'Deaf' toddler recovers hearing

Emily's recovery from deafness is very rare

A baby girl from Nottinghamshire who was born profoundly deaf has astonished doctors by gaining her hearing.

The parents of 14-month-old Emily Yeomans, from Newark, were told to learn sign language after their daughter failed to respond to noises.

But staff at Newark Hospital were astonished when the toddler started to recognise sounds.

Now, doctors have carried out further tests to discover her hearing has returned to normal.

We are very pleased - it is a little miracle

Marie Yeomans

Experts believe the recovery may be due to Emily's hearing system not being fully developed at birth but growing during the first year of her life.

Emily's mother Marie, 32, said: "We were devastated when we realised she might be deaf.

"At first you could clap right next to her ear and she would not respond.

"Doctors carried out tests and warned us that she may be profoundly deaf and that she may have damaged a nerve leading from her ear to her brain.

"We even started studying books on sign language so that we could speak to her when she was older."

Miraculous recovery

However Mrs Yeomans then noticed Emily, who has a brother Adam, four, and a sister Lucy, two, was starting to respond to some noises.

She explained: "At first you think you're kidding yourself because she appeared to be hearing things.

"But when we went to the assessment centre they confirmed that she was starting to hear.

"Apparently it is very rare for something like this to happen without treatment.

"We are very pleased - it is a little miracle."