There’s new hope for hearing with the introduction of three new surgeries now offered to young patients at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).

Over the past year, a multidisciplinary team became the first in Canada to perform a paediatric auditory brainstem implant (ABI) and the first in North America to robotically insert a paediatric cochlear implant. They also brought care closer to home by adding the Oticon implant, an established bone conduction hearing device, to their surgical portfolio.

“London Health Sciences Centre was the first HEARRING Centre of Excellence in Canada so it’s only natural we continue leading the way with innovative treatments,” says Dr. Sumit Agrawal, head of LHSC’s department of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery.

“We’re thrilled to have expanded our surgical offerings to include the most up to date, cutting edge options, including the ABI, robotic cochlear and Oticon implants. Together, we’re making hearing more accessible for thousands of patients who need us most.”

Savannah Lee was born without the ability to hear in January 2023 with her parents Danny and Jacquelyn calling the diagnosis devastating. But after much testing and consultation with their surgical team led by Dr. Demir Bajin, otolaryngologist, LHSC, the Lee family learned Savannah was a candidate for a paediatric ABI on the right side of her head.

The surgery was risky and would involve bypassing the ear and placing an implant directly into Savannah’s brain, in the section controlling her breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital systems. Despite the risks, the Lee family decided to move forward with the procedure.

“We were told that if this was five years ago, Savannah would have to go through life without hearing,” says Danny. “But Dr. Bajin was preparing to do this ground-breaking procedure right here in London. The bottom line was it could potentially give her the gift of sound, so we said yes.”

Savannah underwent the intricate operation when she was just a year-and-a-half-old in July 2024, becoming the first child in Canada to receive the treatment. About a month later, her care team successfully activated the implant in the Paediatric Critical Care Unit (PCCU).

“Words can’t describe how emotional and overwhelming it was being there and watching her face as the device was turned on,” says Jacquelyn. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, my baby can hear.’”

Nearly a year later, Savannah is thriving. At the end of 2024, she received a cochlear implant on the left side of her head giving her what her care team describes as the “best of both worlds.” Together, the ABI and cochlear implant allow Savannah to localize sounds, hear better in noisy environments, and experience improved audibility.

“This technology is a game-changer,” says Dr. Bajin. “It feels amazing to be able to provide a solution for children like Savannah who would otherwise never be able to hear, and I’m confident her case will pave the way for other kids across Canada to access this same technology in the future.”

The same team that operated on Savannah also completed North America’s first paediatric robotic cochlear implant surgery in February 2025 at LHSC, thanks to the generosity of London Health Sciences Foundation donors. The procedure uses a specialized robot, called the OTODRIVE, bought from manufacturer MED-EL in Austria.

Cochlear implants are designed for individuals with hearing loss resulting from absent or damaged cochlear structures. They work by bypassing damaged parts of the inner ear and directly stimulating the cochlear nerve with electrical signals.

LHSC also began offering the Oticon implant, a type of bone conduction hearing device, in March 2024. While the technology isn’t new, this is the first time LHSC has received permanent funding to offer the implant to patients who aren’t suitable candidates for other types of hearing devices. Patients were previously referred to other areas of province for this procedure.

“We’re excited to have brought this care close to home,” says Dr. Peng You, otolaryngologist, LHSC. “A lot of our families say they feel relieved they no longer have to travel elsewhere and feel empowered by all the choices they now have at LHSC. For us physicians, that’s what it’s really all about – being able to provide the right care, to the right patient, at the right time.”