Just two days after birth, Kamora received a newborn hearing screening, and it didn’t go as expected. At first, doctors told her parents not to worry; some babies who don't pass early screenings may pass follow-up tests. But later testing with an audiologist confirmed that Kamora had mild to moderate hearing loss. The type of hearing loss she was experiencing is typically caused by differences affecting the structures of the inner ear (sensorineural hearing loss). 

Suddenly, Kamora’s parents found themselves facing a diagnosis they hadn’t prepared for. Despite the surprise, Kamora’s mom, Katora, chose to focus on what her daughter could do: “She still had some access to sound, and we took that as a win.” 

Finding answers and a plan at CHOP

After the initial screening, Kamora’s family brought her to the Department of Audiology here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for a diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) evaluation. This test measures how the inner ear and hearing nerve respond to sounds. The appointment lasted three hours, and the audiologist carefully completed detailed tests to fully diagnose Kamora’s hearing. Katora remembers, “They couldn’t pinpoint a cause, and we didn’t know how to react. But CHOP’s team helped us understand what the diagnosis meant and what to do next.”

Kamora and her mother were also tested for genes that are passed down from parent to child (genetic markers) to determine if Kamora's hearing loss could have been inherited (genetic cause). 

Kamora was then placed with a CHOP care team that includes an audiologist, Riley Corcoran, AuD, CCC-A; a speech-language pathologist (SLP), Paula Barson, CCC-SLP; a psychologist from our Integrated Psychosocial Program, Michael Hoffman, PhD; and an ear nose and throat (ENT) doctor, Brian P. Dunham, MD. Each specialist works together, and with Kamora’s family, to create plans for Kamora's current and future needs.

Getting to hear and be heard

At 11 months old, Kamora was fit with hearing aids for each ear (bilateral). At first, she didn’t love the feeling of something new in her ears and cried a little. But Katora remembers, “She is so resilient. We have the video from when she got the hearing aids in. We were so happy to say her name to her and have her respond while looking at us and all around the room.”

Now, Kamora’s hearing aids help her hear speech and other sounds more clearly. 

When Kamora was younger, she was growing so quickly, she needed new ear molds every few months. “Her audiologist, Riley, has been wonderful,” says her mom. “When one of the molds didn’t fit right, Riley went above and beyond to make sure the company replaced it. She really advocates for us.”

Building language and confidence

Since getting her hearing aids, Kamora has blossomed. During those first months before getting them, her speech and language were delayed because she couldn’t clearly hear sounds. With consistent use of hearing aids, early intervention, speech therapy and family support, she quickly made progress — and even began using multiple languages.

Today, Kamora communicates using both spoken language and American Sign Language (ASL). Her family practices ASL at home, and her ASL teacher visits her daycare so they can learn together.

“Sign language has been an effective way to help Kamora communicate,” her mom says. “She has great visual word recognition, and she can even say aloud the words I sign to her. At her last wellness appointment, I taught Kamora how to sign the word 'doctor,’ and she understands it even better than she might have through verbal language.”

Kamora also loves learning Spanish. One of her mom’s proudest moments was hearing her count to ten in Spanish before she turned two.

Now, at two years old, Kamora is full of life. She loves music, dancing and circle time — and she can’t get enough of Moana movies. Her mom describes her as having a “BIG personality.” It’s easy to see her joy when she’s moving to music or signing a new word she’s learned.

Caring for the whole child

One thing that has meant the most to Kamora’s family is CHOP’s team-based approach. Her audiologist, SLP, psychologist and doctor all communicate closely to make sure Kamora’s care fits her needs as she grows.

“The staff work hand in hand,” her mom explains. “They make sure we understand how everything connects — from hearing aids to speech to school readiness. We feel supported.”

Kamora’s family is exploring school options for her: one that focuses on spoken language, and another that emphasizes bilingual education in both ASL and spoken language.

Our Center for Childhood Communication also offers programs like First Steps, free online events for families navigating a new hearing loss diagnosis. Attending that session helped Kamora’s mom feel more connected to the hearing loss community.

“It showed me we’re not alone,” she says. “It was also eye opening to see how different families approach this. For us, it’s about supporting Kamora fully. I encourage every parent to give as much support and love as you can; how your child feels about their hearing loss will be a mirror of how you feel about it.”

When Kamora’s mom thinks about the years ahead, her hopes are simple but heartfelt: “I want her to live her best life, to find her passion, and to follow a creative path that makes her happy. She’s already shown us how resilient she is.”