Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Michele, These are wonderful improvements. Every bit we can get is significant in Chargeland. This was always a biggie for us too-moreso with her vision. The booth is one thing. Experience in the world, is another. Even though it should interpolate; one experience to the other, it doesn't necessarily. I'm glad it's weird-that leaves room for unpredictable positive experience. But it also means we have to allow and follow " wierdness " sometimes, against the flow. Let me add to the weirdness. You have to hear it in order to know that you CAN hear it. Knowing that you can hear it, even once, opens up new channels. One part of her system has put a demand on another part of her system to perform. I'll stop there. But this is part of how they start to outperform the tests, I believe, and why 'static' unmovable situations do in fact move to better and better functioning. If there is validity to that theory, then that also suggests that the smaller classrooms, and efficient approaches of ISD were also contributory. But don't get a headache. There's plenty of time for the scope of the positive changes to reveal themselves. For now, don't analyze-just watch. ;-) in Ma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " conversations with her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. He's in town here so they don't attend school together this year. They see each other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or-treated together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - don't ask me why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him and some by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her movies and stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared experiences they've had. In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. She didn't seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a topic she started and the other person went in the direction she expected. Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, understand her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that something has changed. Michele W Aubrie's mom 8 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 That's wonderful to hear. I am seeing that with Amita too a little bit. But Amita's hearing is still a big impediment in promoting true conversations. But she does seem to try a little more now than before. Do you think that the having the BAHA loaner helped and now with the bone fixed is Aubrie doing better at conversations? I want to get Amita tested too, she did have the bone conduction test a long long time ago but never followed up on that. Still has the digital ones.How did you get started with the process? Deepta > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " conversations with > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. He's in > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They see each > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- treated > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - don't ask me > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him and some > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her movies and > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared experiences > they've had. > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. She didn't > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a topic she > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, understand > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that > something has changed. > > > > Michele W > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 I can see that the bone conduction aid has made a big difference in Aubrie's speech. There have been so many other changes with the new school placement that it's hard to say what other changes are due to the different aid. I started several years ago questioning things. I heard talk on the list about BAHAs and I could see Aubrie's eyes light up with the bone conduction aid on in the sound booth. But the audiologist didn't see it-he was in the other room, you know. And on the audiogram, the increase in hearing wasn't so remarkable from an audiologist point of view. Our DB consultant had another child with CHARGE who went to a BAHA and had huge improvements even though he presented the same as Aubrie -with just a slight improvement in hearing tests. Our opinion was that even a slight improvement could mean a lot to her given her multiple impairments. About 2 yrs ago, I think, I switched to a different medical center for audiology - one that our DB consultant recommended as the leader in our state in BAHAs and CIs. They took over a year of following Aubrie before agreeing that a BAHA would make sense. At first, they just got her new digital aids which were a fabulous improvement over her first ones which were 3 yrs old - amazing how much technology changed in that time. Then, we kept monitoring her daily hearing etc and finally decided BAHA did make sense but first we should see if there was anything surgical that would improve her conductive loss. And now we're here - with the bone repaired but no noticeable changes in her hearing yet. Does that make any sense at all? It's been a weird path - very confusing at times. All I can tell you is that when Aubrie used the bone conduction aid in the hearing booth, even though she could hear the same stuff, it was evident on her face that she could hear it better. You know, on the hearing tests, they just ask " Can you hear it? " But there's a difference between " Yes, I hear that it's there " and " Yes, I hear it ever so clearly " . I think that was the difference for Aubrie. Michele W _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of deepta_69 Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 11:39 AM To: CHARGE Subject: Re: positive observations That's wonderful to hear. I am seeing that with Amita too a little bit. But Amita's hearing is still a big impediment in promoting true conversations. But she does seem to try a little more now than before. Do you think that the having the BAHA loaner helped and now with the bone fixed is Aubrie doing better at conversations? I want to get Amita tested too, she did have the bone conduction test a long long time ago but never followed up on that. Still has the digital ones.How did you get started with the process? Deepta > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " conversations with > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. He's in > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They see each > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- treated > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - don't ask me > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him and some > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her movies and > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared experiences > they've had. > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. She didn't > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a topic she > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, understand > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that > something has changed. > > > > Michele W > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 you know that's surprising since amita's conversational interest picked up after we changed her school too. the new kids talk to her a lot more and are interested in her and we were also more proactive than at the other school.the bone test that we did so many yrs ago the audi said the same thing since she is ok with the ha lets go with that. must get on top the baha thing.BTw amita's speech is ok, she does talk very fast and asks a lot of rhetorical questions....like " can you ever imagine that? " after stating something to reinforce what