June 2019 6 KIVI BOISE on your side

Gretta ForsThirteen-year-old Gretta Fors reaction after receiving a new hearing implant technology is priceless. "That's good, though, but it's weird!" said Fors. The FDA approved the Bonebridge implant system, and Gretta is the first kid in Idaho to receive it. "For a while, Gretta's been using different technology, but most recently the ear bone surgery she had failed, and so she developed a more significant hearing loss," said St. Luke's pediatric audiologist Jessica Stich-Hennen.

Gretta has conductive and mixed hearing loss, meaning cochlear implants won't work for her.

"Her cochlea works, what doesn't work are the ear bone and the eardrums to get the sound to her cochlea," said Gretta's mother, Gretchen Fors. She's been experiencing hearing loss since she was six months old, but it hasn't stopped her from her love of music. "Drumming which is my band instrument, percussion, it was easier for me to hear it even when I couldn't hear anything else, cause I could take off my shoes and feel the pulse on the floor," said Gretta.

She's also looking forward to more simple day-to-day actions that others might take for granted, like wearing her hair down, or swimming in a pool, which her old technology didn't let her do.

"At one point when my eardrum still had a hole in it, I had to wear ear plugs so water couldn't get in and give me a deeper infection, so I couldn't hear my swim coaches at all which was rough," said Gretta. Now, she'll be able to hear the instruments she loves and the praise of her family more clearly. "Gretta loves music, and we come from a musical family on both sides, and I think her being able to flourish in music and song truly I'm really excited about," said Gretta's father, Eric Fors.

Become a Member

Become a Cicada member

Latest News

VCNT - Visitors

Today 14

Yesterday 43

Week 14

Month 1505

All 38939

Currently are 28 guests and no members online

Kubik-Rubik Joomla! Extensions


Here is a link to Deafblindness support and information.
They are based in Western Australia and supported by Senses Australia.

Hear For You logo




Hear For You web site

Vision Statement: “For all young people who
are deaf to reach their potential in life.”

Go to top
JSN Boot template designed by JoomlaShine.com
Web Analytics