since she was born.

Microtia is a congenital condition in which the external part of the ear is underdeveloped, malformed, or missing. It can affect one or both ears, though it most commonly affects only one ear (typically the right).

Microtia often occurs along with atresia, which is the absence or closure of the ear canal, leading to hearing loss in the affected ear. Mia’s right ear canal is closed, meaning she can’t hear anything on that side.

Over the years, Mia has tried all different types of hearing aids but has still struggled, particularly in crowds of people or noisy environments and has had to learn to lip read from an early age.

A Sentio implant is state-of-the-art hearing technology designed to restore or enhance hearing in those with significant hearing loss. The audiology team thought Mia would benefit greatly from this new technology.

Mr Sunil Sharma, Consultant in Paediatric ENT and Otology explains:

“Unlike traditional hearing aids, the procedure involves surgically inserting the implant on to the bone next to the ear which then sends sound signals to the inner ear and then to the brain, bypassing damaged parts of the ear. This not only provides clearer sound but also makes it easier to understand speech in a noisy environment.

Plus, it’s invisible, long-lasting, and provides a permanent solution to hearing loss, improving quality of life.”

This procedure wouldn’t be possible without a skilled theatre team. From the surgeons and anaesthetists to the theatre practitioners and support staff, everyone plays a crucial role in ensuring the implant is successfully placed and the patient is cared for throughout the process.

Mia is a keen performer and particularly loves dancing, acting, and singing. She was excited but nervous about how the implant could help her not only in her daily life but also when performing.

The four-hour operation went well, and Mia was discharged on the same day. A few weeks later, Mia came back to Alder Hey to have the device switched on, and several weeks later, she still can’t believe the difference.

Mia said:

“The day my implant was switched on it was really overwhelming, it was like my brain was catching up but now I forget it’s there and I’ve noticed a big improvement. I love performing and one of the main problems I had was timing for songs, as I couldn’t hear the music in the songs, so that has helped my performance massively. My friends have noticed a big difference too, I don’t keep asking them to repeat themselves anymore. I can hear people better from further distances and busier environments, like school. The audiology team have been amazing and I’m so grateful, it really has been life-changing.”