she just said. hard to describe. you have to hear her talk. Aubrie sounds very much to be on the same wavelength as amita. How is she in school? We are struggling a bit now as the level has picked up QUITE a bit... What with math facts and nouns and verbs and CGI probs and praries and grasslands etc. Getting a headache just thinking about it. deepta > > > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " > conversations with > > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. > He's in > > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They > see each > > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- > treated > > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - > don't ask me > > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him > and some > > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her > movies and > > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared > experiences > > they've had. > > > > > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. > She didn't > > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a > topic she > > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, > understand > > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that > > something has changed. > > > > > > > > Michele W > > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Aubrie's doing really well in school this year. I think the smaller class size is allowing her to get the instruction much better. Aubrie's always had lots of friends at school, but again I think the smaller class size keeps that manageable for her. Too many kids is just too much to follow. Michele _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of deepta_69 Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:38 PM To: CHARGE Subject: Re: positive observations you know that's surprising since amita's conversational interest picked up after we changed her school too. the new kids talk to her a lot more and are interested in her and we were also more proactive than at the other school.the bone test that we did so many yrs ago the audi said the same thing since she is ok with the ha lets go with that. must get on top the baha thing.BTw amita's speech is ok, she does talk very fast and asks a lot of rhetorical questions....like " can you ever imagine that? " after stating something to reinforce what she just said. hard to describe. you have to hear her talk. Aubrie sounds very much to be on the same wavelength as amita. How is she in school? We are struggling a bit now as the level has picked up QUITE a bit... What with math facts and nouns and verbs and CGI probs and praries and grasslands etc. Getting a headache just thinking about it. deepta > > > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " > conversations with > > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. > He's in > > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They > see each > > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- > treated > > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - > don't ask me > > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him > and some > > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her > movies and > > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared > experiences > > they've had. > > > > > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. > She didn't > > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a > topic she > > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, > understand > > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that > > something has changed. > > > > > > > > Michele W > > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 and Deepta- I have to laugh! I'm having a whopper headache today and you both mention headaches! Stop all this thinking today. or I'll explode. Michele _____ From: CHARGE [mailto:CHARGE ] On Behalf Of mdlinda@... Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 1:08 PM To: CHARGE Subject: Re: Re: positive observations Michele, These are wonderful improvements. Every bit we can get is significant in Chargeland. This was always a biggie for us too-moreso with her vision. The booth is one thing. Experience in the world, is another. Even though it should interpolate; one experience to the other, it doesn't necessarily. I'm glad it's weird-that leaves room for unpredictable positive experience. But it also means we have to allow and follow " wierdness " sometimes, against the flow. Let me add to the weirdness. You have to hear it in order to know that you CAN hear it. Knowing that you can hear it, even once, opens up new channels. One part of her system has put a demand on another part of her system to perform. I'll stop there. But this is part of how they start to outperform the tests, I believe, and why 'static' unmovable situations do in fact move to better and better functioning. If there is validity to that theory, then that also suggests that the smaller classrooms, and efficient approaches of ISD were also contributory. But don't get a headache. There's plenty of time for the scope of the positive changes to reveal themselves. For now, don't analyze-just watch. ;-) in Ma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Michele, These changes are so wonderful for Aubrie (and you!). I remember reading emails from you as recently as a couple of weeks ago where you were beside yourself wondering if her speech was ever going to be understandable by others and all the imaginary friends. I think it's great that you knew the BAHA was making a difference for Aubrie, even though the audiologists couldn't see it with their tests. I think you made a great comparison to vision, and I'd like to elaborate on it. One of the tests I do all the time is ask people to cover an eye and read the smallest line of letters they can. And there is a big difference between " Yes, I can make those out. " and " I see those letters clearly. " For one, the task of reading black letters on a white background in a dark room only measures one aspect of visual function: visual acuity. It doesn't take into account the affect of a " real world visual stimulus " --the real world has millions of shades of color, glare, things happening in the periphery. And I think hearing tests are a lot like this. The test administered in the booth is just measuring one aspect of hearing: the " hearing acuity " if you will. It doesn't take into account the affect of the " real world " --background noise, the multi-tonation of speech. Up until very recently, the only part of a person's " refractive error " that we corrected for was the degree of near or far-sightedness and the amount of astigmatism. In optometry school, you learned about other types of refractive error, called higher-order abberations, but there wasn't anything that could be done about them. People who were 20/15 best corrected but still complaining things were blurry probably had some of these higher-order abberations but there wasn't a way to measure them or correct them. But new technology has lead to something called " Wavefront " --it is the current buzz in LASIK eye surgery. Wavefront can quantify and help correct these higher order abberations. And now the use of wavefront technology is spreading to contact and glasses lenses. I imagine hearing is much the same--other kinds of errors exist, but the technology just isn't there yet to measure them or to correct them. Anyhow, I'm so happy for you both. Have a happy 2nd night of Trick-or-treating! (mom to Evan, 15.5 months) Michele Westmaas wrote: Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " conversations with her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. He's in town here so they don't attend school together this year. They see each other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or-treated together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - don't