Re: Introduction (long)

[Guest guest]

Welcome, !

My 4-1/2 year old son was diagnosed with a severe hearing loss at age 2. As

you are with your daughter, we are using Total Communication with him. His

hearing has dropped slightly since he was diagnosed, so that in one hear his

loss is in the profound range. He wears Widex Senso C-18 aids and does very

well with them. I wish we had found out about his loss earlier like you

did. He is doing a good job of making up for lost time, but you're lucky to

be able to work with at such a young age. I have been taking sign

language classes for over two years now, and although I sometimes despair of

achieving any degree of fluency, I am improving!

Dixie in Hilo, Hawaii

>

>Hello all,

>

>I'm finally getting a chance to formally introduce myself (I only have

>access to email from work, and it's been a bit crazy here). My name is

> Hearn, and I live in Lafayette, Indiana. My husband and I

>found out our daughter is profoundly deaf last February, when

>she was 18 months old. I began lurking, and occasionally posting, to

>the Parentdeaf-HH listserv shortly thereafter, and decided to join this

>list also to obtain even more information and support. A (not so) brief

>history follows:

>

>We began to suspect something wasn't right with 's hearing last

>fall, just after her first birthday. While she was babbling, she wasn't

>forming any word patterns, and she didn't always seem to respond to

>sound. Fortunately our family doctor did not question our concerns, she

>arranged for a hearing test right away. The initial audiogram found

>little response below 90 db, however, the tympanogram indicated fluid in

>the ears. Once we got the fluid cleared (this took awhile due to

>insurance and Rx issues, long story), the audiogram was repeated, with

>little change in results. An ABR was performed, and repeated a week

>later. It confirmed that 's loss was essentially flat line

>across all test frequencies, to the limits of the test (~93 db). A

>subsequent OAE was negative.

>

>Based on the test results, and clean medical history, it's felt that she

>has been deaf since birth (this may explain a lot about certain

>behaviors when she was an infant). Her deafness came as a bit of a

>surprise, as there is no family history on either side (I have since

>found out that one of my grandmother's sisters had a deaf daughter, but

>no one knows whether she was born with the loss, or if it resulted due

>to illness), and no problems with pregnancy or birth (full-term, breech,

>C-section).

>

>By the time of the second ABR we were already looking into communication

>options. We decided on the Total Communication approach, although we

>remain open to all options, and may change our approach as we deem it

>necessary. We began learning sign language (basically using PSE), and,

>working with the early intervention folks, began speech therapy (1 hour

>2 x weekly). The early intervention program covered the cost of her

>hearing aids (Phonak Pico-Forte PP-C-L-P-2), which she received

>5/11/99. Since that time her vocalizing has increased quite a bit, and

>she will imitate some sounds (depending on her mood, and boy, can

>two-year-olds be moody :oP). We are still working on trying to obtain

>as complete an audiogram as possible with her aids on, but results thus

>far indicate response at 50 db at some frequencies.

>

>We are trying to keep up with her as far as learning sign language goes

>(her first words were cat, train, and bird). At our 6 month EI review,

>her speech therapist found that she had moved up from an expressive and

>comprehensive language of about 6 months when she was tested at 18

>months of age (just prior to our finding out she's deaf), to a

>comprehensive language of 21 months, and an expressive language of 19

>months at 24 months old. So, overall, things seem to being going well.

>

>One last thing. I think the realization that is deaf did not

>hit me as hard as it may have. My older sister, in So. California, has

>been an interpreter for the deaf at the community college level for

>nearly 20 years. Through her I have meet many successful deaf adults,

>and thus my view for 's future is positive. My sister was

>quite excited when she found out we were learning sign along with

>. I guess many of the students she works with have commented

>they felt isolated from their family because family members, even

>parents, did not learn to communicate with them well enough to keep them

>informed of family happenings. I find this sad and puzzling. There was

>never any question that my husband and myself would learn sign language

>along with , it was almost instinctual. While we hope that she

>will also be able to develop spoken language, we did not want to delay

>her ability to communicate with us, and vis versa, any more then it had

>been.

>

>Anyway, this letter has gone on and on. I apologize for it's length,

>but I guess it'll help you get to know me and my family better. You did

>say " (or not so brief) introduction, right Kay? ;o) Bye for now. I

>may tend to lurk more than post, but will lend input as I feel able.

>Thanks.

>

>--

> - mommy to , pre-pro, born 8/27/97, aided

>5/11/99.

