Brisbane girl Harriet Sanders receives Australian-first 3D ear reconstruction

Harriet Sanders was born without ears but now thanks to an Australian paediatric-first 3D ear reconstruction the little Brisbane girl can finally wear earrings.

Harriet Sanders was born without ears but now thanks to an Australian paediatric-first 3D ear reconstruction the little Brisbane girl can finally wear earrings.

Diagnosed with hearing loss at just one day old, Harriet was born with bilateral microtia and atresia – two separate conditions that impact the development of the outer ear and ear canal.

Harriet’s hearing diagnosis came as a complete shock to her parents, Jay and Anna Sanders.

Harriet Sanders is thrilled with her new ears. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“We didn’t know that Harriet had any issues or problems when she was in utero,” Ms Sanders said.

“It was only when she was born, when she actually came out, we could tell that both ears in particular just weren’t there”.

Ms Sanders said Harriet hasn’t been able to wear ‘normal’ hearing aids because of this.

“She’s worn a headband for her whole life and the BAHA conduction hearing aids just sort of clip onto that,” she said.

After a 10-hour surgery where doctors inserted the Osia implant Harriet was able to say goodbye to her old hearing aids and hello to a world full of bubbly sounds.

“Now that’s all healed up there’s just a little processor that clicks on the back of her head with a magnet,” she said.

Harriet with parents Anna and Jay Sanders. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Ms Sanders said they were all very excited about the new device but Harriet was even more excited to just have her ears pierced.

“She’s got both ears pierced now and yes, she’s absolutely thrilled”.

To help give children born deaf the gift of sound, donate to Hear and Say’s Loud Shirt Day at loudshirtday.hearandsay.com.au.