After Living Most Of Her Life With Hearing Loss, A New Mom Can Now Hear Her Son

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg mom heard her 10-month-old son and other sounds for the first time Thursday with assistance of a set of hearing aids gifted to her.

Cierra Johnson, 28, has lived with hearing loss for most of her life, WFLA reported. She has relied on sound amplifiers and stethoscopes. Following the birth of her son, her desire became greater to hear.

“I must hear everything," Cierra Johnson told WFTS. "I’ve been wanting to be a mom for a long time… and I have to be at the top of my game, especially with my condition."

Hearing aids are not inexpensive. A pair can cost anywhere from $1,000 to more than $5,000, according to Healthline. A barrier preventing many people with hearing loss getting hearing aids is the high cost.

Since its founding in 1990, Miracle-Ear Foundation, working with Miracle-Ear centers across the country, has donated more than 30,000 hearing aids to more than 16,000 children and adults who could otherwise not afford them, according to the foundation's website. In addition to donating hearing aids to qualified patients, a lifetime of follow-up services are offered to them.

Johnson’s hearing aid specialist, Jennifer Phillips, told WFLA this will open more opportunities for her.

“She’s not going to have to ask people to repeat, she’s not going to miss things," Phillips said. "She will be able to hear it clearly the first time and be able to participate in conversations and not feel left out."

For more information or to apply, visit www.miracleearmission.org. Donations are also accepted online.