Getting Cochlear Implants After Cytomegalovirus Diagnosis: Riccardo’s Story

My name is Claudia, and I live in Naples with my husband Antonio and our son Riccardo. Becoming parents was our greatest joy—we dreamed of our child long before he arrived. But when Riccardo was born in 2022, our joy was immediately mixed with concern. He came into the world prematurely, and just days later, a hearing screening would begin a journey we never expected.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Riccardo didn’t pass the newborn hearing test in his right ear. At first, we were told not to worry. But deep down, I felt something wasn’t right. After a series of follow-ups, we received the diagnosis that turned our world upside down: Riccardo had been born with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).

I had never heard of CMV before. It’s a virus that most adults carry without even knowing it, but during pregnancy, it can silently affect the unborn child. I had no symptoms, and yet, I unknowingly passed the virus to Riccardo. CMV is unpredictable. It can affect many areas of development, but for Riccardo, it affected his hearing.

Watching Riccardo’s Hearing Fade

We began antiviral treatment right away for Riccardo in the hope of preserving his left ear, but test after test showed that his hearing was deteriorating on both sides. We got him hearing aids while they could still help, but eventually, even those weren’t enough. It felt like our son was losing sound, one decibel at a time, and with it, the future we had imagined for him.

Choosing the Cochlear Implant

When Riccardo was 11 months old, we decided to move forward with cochlear implantation. We knew we had to give him the chance to hear. At that point, every day without sound felt like a missed opportunity to introduce him to voices, laughter, and music.

In 2023, Riccardo underwent his first cochlear implant surgery. It was one of the hardest days of my life. I handed my baby over to the surgical team and waited with a mix of fear and hope. But we were never alone. The doctors and audiologists at the hospital became our second family. Their warmth and professionalism carried us through.

The Journey After Activation

Riccardo’s activation day was a month later. I barely slept the night before. I was filled with questions: Would he accept the sound? Would he cry? Would he even react?

When the implant was first turned on, he clung to me and cried. But within minutes, he began to babble. I spoke to him, and for the first time, I felt that he could hear me.

From that day forward, we committed to an intense therapy program: speech therapy, auditory-verbal therapy, physiotherapy, and psychomotor therapy. At home, I constantly repeated sounds and words, turning everyday moments into learning opportunities. I remember moments when Riccardo pulled off his implant or threw it to the ground. It wasn’t rejection but just his way of processing something completely new. It was overwhelming for him at times—and for us too. But we stayed patient. Slowly but surely, Riccardo began to understand language. Then, one day, he spoke his first words.

Getting a Second Implant

A year after his first surgery, we moved forward with the second implant. I was nervous. What if he had adapted too well to hearing on one side? What if the second device confused him or he took longer to adjust to it?

But Riccardo surprised us once again. On the day of the second activation in 2025, he smiled at every sound. He knew exactly what was happening, and this time, he was ready.

It allowed him to finally join in activities like swimming without missing a thing. With WaterWear, Riccardo can hear in the pool during his weekly sessions. He listens to his instructor, splashes with other children, and fully takes part in every moment. It was such a relief to see him included, engaged, and confident.

A World of Sound, Every Day

Today, Riccardo hears almost like any other child his age. He dances to his favorite songs—especially anything by Ultimo—laughs with friends and asks us questions all day long. Every morning, he runs to get his processors and waits for us to turn them on. He smiles when he hears that first sound of the day.

Building a Life & a Community

We spend our time doing creative activities, sensory games, music workshops, and swimming. It’s not always easy, but it’s always meaningful.

With the help of the hospital staff, we built a network of families like ours: parents who understand the challenges and celebrate the same victories. Together, we’ve shared our stories in schools, at conferences, and online. We want others to know that there is life beyond the silence.

Hearing Changed Our Son’s Life—and Ours

Looking back, I realize Riccardo hasn’t just learned to hear—he‘s also taught me many things about life.

He’s taught me how to be strong, how to be patient, how to find joy in the smallest things. Every day, I see the world a little differently—through his eyes, through his ears, through his wonder.

We don’t take a single sound for granted. And we never will.