Early diagnosis is the key to Lachlan’s first smile

The Algo 3i newborn hearing screener from natus has certainly helped revolutionise one family’s life: after screening at 3 weeks, baby Lachlan was diagnosed with moderately severe sensorineural hearing impairment in both ears. His parents were devastated, not knowing how to communicate with a deaf son.
A video, which has gone viral on Facebook during hearing awareness week, shows Lachlan at 7 weeks, being fitted with a hearing aid before grinning broadly as he hears his mother’s voice for the first time.
“I’ve never been so happy in my whole life,” says Lachlan’s mum, Michelle Lever, overwhelmingly relieved that her baby can now fully communicate with his surroundings. “Before the hearing aid he never smiled. It’s like he just realised there’s a whole new world out there.”
More than just a heart-warming story, Lachlan’s plight highlights the vital role played by neonatal hearing screening, and the importance of sensitive & trusted screening technology.