>

> " Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. "

> --Helen Keller

>

[Guest guest]

:

Glad your here. All these parents have a wealth of info & they are great

support. Don't worry about lurking lots of us do it. Have a great day.

Jo

" It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong

man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The

credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred

by dust, sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short

again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and

spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end, the

triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while

daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid

souls who know neither victory nor defeat. "

Theodore Roosevelt

[Guest guest]

:

Glad your here. All these parents have a wealth of info & they are great

support. Don't worry about lurking lots of us do it. Have a great day.

Jo

" It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong

man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The

credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred

by dust, sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short

again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and

spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end, the

triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, at least fails while

daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid

souls who know neither victory nor defeat. "

Theodore Roosevelt

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I'm finally getting a chance to formally introduce myself (I only have

access to email from work, and it's been a bit crazy here). My name is

Hearn, and I live in Lafayette, Indiana. My husband and I

found out our daughter is profoundly deaf last February, when

she was 18 months old. I began lurking, and occasionally posting, to

the Parentdeaf-HH listserv shortly thereafter, and decided to join this

list also to obtain even more information and support. A (not so) brief

history follows:

We began to suspect something wasn't right with 's hearing last

fall, just after her first birthday. While she was babbling, she wasn't

forming any word patterns, and she didn't always seem to respond to

sound. Fortunately our family doctor did not question our concerns, she

arranged for a hearing test right away. The initial audiogram found

little response below 90 db, however, the tympanogram indicated fluid in

the ears. Once we got the fluid cleared (this took awhile due to

insurance and Rx issues, long story), the audiogram was repeated, with

little change in results. An ABR was performed, and repeated a week

later. It confirmed that 's loss was essentially flat line

across all test frequencies, to the limits of the test (~93 db). A

subsequent OAE was negative.

Based on the test results, and clean medical history, it's felt that she

has been deaf since birth (this may explain a lot about certain

behaviors when she was an infant). Her deafness came as a bit of a

surprise, as there is no family history on either side (I have since

found out that one of my grandmother's sisters had a deaf daughter, but

no one knows whether she was born with the loss, or if it resulted due

to illness), and no problems with pregnancy or birth (full-term, breech,

C-section).

By the time of the second ABR we were already looking into communication

options. We decided on the Total Communication approach, although we

remain open to all options, and may change our approach as we deem it

necessary. We began learning sign language (basically using PSE), and,

working with the early intervention folks, began speech therapy (1 hour

2 x weekly). The early intervention program covered the cost of her

hearing aids (Phonak Pico-Forte PP-C-L-P-2), which she received

5/11/99. Since that time her vocalizing has increased quite a bit, and

she will imitate some sounds (depending on her mood, and boy, can

two-year-olds be moody :oP). We are still working on trying to obtain

as complete an audiogram as possible with her aids on, but results thus

far indicate response at 50 db at some frequencies.

We are trying to keep up with her as far as learning sign language goes

(her first words were cat, train, and bird). At our 6 month EI review,

her speech therapist found that she had moved up from an expressive and

comprehensive language of about 6 months when she was tested at 18

months of age (just prior to our finding out she's deaf), to a

comprehensive language of 21 months, and an expressive language of 19

months at 24 months old. So, overall, things seem to being going well.

One last thing. I think the realization that is deaf did not

hit me as hard as it may have. My older sister, in So. California, has

been an interpreter for the deaf at the community college level for

nearly 20 years. Through her I have meet many successful deaf adults,

and thus my view for 's future is positive. My sister was

quite excited when she found out we were learning sign along with

. I guess many of the students she works with have commented

they felt isolated from their family because family members, even

parents, did not learn to communicate with them well enough to keep them

informed of family happenings. I find this sad and puzzling. There was

never any question that my husband and myself would learn sign language

along with , it was almost instinctual. While we hope that she

will also be able to develop spoken language, we did not want to delay

her ability to communicate with us, and vis versa, any more then it had

been.

Anyway, this letter has gone on and on. I apologize for it's length,

but I guess it'll help you get to know me and my family better. You did

say " (or not so brief) introduction, right Kay? ;o) Bye for now. I

may tend to lurk more than post, but will lend input as I feel able.

Thanks.

--

- mommy to , pre-pro, born 8/27/97, aided

5/11/99.

" Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. "

--Helen Keller

[Guest guest]

,

Welcome to the list. Your introduction was not that long. I have been with

the list for a little over a month and I really have learned alot already.

