The Gift of Hearing
What do you enjoy hearing? The notes of your favorite song? Or your parents saying, "I love you"? Two-year-old Asher Goldberg couldn't hear either of those sounds. That's because he was born completely deaf. But earlier this year, he received a special tool that helps him to hear! Today, he's learning all the different sounds of the world.
Asher's parents knew he was deaf since he was born. He wouldn't turn around when his mom, Robyn, called him. Asher wouldn't even respond to the music his dad, Michael, played in their home in Phoenix, Arizona.
"It was pretty rough," Michael told ABC. "A huge part of my life is music. The first thing I thought was that he's not going to be able to experience music the way that I can."
That changed in February when Asher received a cochlear implant. This tool is different from a hearing aid, which simply increases sound volume. Because Asher is completely deaf, the implant actually helps his ears to hear sounds! "We love you so much" were some of the first words he heard his mom say.
Today, Asher is enjoying his hearing. He likes dancing to his dad's music now. Asher also listened to his mom talk! He even says a few words back sometimes.
"It feels wondering and almost unbelievable that Asher can hear us now," Robyn told News-O-Matic."