We really love getting updates and photos of all the children we’ve helped at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and we hope you love reading their updates as much as we do! Today, we’re sharing an update of Veronica's incredible journey to restore her hearing.
We really love getting updates and photos of all the children we’ve helped at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and we hope you love reading their updates as much as we do! Today, we’re sharing an update of Veronica's incredible journey to restore her hearing.
We are thrilled to report that Veronica, a 12 year old girl from Mexico born with microtia that impaired her hearing, recently had her second surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and everything went smoothly.
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
We are thrilled to report that Veronica, a 12 year old girl from Mexico born with microtia that impaired her hearing, recently had her second surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and everything went smoothly.
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
We are thrilled to report that Veronica, a 12 year old girl from Mexico born with microtia that impaired her hearing, recently had her second surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and everything went smoothly.
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
You may recall from our first blog post featuring Veronica that she had her first surgery with us in the spring of 2023 to create the framework for her ear, essentially laying the foundation for this most recent surgery, an ear reconstruction surgery and the insertion of a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA) to improve her hearing. Despite Veronica’s atresia, her inner ear had normal hearing symmetrical to her unaffected ear, so it was a matter of getting sound to the inner ear.
Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and widely renowned plastic surgeon, performed the ear reconstruction surgery, and Dr. Darius Kohan, one of our incredibly skilled volunteer otologists, implanted the BAHA.
For the BAHA to work, a device called a bone bridge was implanted into the bone behind the ear. A magnetic piece with a microphone connects on the outside of the ear. The sound enters the microphone, and the bone bridge vibrates to transmit sound. It will work for a lifetime, with only the external magnet piece needing to be replaced every 4 years.
In Veronica’s case, the Little Baby Face Foundation will cover her treatment in its entirety until she reaches 21 years of age, so every 4 years, we will replace the magnetic piece to power her BAHA and keep her hearing well.
After Veronica’s surgery, Dr. Kohan assessed the surgical site to make sure everything was healing appropriately and making sure the processor was working accordingly. There are a variety of magnet strengths to ensure comfort and customization, for example if she needs a stronger magnet for participating in sports.
Veronica also met with Dr. Grace Smith, audiologist and clinical account manager on the bone conduction team at MED-EL, to activate the BAHA processor and achieve sound input. Dr. Smith ran an audio test called an audiogram to assess Veronica’s hearing and make sure the implant was responding well at all frequencies. Veronica’s responses indicated that the BAHA was working perfectly, so Dr. Smith proceeded to determine the ideal everyday sound settings for Veronica’s BAHA.
The processor on the outside is constantly analyzing the environment to adapt accordingly, so much of the process is automatic. There is also an app for Veronica or her mother to adjust the sound input themselves, which would come in handy, for example, if Veronica was in the presence of loud noises, such as sirens or attending a concert. It also helps in the opposite case, when audibility is low and needs a boost.
At this point, Veronica was hearing too loudly, which is normal since she was at 100% of her prescription, but not used to hearing at such a level. Dr. Smith adjusted the prescription so that it would be lower and more comfortable, but gradually increasing towards that 100% prescription over the course of 2 months, giving Veronica’s auditory system time to adjust.
When Dr. Smith pressed the button to officially activate Veronica’s BAHA, it was such an emotional moment for all, especially Veronica’s mother who was so happy and relieved to see her daughter finally hearing properly and getting the expert care she so deserves. Dr. Smith let Veronica and her mother know that this is just the beginning, that this is a relationship that they can depend on to respond to Veronica’s needs as she grows.
We anticipate that Veronica will need another surgery for the ear reconstruction, but for now, she is in a great place. We are thrilled for Veronica and her family!
If your child was born with Microtia and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.
If your child was born with Microtia and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.