"We never saw her as deaf," says her mum, Justine, from Leeds. The Waters decided to do everything they could to restore their daughter's hearing and at the age of two Isobel received her first cochlear implant at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"It has really made a difference to Isobel," says her mum. "It was amazing when she first started talking. She is a bit behind in terms of speech and language, but she is doing really well.

"She got her second implant last year and is doing really well at school. You really wouldn't know that she had hearing problems."

Isobel is now seven, and her parents are grateful to the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service. The service is based at BRI, but this year a pioneering Listening for Life Centre is due to open in Bradford.

The centre, which is nearing completion, will be the UK's first purpose-built unit dedicated to cochlear implants and the assessment and treatment of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. The YCIS has gained international renown as one of Britain's leading centres for the treatment of babies, children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss.

It will use state-of-the-art equipment to improve the diagnosis, rehabilitation and education of cochlear implant patients from across the whole of Yorkshire. It is the brainchild of Chris Raine, surgeon and ear, nose and throat consultant at BRI, who set up the Ear Trust charity which funds all areas of YCIS not available on the NHS.

Read more in the Yorkshire Post.