WBAL-TV 11 News reporter Jennifer Franciotti said Ashley now works with Regina Presley, an audiologist at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Towson, for testing and adjustments to her cochlear implant. She was diagnosed last summer as profoundly deaf.

After much research, Ashley's parents decided on surgery. Doctors implanted an internal device into Ashley's ear last December to stimulate the hearing nerve. Last week, they powered up the external unit that will allow Ashley to hear for the first time.

So far, she can already recognize her name.

Presley said Ashley is also "recognizing some environmental sounds that probably in the past, she only felt, if anything at all."

"Every day is more exciting because there's something new to work toward," Lynn Ober said.

Dr. Scott London, who is the director of GBMC’s cochlear implant program, said therapy and adjustments will help make Ashley's hearing fairly normal, although the range of tones and pitch may not be as broad.

"It's not the hearing that you and I would perceive, but what they learn it to be is a completely normal experience," London said.

Like many treatments, the doctors said the earlier the surgery can be performed the better.

Ashley has already said "Ma."

"We're hoping she's going to say 'Da Da' soon," Lynn Ober said.

Source: http://www.thewbalchannel.com/health/7136376/detail.html