ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A father and daughter from St. Clair who are both deaf have surgically implanted devices activated at Saint Louis University doctors' offices to allow them to hear.

The 29-year-old Jared Gratzer and his 3-year-old daughter Brooklyn were born with profound hearing loss. Brooklyn's parents had her evaluated for the placement of an implant in the inner ear to restore her hearing. Her father decided to have the same surgery.

The Gratzers hope use of the cochlear implants will improve Brooklyn's speech as she's learning to talk.

Her dad already reads lips well, but wants to be able to hear more sound and be able to talk better on the phone. Brooklyn's mother, Shelley Gratzer, spoke first on Tuesday, telling her daughter she loved her.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)