Navigating the World of Sound: A Family’s Journey with Hearing Loss
Elle Girardi recalls the precise moment her first daughter, Charli, failed the newborn hearing screening at the hospital. “She was just two days old,” Elle shared, describing a potent mix of “shock, confusion, and the fear of the unknown.” While Charli was tested again due to being born before 40 weeks gestation, by two weeks old, a referral to Sydney Children’s Hospital for a comprehensive hearing assessment was made.
Charli was subsequently diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), a form of hearing impairment typically permanent, resulting from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve that transmits sound signals to the brain. Elle vividly remembers that day, feeling like a “deer in the headlights,” with her partner and herself completely unprepared for what lay ahead.
Elle’s memories are particularly sharp from the day six-week-old Charli received her first hearing aids. In the waiting room at Hearing Australia, another mother, whose teenage son also used hearing aids, offered a comforting word. “She peeked into the pram, saw the hearing aids, and said, ‘This brings back memories. It’s going to be OK’,” Elle recounted. “It was beautiful. I just burst into tears.”
Two years later, the family welcomed their second daughter, Frankie. Worryingly, Frankie’s newborn hearing screening also indicated a potential issue. Frankie’s situation proved more intricate. She was eventually diagnosed with auditory neuropathy, a condition where the ear can perceive sound, but struggles to transmit those signals effectively to the brain. This required ongoing, meticulous testing and close observation.
“She reacted to sound differently than Charli ever did,” Elle explained. “We knew she could hear, but we couldn’t tell how consistently. We thought she knew her name, but she didn’t, not until she got her cochlear implants.”
The Transformative Power of Cochlear Implants
At daycare, Frankie often became frustrated and removed her hearing aids. However, the impact of her first cochlear implant was immediate and profound. “She was suddenly calm. She started babbling more. She began loving sound,” Elle said. Frankie now happily wears two cochlear implants, and Elle finds joy in recounting her daughter’s delight in everyday noises. “She loves hearing the dog bark. The ducks. The little things.”
In 2025, a hearing test revealed that Charli’s hearing in her right ear had deteriorated. She was fitted with a cochlear implant to assist her. The bond between the sisters was particularly touching following Charli’s surgery. “We told her it would help with swimming lessons and with hearing things she’d been missing. When she woke up after surgery, she said, ‘I match Frankie now’,” Elle shared. Frankie, in turn, pointed to Charli’s bandage and then to her own implants, a moment Elle described as “really lovely.”
A Network of Support: Hearing Australia and Beyond
The family’s journey has been significantly eased by the support of Lauren, a Hearing Australia representative who reached out shortly after Charli’s diagnosis. “She called just hours after the diagnosis. A few days later she spent time on the phone with me, answering every question, telling me positive stories, reassuring me that Charli would be OK. It meant everything.”
Lauren’s assistance extended beyond emotional support. She was instrumental in navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) paperwork, connecting the family with The Shepherd Centre – an organisation dedicated to helping children develop spoken language, listening, and social skills – and managing hospital reports. “All I had to do was get a GP form signed,” Elle noted.
Beyond professional support, Elle found solace and strength in connecting with other parents who had experienced similar challenges. Lauren facilitated these introductions, allowing Elle to gain invaluable insights and share experiences.
Embracing Devices as Part of Identity
Today, both Charli and Frankie embrace their hearing devices as integral parts of who they are. Charli has learned to articulate: “I wear this because it helps me hear better.” Now in kindergarten, Charli uses one cochlear implant and one hearing aid and has emerged as a confident young advocate for herself.
“If we’re at a busy family dinner, she’ll politely tell everyone to stop talking because it’s too loud,” Elle said with pride. “She’ll say, ‘I can’t hear you well. You need to talk separately.’ She’s so confident.”
Charli’s school has collaborated closely with Hearing Australia, implementing strategies to accommodate her needs, including optimising classroom environments to minimise noise distractions. “They’ve been incredible,” Elle affirmed. “They got all her audiology reports with my consent. They asked her preschool teachers how she coped in noisy environments. They’re really invested.” Charli also utilises a Roger remote microphone system at school when necessary.
For Elle and her partner John, managing two distinct hearing loss journeys has presented its challenges, but they consistently choose to focus on gratitude. “You could feel negative about it,” Elle admitted. “But our girls are the happiest little things. If this is our biggest challenge, we’re lucky.”
Looking Towards the Future with Hope
The Girardi family feels fortunate to live in a country with extensive opportunities and readily available hearing support services. Their desire to help other families facing similar circumstances is a driving force. When Elle encounters new parents navigating the initial shock of a hearing loss diagnosis, she offers the same reassurance she received: “I’d tell them: everything is going to be OK. It’s stressful, it’s emotional, but the support is incredible.”
Elle holds high hopes for her daughters’ futures. “I just want them to be happy. To enjoy life. To communicate. To smash their goals.” She also hopes they can continue to educate others, helping to dismantle the persistent stigma surrounding hearing loss.
This week marks Hearing Loss Awareness Week (March 2-8). Further information can be found on the Hearing Australia website.
