Six months after receiving a newly FDA-approved cochlear implant system at NYU Langone Health, 18-month-old Nene Gudavadze has shown notable progress in her ability to hear and communicate. Nene, who lives in Brooklyn with her parents, was diagnosed with severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss following several failed newborn hearing screenings. The diagnosis came as a surprise to her family.
“No one in our large extended family had ever experienced hearing loss, so it came as a big shock,” said Nene’s mother, Natia Kikutadze. “It was an emotional and uncertain time for us, but we also had hope.”
After an evaluation at NYU Langone’s Cochlear Implant Center, doctors determined that Nene was eligible for the new cochlear implant technology from Cochlear Limited. This device is approved for children as young as nine months old. Research shows that early implantation can improve speech and language development, and many children who receive implants before age one develop vocabulary within the typical range by school age.
The device Nene received is called the Nucleus Nexa System. It is the first cochlear implant with upgradable firmware, allowing patients to benefit from technological advancements through software updates rather than needing new hardware as they grow older. The system is also approved for use in adults who qualify for cochlear implants.
“For patients like Nene, the earlier we can give them access to sound, the better their chances of developing speech on time and engaging with the world around them,” said William H. Shapiro, AuD, co-director of the Cochlear Implant Center. “Our role is not just fitting the device, but also guiding families through every stage of the process.”
NYU Langone’s Cochlear Implant Center provides coordinated care including evaluation, surgery, audiologic programming, and ongoing speech–language support. The center treats several hundred patients annually and participates in research aimed at improving early intervention strategies.
Since activation of her implant, Nene has begun responding to sounds and developing early speech patterns. “She’s saying things like ‘mama,’ ‘babu,’ and she tries to sing in her own way,” her mother said. “Whenever she hears music, she immediately starts dancing. We are very happy with her progress.”
Her parents continue supporting her development following what they describe as a turning point in their daughter’s life.
“This surgery was a new beginning for her,” her mother said. “We’re doing everything we can to help her connect with the world.”
NYU Langone Health operates a comprehensive health system that includes seven inpatient locations and more than 320 outpatient sites across New York and Florida. The institution consistently ranks among top academic medical centers nationwide according to Vizient Inc., which named it No. 1 out of 118 centers for four consecutive years (https://www.vizientinc.com/newsroom/nyu-langone-health-ranked-no-1-in-nation-for-quality-and-patient-safety-by-vizient-inc). U.S News & World Report recently ranked four clinical specialties at NYU Langone first nationally (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/ny/nyu-langone-medical-center-6210870).
NYU Langone also includes two tuition-free medical schools located in Manhattan and Long Island along with an extensive research program.
