Anzo was 21 months old when he received simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants.

He was diagnosed as having a profound bilateral hearing loss at birth - a diagnosis that was confirmed at two months. Hammersmith and Fulham PCT provided funding for the operation, carried out on 24th April 2007.

Research shows clearly that bilateral CI is better than unilateral. Bilateral is not one ear plus the other, it is one ear multiplied by the other, based on the way both sides of the brain process sounds that are heard by both ears.

We convinced the implant team that Anzo needed bilateral CI. They agreed to recommend simultaneous bilateral CI and asked our PCT for funding. We wrote to our PCT to demand funding and enlisted the help of our MP and councillors. We also made it clear that we would appeal if funding was declined.

We don't know, as it is very much a lottery when it comes to funding by PCTs. Probably the most important factor was our determination to get simultaneous bilateral CI for Anzo and the manner in which we conveyed that to the PCT.

Be pro-active and insist that you want bilaterals for your child. Present your case with clarity and forcefully to both the implant team and your PCT. Enlist the help of your MP, councillors and anyone else who can and is willing to help. Most importantly, join CICS and talk to other parents who have travelled down the path before you.

Five months.

Anzo has had a miraculous transformation. His hearing is good (20 to 30db). Before implantation he spoke no words; now he speaks 12 words and makes a lot of other sounds. eg animal sounds. They are getting clearer by the day and he is much more vocal. He is now constantly commenting on things that he sees by attaching sounds to them. He is also getting better at identifying sounds, their source and direction. If there are sounds that are new to him he asks for them to be identified by pointing to his ear.

The benefits of bilateral CI to Anzo were clearly demonstrated to us when we went to the John Tracy Clinic in LA two months post switch-on. Anzo's first audiological test came out very poor (55 to 65db) and his teacher also told us on the same day that his right processor was not working. Fortunately, we had a back-up pack with us and as soon as we replaced the processor Anzo was much more alert which indicated to us that his hearing was better. The next day this was confirmed when his second audiological test showed his hearing at 20 to 30db.

Yes, there are several things that have been critical to getting these benefits. Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) has been of great help to Anzo. At his first session when he was a year old they diagnosed his lack of high frequency hearing which initiated the CI process. We had been to see his consultant the day before and had been told that "everything is fine, come back in three months".

The John Tracy Clinic gave Anzo his first words and impressed on us how much work it takes to get CI children to develop speech and language. They also gave us Anzo's roadmap for the next few years. We have now implemented their recommendations which included placing Anzo in an auditory oral setting. Anzo started attending Christopher Place three mornings a week in September 07 and has made great progress since. Anzo's mainstream nursery, The Little Tugboat, which he has attended two full days a week since January 07 has been very supportive and we trained his teacher in AV techniques which she uses during daily one-to-one sessions with him. She is also scheduled to take some formal AVT training in November.

We have also pursued aggressive audiological management for Anzo which involves working closely with his audiologists to ensure frequent testing and fine-tuning of his maps. However, the most important thing that Anzo has benefited from is the work that we, his parents, have done with him mainly thanks to AVT which has given us the training and techniques to do so.

Anzo is not yet able to tell us in words what his thoughts are but he surely will be able to sometime soon. He was too young to be involved in the decision for bilateral CI, but it seems like we made the right decision for him. Since he had his implants, he is much happier and more self confident. Best of all he has good hearing and has started to talk!