Welcome!!!!!!!!

Elaine D.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/19/99 2:34:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

accounts@... writes:

<< I have been taking sign

language classes for over two years now, and although I sometimes despair of

achieving any degree of fluency, I am improving! >>

oh gosh this is me!! I feel so guilty......and stupid sometimes......I am

improving as well but its been slow going......its just not coming really

easy for me.....sigh......I am glad to hear that not all parents of deaf/hoh

kids who choose sign do so with ease....I mean its good to know I am not

alone here......

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/19/99 2:11:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

khearn@... writes:

<<

Anyway, this letter has gone on and on. I apologize for it's length,

but I guess it'll help you get to know me and my family better. You did

say " (or not so brief) introduction, right Kay? ;o) Bye for now. I

may tend to lurk more than post, but will lend input as I feel able.

Thanks.

--

- mommy to , pre-pro, born 8/27/97, aided

5/11/99. >>

Welcome! wow our stories are very similar.....my daughter was also (so we

think?) born profoundly deaf......we found out about 10/11 months old....she

was aided at 13 months....very similar aided/unaided results to that of your

daughter.shock to us.....no family history.....no problem with the pregnancy

or birth.....no medications etc..... I am curious as to why you said (this

may explain a lot about certain

behaviors when she was an infant). Could you explain that some more???

Thanks!!

We have chosen to try the Oral program for her now.....while she is

young.....and showing an interest etc.....however......we have signed to her

since 15 months old and continue to do so......I am in a class right now on

mondays.....still learning and improving.....although I have mentioned

slowly.....

Anyhow......best of luck to you! Take care,

(in Michigan)

[Guest guest]

(in Michigan) wrote:

>

8< snip 8<

> ..... I am curious as to why you said (this may explain a lot about > certain

behaviors when she was an infant). Could you explain that some > more???

Thanks!!

>

Hi ,

Like yourself, I'm sure much of my daughter's behavior is just her

personality (she's a very active, intense child), but her deafness

likely plays a role as well. A few specific behaviors as an infant,

possibly related to her deafness, that come to mind:

1. " The sleepless wonder " never has been much of a sleeper

either. Especially when she was an infant she would often take hours to

settle to sleep, often into the early morning hours (unfortunately we

seem to be back to some of this behavior lately, but that's another

thread). She would be tired and would be about vibrating she was so

hyped out, but she wouldn't sleep. She didn't settle to lullabies, a

soothing voice, her " Mommy Bear " heart sounds gift, or other things of a

auditory nature that most babies respond to. In looking back, I'm sure

as you say, it's because when she closes her eyes she is very shut off

from the world. We found that bringing her into bed with us to sleep

helped (it also made nursing at night a lot easier). Even then she

would often have to be settled by laying her on my chest and we'd fall

asleep that way (still do sometimes). She was breech, and perhaps

laying on my chest, close to my heart, she felt the vibrations and

rhythm as she did in the womb.

2. Her first Christmas she didn't show as much interest as I thought

she would in certain toys I got for her that made sounds, but had no

lights or motion as well. I figured she was just too young to enjoy

such things.

3. While even early on she has loved looking at books, she was never

patient enough to sit and have a book read to her. She's so active I

passed this off as not having time to slow down enough to really " read "

a story.

4. Prior to her diagnosis, I often noted that she was a much more

visual/physical child than a verbal child. Others even remarked about

how she didn't miss a trick, looking around, checking everything out.

In looking back to her first year, first few months even, there were

times that I wondered if she was hearing okay. She didn't react to a

jackhammer operating in the street right in front of our house, or she

didn't wake to the pounding of hammers by the repair people working of

the eaves outside of our bedroom window. But one tends to discount

these things as typical newborn behavior.

I suppose given all of the above, we should have figured out she

couldn't hear before we did. But she's such a typical child otherwise;

bright, active, charming. Many others who know her commented, after her

deafness was discovered, that they had not clue she couldn't hear, they

just thought she was a quiet child. I guess, based on the national

average of 2 1/2 years, we found out she is deaf relatively early.

Hopefully, this average will begin to drop as more states implement

mandatory newborn hearing tests (yea, Indiana became one of them this

past July, although we would have insisted any future children of ours

be tested even if it hadn't become law).

'Nuf said for now.

- mommy to , pre-pro, born 8/27/97, aided

5/11/99.

" Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. "

--Helen Keller