When Lyndsey's newborn daughter failed her initial hearing screening, she wasn't too worried—her older son had also failed the first test. But after a second failed newborn hearing screening, Lyndsey was referred to an audiologist, where she learned her daughter had severe hearing loss. What followed was a journey of emotions, decisions, and hope as her family explored treatment options, including cochlear implants.
In this episode, Lyndsey shares:
The newborn hearing screening process
How she learned about her baby's severe hearing loss
What went into the decision to move forward with cochlear implants
What the five-hour cochlear implant surgery was like
The moment her daughter heard her voice for the first time
Their work with auditory verbal therapy (AVT) after implantation
The support she received from Texas Hands & Voices and other hearing-loss resources
This is a powerful and emotional parent story for anyone navigating:
newborn hearing screening failures
pediatric hearing loss diagnoses
cochlear implant evaluation
auditory verbal therapy (AVT)
resources for families of children with hearing differences
If you'd like to connect with Lyndsey or have questions about any part of her journey, email podcast@childlifeoncall.com and we will connect you.
A special thank-you to Laura Morsman Photography for the beautiful family photos featured with this episode. Austin families—be sure to book her for your next session.
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Meet the host:
Katie Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call, a digital platform designed to provide parents, kids, and the care team with access to child life services tools and resources. She is a certified child life specialist with over 13 years of experience working in various pediatric healthcare settings. Katie is the author of the children's book, and has presented on the topics of child life and entrepreneurship, psychosocial care in the hospital, and supporting caregivers in the NICU setting both nationally and internationally. She is also the host of the Child Life On Call Podcast which features interviews with parents discussing their experiences throughout their child's medical journey. The podcast emphasizes the crucial role of child life services in enabling caregivers both at and beyond the bedside.
The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Child Life On Call Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Child Life On Call. Child Life On Call does not endorse any specific medical treatments, procedures, or opinions shared in the podcast. If you or your child are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that Child Life On Call and its affiliates are not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.
