"The CI has opened many windows for our son with multiple disabilities."

My name is Eva, I live in Vienna and my son Florim is fitted with cochlear implants on both sides. Florim has multiple impairments and his doctor described him as a child like a house with closed windows. The implantation enabled us to open a window for him. During his first fitting, he laughed and suddenly made eye contact - the change in him was immediately noticeable. He also accepted his CIs immediately, unlike the hearing aids we had tried before.
Florim enjoys his "ears": he likes listening to music, rhythm instruments, airplane noises, trains. He also takes responsibility for the devices himself, for example when changing the battery.

My advice for those affected is to practice consistently, keep a folder of experiences and keep going back for checks to optimize the settings. Children with multiple disabilities in particular are often unable to communicate well and say whether the adjustment is comfortable. That's why I recommend adjustment by means of a stapedius reflex measurement. It is also very helpful to talk to other people affected in order to gain strength.