A five-year-old girl who lost her hearing at the tender age of two has been gifted a doll who wears hearing aids, just like her.
Abbi Keating, from New South Wales, Australia, baffled doctors when she lost her hearing, and stopped talking at the same time.
Her mum, Amy, 31, was devastated, but quickly ensured her daughter was fitted with hearing aids and later underwent an operation to have a cochlear implant fitted – an electronic device that replaces the function of the ear.
As she grew up, Abbi spent hours drawing hearing devices on to her existing dolls, longing for one who looked just like her.
Abbi Keating, from NSW, lost her hearing at just two years old and now has a cochlear implant
She spent hours drawing hearing aids similar to hers on her existing dolls so they would look like her
A cochlear implant is a removable hearing device which replaces the function of the ear
After researching online, Amy finally found an affordable ‘Just Like You Doll,’ and designed the doll in the image of her daughter.
She decided to film the moment Abbi opened her surprise doll – and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
The heartwarming video shows the young girl let out a long squeal as she pulls out the first doll.
‘What has it got?,’ asks Amy.
‘A cochlear hearing aid,’ Abbi responds shyly, wearing a huge grin on her face.
Amy, a full time mum of three, said: ‘After Abbi’s hearing aid and cochlear implant were fitted, I was desperate to buy Abbi a toy that had them too.
‘When I found an affordable one online, I knew it would be too adorable not to film the moment on camera.
‘Abbi has since been inseparable with her doll and we’ve now ordered another – the hearing aids even come off, just like hers do!’
Doctors believe Abbi’s deafness is due to a syndrome called Large Vestibular Aqueduct which causes the inner ear become swollen and enlarged.
This can result in fluid flowing back into the ear which causes hearing loss.
Abbi’s mother Amy (pictured) said she searched high and low for an affordable customisable doll
The five-year-old was delighted when she was presented with a doll who looked just like her
Abbi let out a lengthy squeal when she opened the box to find two dolls, both fitted with hearing devices
Abbi started speaking again after receiving her hearing devices, and now uses a combination of lip reading and Australian sign language, Auslan, to communicate.
‘Abbi has her own Facebook page as she loves sharing Auslan with others,’ Amy told Caters News.
‘She is a very good lip reader, and since having her cochlear implant fitted aged three, she began talking again.
‘Abbi fell ill at around seven months old and it was soon after that she stopped talking.
‘I don’t know if the two are linked but I’ve done my best to ensure Abbi has always received the best support.’
Amy said the dolls have helped explain Abbi’s condition to classmates and friends
Abbi stopped speaking after losing her hearing, but started again when she received her hearing devices
Amy contacted Just Like You Dolls, in August this year after a therapist spotted their services online.
The mother-of-three said she was delighted to find an affordable custom doll, as other companies were charging up to $120 for a single doll.
‘I chose it to have the exact same hearing equipment as Abbi,’ she said.
‘Abbi had wanted a doll that looked like her for ages and I was thrilled when only two weeks after ordering it we could collect it.
‘I had two dolls made, one soft cuddly one and another practical doll that looked more realistic.
‘We’ve since donated the practical doll to her school as the kids loved it there.’
One of the dolls Abbi was given by her mother has since been donated to her school
Abbi now uses her doll to educate her cousins and friends about her hearing.
‘It’s a lot easier explaining Abbi’s condition by using the dolls as we can take off her cochlear implant and reattach it to show the kids how it works,’ Amy explained.
Abbi has been inseparable with her cuddly doll since she received it on August 30.
‘It has made her so happy, she finally has something she can relate to,’ Amy said.
‘Just Like You Dolls also have a range of books that feature disabled children too.
‘It has been lovely reading to Abbi and showing her there’s many children who have differences.’
The doll has made Abbi ‘so happy’ as ‘she finally has something she can relate to,’ mum Amy said