I am Mom to two children in Cochlear implants. My nine year old wears bilateral Freedoms as does his sister who is six. My son was born deaf due to Goldenhar Syndrome and although my daughter passed her newborn hearing test she lost her hearing as an infant for reasons unknown. Their losses have not yet been linked by Genetics despite their efforts over the years. Both children remain at the top of their class in academics and attend a mainstream public school. They had auditory-verbal therapy after receiving their cochlear implants but have since graduated. They are typical kids in every way other than their special "ears" and both love hearing music, the animals outdoors, and they even enjoy hearing each other (most of the time). I am also an Awareness volunteer for Cochlear.