"Doctors said Scarlett’s hearing loss was due to a virus in the blood called congenital cytomegalovirus that infected me in the early stages of my pregnancy.

“We were overwhelmed and saddened when we found out. I didn’t know what to do next and was worried about the implications for her schooling. I got upset when I thought about how she wouldn’t be able to hear me reading her stories or telling her I love her.

"At the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, we were told about cochlear implants, and Scarlett was fitted with a tiny Nucleus 5 implant."

At just 3.9mm wide, the cochlear implant is 40 percent slimmer and two and a half times stronger than the previous generation device. The sound processor is also 40 per cent thinner and highly water resistant. It is available in 22 NHS cochlear centres.

“The new, slim design means reduced operating times and less trauma, which is especially important when you’re operating on young children,” said Kevin Green, the ear, nose and throat consultant who performed the procedure.

Kevin agreed that the implant is a big step forward from a surgical point of view. "In the past after inserting an implant in a child you would be able to see and feel the outline under the scalp. In Scarlett’s case, apart from seeing the external component, you’d never know it was there.

"The procedure, performed under general anaesthetic, took less than an hour and a half."

“Scarlett is now responding to noises,” says Claire. “If the phone rings, she looks up. She also responds to my voice. She loves pressing buttons on toys that make noises, whereas before she had no interest in them.

“We do use odd bits of sign language because we learned some before she had the implant but now I talk to her as much as possible and use signs as a back-up. She seems happier and I’m so grateful to the doctors.”

Claire told her story to the Daily Express - read the article here.

Find out more about cochlear implants