A Retreat couple are appealing for help to raise R300 000 so that their three-year-old daughter can undergo cochlear implant surgery in May.
Little Elle Arendse was born almost deaf and has been fitted with hearing aids since five months old. But regular testing revealed that her hearing is deteriorating and will continue to do so, which could leave her completely deaf.
Her mom Abigail Arendse tells the Daily Voice that they were referred for further testing after a newborn screening in 2017.
“The audiologist assured us that newborns have fluid in their ears and that is why we got this result. We tested her at three months old again and got the same result.
“We were referred to Constantiaberg Hospital to do a basic auditory brainstem response (ABR) test and the result showed that she wasn't hearing.
“At four months old, we did a four-hour full ABR test which showed she had a high tone hearing loss.”
The parents are appealing for donations for cochlear surgery that will save Elle’s hearing.
They even started the Parent Guidance program at the Carel du Toit Centre in Parow, a special needs school where deaf children learn to speak.
“With her hearing deteriorating, her hearing aids will not be sufficient and therefore specialists advised that the best assisted-devices are cochlear implants.”
Abigail says being a teacher at the Dominican School for Deaf Children since 2013 has assisted her tremendously to communicate with Elle.
“I understand her frustrations with language better, I have great support from my principal and colleagues.”
To help give Elle the gift of hearing, call Abigail on 074 600 3758.