Hearing Loss
When Emma Taul Payne was born, her parents had no idea that the first few months of her life would begin a journey that would change their family forever.
As a newborn, Emma failed three hearing screenings. She also seemed to have limited reactions to certain sounds, particularly higher pitches. When she was still just a few months old, her family was referred to Children’s of Alabama, where a team of specialists, led by Philip Rosen, M.D., began working to understand what was causing her hearing loss.
The answer came from the Children’s genetics team, who determined that Emma had a mutation to the TECTA gene, which makes a protein called alpha‑tectorin—a key building block of the tectorial membrane in your inner ear. The mutation codes an alteration to the protein, which results in hearing loss. In Emma’s case, it was between moderately severe and severe.
For her parents, the diagnosis came with understandable fear and uncertainty. “We were so lost, and the worry that you feel as a parent is sickening,” Katie Payne, Emma’s mom, said. “From the moment we stepped into Children’s, we never felt alone or lost. Someone was always there to hold our hand along the way.”
At 4 months old, Emma was fitted with loaner hearing aids. She later received her own through Picks for Kids, a program at Children’s of Alabama through which Chick-fil-A donates $1,000 for every interception by the Alabama and Auburn football teams each season. The funds support the Children’s of Alabama Charity League Hearing & Speech Clinic.
By the time she received the hearing aids, she had already begun intensive speech therapy, which she continues to receive. She also works with Erica Claxton in the Hearing and Speech Clinic and attends preschool at the Woolley Institute for Spoke-Language Education (WISE).
Now 3 years old, Emma is thriving. She is doing well in school, making friends, playing sports, and, perhaps most importantly to Emma, singing her heart out. “People that do not know us intimately are always so surprised to learn that Emma has hearing loss and wears hearing aids,” Katie added.
Emma’s family credits the people surrounding her with helping her reach milestone after milestone.
“It feels like everyone is so invested in Emma’s care,” Alex Payne, Emma’s dad, said. “They are always so excited to see us come through the door, and they go out of their way to make Emma feel so special.”
Music has always been a big part of Emma’s world. She especially loves Taylor Swift and will happily belt out “Lover” at a moment’s notice. She loves to sing and dance, insists on choosing the family’s playlists in the car, and even knows how to turn on the record player.
Alex and Katie’s hopes for Emma have never been about allowing her hearing loss to define what she can do. From the beginning, their goal was to help close the gap between Emma and her peers, and they’re proud of the progress she has made.
“I believe we’ve done that and will continue this path with all of the resources we have in Birmingham and with Children’s,” Alex added.
Now, Emma’s parents are focused on helping her grow into the confident, compassionate, and capable person they know she can become.
“She’s incredibly smart and compassionate, and we never want anything to hold her back from reaching her full potential,” Katie commented. “The sky’s the limit for her.”
Above all, Katie hopes Emma will always believe in herself. “My one wish as a parent is to have a confident child,” she said. Thanks to all that her care team has poured into her, she is incredibly capable and is always up for the challenge. She doesn’t waver in front of a crowd, and I pray that she continues to have that self-assurance even if things are harder for her.”
For Emma’s family, the journey has shown them the importance of having a care team that sees more than a diagnosis. They see Emma, the little girl who loves music, dancing, sports, and school, and who is growing into her own voice every day.
“We couldn’t recommend Children’s enough,” Katie said. “Emma is where she is today because of the care and support we’ve received here.”
Looking back, Emma’s family is grateful that when they were faced with uncertainty, they found a team ready to walk alongside them.
“The love and care that Emma has received is second to none, and we are forever grateful for Children’s,” Alex said.
Today, Emma isn’t letting hearing loss hold her back. She is singing, dancing, learning, making friends, and taking on every new challenge with confidence. And if her family has anything to say about it, she’ll keep reaching for the sky.
