My name is Robert, I come from Vienna and have a son who has bilateral implants. Paul's first diagnosis came completely unexpectedly during a newborn hearing screening in the fourth week of life. That was of course a huge shock. The fact that something might be wrong with your own child was not on your mind. After overcoming a brief period of shock, however, I accepted the diagnosis and wanted to know what could be done as quickly as possible. We found out about cochlear implants early on and it was immediately clear to us that we wanted our son to have them as soon as possible.
The CIs enabled Paul to acquire speech normally. He also did very well at school right from the start. The devices enable him to lead an almost unrestricted everyday life.

It's important for me to let other parents know that the beginning can be hard and exhausting. You always have to be behind it and not expect things to happen on their own. But if you know where and how, you can make the journey easier and faster. The result is definitely worth the effort.