ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Audiology

Born in November 2013, Savannah passed her initial hearing screening at birth, leaving her parents unaware of any hearing issues. It wasn’t until a playful moment during a game of telephone at age 6 that they discovered Savannah’s hearing impairment. Her father, Gabe, recalls the moment: “I whispered something into her left ear, and she said, ‘Oh no, Daddy, you have to whisper in my other ear. That ear doesn’t work.’” This revelation was the start of Savannah’s hearing journey. This casual game confirmed their initial suspicions. Gabe shares, “When she told us she couldn’t hear out of that ear, it made sense. She was always a loud talker, and her speech curled towards the ear that worked.” The family sought help from hearing specialists, but the initial results were disheartening. “We tried a hearing aid, but it only boosted her hearing from 4% to 12%. It just wasn’t enough,” […]

Micah’s journey began with some unexpected twists and turns, before he even entered this world. “Before Micah was born, we received the news that he might have Down syndrome through routine blood work during pregnancy,” shares his mother, Kaitlyn. “It was a whirlwind of emotions, but we leaned on the support and expertise of Nemours from the very beginning.” Kaitlyn’s family have been seeing providers at Nemours Children’s throughout the Delaware Valley ever since her firstborn arrived prematurely. Her GYN office recommended Nemours Children’s, and they found the care to be exceptional, so they continued with Micah’s treatment there. It was his team at Nemours that diagnosed Micah with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome, along with clubfoot and a cardiac concern – coarctation of the aorta. Nemours became their beacon of hope, with a multidisciplinary team ready to address Micah’s complex needs. From the Trisomy 21 Clinic to […]

When Marina was just 6 months old, her family noticed something unusual—her neck often fell to one side. This seemingly minor issue led to a series of medical consultations and diagnoses that would shape the future for Marina and her family. Diagnosed with torticollis and abnormally low muscle tone (hypotonia) by her pediatrician, Marina was referred to a neurologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida for further evaluation. Upon consulting with Nemours Children’s specialists, it was discovered that she was experiencing frequent seizures. “Various specialists conducted studies, leading to the discovery of congenital cytomegalovirus on February 2, 2022, just after her first birthday,” shares her mother, Kenialys. “This news left us shocked, confused, sad, anxious, and scared. However, the dedicated care from healthcare professionals at Nemours helped us regain optimism and hope for Marina’s future.” Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is closely related to the viruses responsible for chickenpox and mononucleosis (mono). Babies infected […]

Melissa knew at a young age that she wanted to be a speech pathologist. When she was young, her grandfather had a stroke which helped influence the path she wanted to eventually take in life. After school, she would often walk to her grandparent’s house to play cards and visit until her Dad could pick her up. Often, after walking to their house she would arrive, and her grandfather was receiving his speech therapy sessions. Watching the therapist work with her grandfather and the care she took looking out for him, she decided she wanted to do the same thing. Melissa says, “Through my time in undergraduate and graduate studies I often found myself drawn to working more with children. I have always loved the energy and spirit that children often had and loved the possibilities of helping them grow and progress in their speech and language skills. I graduated […]

Madison’s journey with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) began at 2 months old. A severe ear infection spiraled into Mastoiditis, leading to urgent surgery and a slew of testing. It was a challenging time for her mother, Jeannine, and their family. They grappled with the possibility of HLH, a blood and immune system disorder that had already touched their lives through Madison’s brother. Jeannine recounts, “Madison’s condition was weighing heavy on our minds that she could have HLH like her brother did.” Having sought care for her son at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Jeannine turned to the hospital once again, entrusting them with Madison’s care. “We have always felt the doctors and therapists have cared for and loved us truly from their heart,” says Jeannine. “We went to larger hospitals and felt like we were a number there, but not at Nemours.” Madison’s treatment at Nemours Children’s primarily involves outpatient therapy services. […]

Dillan’s hearing loss was discovered during a routine hearing scan, revealing that she was deaf in her left ear. While Dillan’s family had noticed some challenges with communicating before seeking treatment at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, they were shocked to learn this news. Her family was very eager to find answers and solutions. Having been involved with the groundbreaking of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida 10 years ago, Dillan’s family was drawn to the comprehensive care provided under one roof. “Nemours provided seamless care. I love being able to communicate with her doctors in real time,” says Dillan’s mom. With the help of Dr. Morgan Wilcox, Dillan now has a hearing aid for her left ear, making an incredible difference in her hearing. “From the first day I met her, Dillan is always smiling and just has this contagious, feel-good attitude that you can’t help but smile and laugh along with […]