School, social life, and sound: cochlear implants change a family’s fortunes after Türkiye earthquake
Above: Cihan (11) spends time with his family. He can now communicate with his family and friends thanks to new cochlear implants. Photo: Ayşe Nur Gençalp/ Save the Children Türkiye
When Tülay* first realised two of her four children could not hear well, she struggled to accept it. But she quickly took steps to support her now 16-year-old daughter, Hilal*, and 11-year-old son, Cihan*, to access medical care. Cihan had cochlear implants fitted to both his inner and outer ears, while Hilal received an implant in her right ear.
But two and a half years ago, the children's devices malfunctioned and stopped working. The family, from Gaziantep in southern Türkiye, could not afford to replace them. The children’s ability to communicate and socialise came to a complete halt, disrupting their educational progress. Cihan in particular experienced significant hearing loss and was no longer able to attend school.
The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Türkiye in February 2022 only put further pressure on the family’s deteriorating economic situation.
Gaziantep was among the hardest hit provinces, and the family’s apartment was badly damaged.
The search for shelter led them to temporarily move to Kahramanmaraş to live with the children’s grandmother. They could still not afford to replace the hearing devices, and Cihan was missing out completely on education and social connection, now in a new and unfamiliar area.
But the future is now looking brighter for Cihan and his siblings.
The family encountered a team from Save the Children Türkiye distributing supplies as part of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) response to the earthquake, funded by the Australian Government.
Through case management, the team supported Tülay with referrals and support to register Cihan and Hilal to receive medical aid.
Above: Cihan (left) plays with the psychosocial support kit with his siblings. Photo: Ayşe Nur Gençalp/ Save the Children Türkiye
After reviews by specialists, Save the Children supported Cihan to receive an external cochlear implant for his right ear. He was also referred to another NGO, which covered the other ear implant. Hilal received an external cochlear implant from a different project implemented by Save the Children Türkiye.
The implants have already been transformative, even as the children continue to get used to them.
Only two and a half months since the devices were fitted, Cihan now responds to sounds, and can speak and play. Through referral from Save the Children, he has started attending a specialised rehabilitation centre to help him adapt to his implants, as well as to learn to read and write.
Restoring the children’s implants lifted a large amount of stress from Tülay’s shoulders.
“Before we had the new devices, my children were very unhappy. After the devices are provided, I can now let them be free, they play games, talk to their friends, talk to me; this makes me very happy,” Tülay said.
“My children didn’t have the devices for over two years, but also after the earthquake, they couldn't go to school, couldn't understand, hear, or speak. After the devices were fitted, they started school and at the rehabilitation centre. They can talk to their teachers and communicate," she said.
"I want [my son] to be educated, to stand on his own feet. There are many students and teachers like him. I want him to be like them: to grow up, and to be educated."
Save the Children also provided Cihan and his three siblings with psychosocial support kits, with educational games, colouring books, Jenga kits and toys to enhance motor skills, but also to provide them with entertainment so they can play games with their friends and be children once again.
Above: Cihan plays with Gece, a stray cat the family adopted after the earthquake. Photo: Ayşe Nur Gençalp/ Save the Children Türkiye
Cihan is now becoming more socially engaged, and preparations are underway for his return to school in the near future.
He is now able to play with his siblings.
"Before the devices were fitted, we couldn't understand each other very well. Now we draw pictures together, play Jenga, and when we play games, he is very smart and shares everything with me,” said Yeliz*, Cihan's 13-year-old sister.
Tülay told case workers that she was continuing to experience anxiety after the children received their new devices – she dedicated all her time to caring for them and was constantly worried that the cochlear implants would break again. Save the Children is providing her with psychosocial support, funded through another project.
A new family member is also bringing joy to Tülay and her children.
After the earthquake, the family took in a stray cat. The children named it "Gece" (Night). As they spent more time with their new furry friend, it became apparent that the cat was also deaf. Gece is now the children’s favourite playmate, and a much loved part of the family.
With the support of the Australian Government through AHP, Save the Children Türkiye continues to support Tülay, Cihan, Hilal and the rest of the family to overcome the devastating effects of the earthquake and to ensure, one step at a time, that Cihan can return to school and enjoy his childhood.
*Names changed