ask me why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by him and some by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her movies and stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared experiences they've had. In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. She didn't seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a topic she started and the other person went in the direction she expected. Her speech has also improved so much that people, even strangers, understand her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you that something has changed. Michele W Aubrie's mom 8 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 - Your comparison of hearing to vision is exactly what I've been trying to get the audiologists to understand. Surely they get it, they just don't understand the implications for our kids and/or they don't have a suggestion to offer. Thanks for explaining more. It's good to feel understood. Michele W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 awww get aubrie to kiss the headache and make it all better > > and Deepta- > > I have to laugh! I'm having a whopper headache today and you both mention > headaches! Stop all this thinking today. or I'll explode. > > Michele > > _____ > > From: CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto: > CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf Of > mdlinda@... <mdlinda%40aol.com> > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 1:08 PM > To: CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: Re: positive observations > > Michele, > These are wonderful improvements. Every bit we can get is significant in > Chargeland. > This was always a biggie for us too-moreso with her vision. The booth is > one > > thing. > Experience in the world, is another. Even though it should interpolate; > one > experience to the other, it doesn't necessarily. I'm glad it's weird-that > leaves room for unpredictable positive experience. But it also means we > have > to > allow and follow " wierdness " sometimes, against the flow. > Let me add to the weirdness. You have to hear it in order to know that you > > CAN hear it. > Knowing that you can hear it, even once, opens up new channels. One part > of > her system has put a demand on another part of her system to perform. I'll > > stop there. But this is part of how they start to outperform the tests, I > believe, and why 'static' unmovable situations do in fact move to better > and > > better functioning. > If there is validity to that theory, then that also suggests that the > smaller classrooms, and efficient approaches of ISD were also > contributory. > But don't get a headache. There's plenty of time for the scope of the > positive changes to reveal themselves. For now, don't analyze-just watch. > ;-) > in Ma. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 wow michelle it is cool that you and her are getting this i agree that sometimes its the hearing aid does make a different why jus tto hear so well is great i know when i got my bone coduction aid i stopped using the fm in class at school coz i could hear so much better and i could and still do hear much better lol > > you know that's surprising since amita's conversational interest > picked up after we changed her school too. the new kids talk to her > a lot more and are interested in her and we were also more proactive > than at the other school.the bone test that we did so many yrs ago > the audi said the same thing since she is ok with the ha lets go > with that. must get on top the baha thing.BTw amita's speech is ok, > she does talk very fast and asks a lot of rhetorical > questions....like " can you ever imagine that? " after stating > something to reinforce what she just said. hard to describe. you > have to hear her talk. Aubrie sounds very much to be on the same > wavelength as amita. How is she in school? We are struggling a bit > now as the level has picked up QUITE a bit... What with math facts > and nouns and verbs and CGI probs and praries and grasslands etc. > Getting a headache just thinking about it. > deepta > > > > > > > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > > > > > > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " > > conversations with > > > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. > > He's in > > > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They > > see each > > > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- > > treated > > > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - > > don't ask me > > > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by > him > > and some > > > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her > > movies and > > > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared > > experiences > > > they've had. > > > > > > > > > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. > > She didn't > > > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a > > topic she > > > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > > > > > > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even > strangers, > > understand > > > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > > > > > > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you > that > > > something has changed. > > > > > > > > > > > > Michele W > > > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2006 Report Share Posted November 1, 2006 was same with me when i was in main school i actualy found it easier when the teacher wold rite the stuff down then have me read it in a free period later when i was by my self so i could take it in with out the noise around me > > Aubrie's doing really well in school this year. I think the smaller > class > size is allowing her to get the instruction much better. > > Aubrie's always had lots of friends at school, but again I think the > smaller > class size keeps that manageable for her. Too many kids is just too much > to > follow. > > Michele > > _____ > > From: CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto: > CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf Of > deepta_69 > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 12:38 PM > To: CHARGE <CHARGE%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: positive observations > > you know that's surprising since amita's conversational interest > picked up after we changed her school too. the new kids talk to her > a lot more and are interested in her and we were also more proactive > than at the other school.the bone test that we did so many yrs ago > the audi said the same thing since she is ok with the ha lets go > with that. must get on top the baha thing.BTw amita's speech is ok, > she does talk very fast and asks a lot of rhetorical > questions....like " can you ever imagine that? " after stating > something to reinforce what she just said. hard to describe. you > have to hear her talk. Aubrie sounds very much to be on the same > wavelength as amita. How is she in school? We are struggling a bit > now as the level has picked up QUITE a bit... What with math facts > and nouns and verbs and CGI probs and praries and grasslands etc. > Getting a headache just thinking about it. > deepta > > > > > > > > Just wanting to share with the folks who get it. > > > > > > > > > > > > I have been noticing that Aubrie is having more " real " > > conversations with > > > her friends. One boy, in particular, has become a close friend. > > He's in > > > town here so they don't attend school together this year. They > > see each > > > other weekly at the church after-school program. We trick-or- > > treated > > > together last night (in our town, there are 2 nights for this - > > don't ask me > > > why!). Anyway - they talked nonstop- some topics initiated by > him > > and some > > > by her - all age-appropriate topics. She wasn't stuck on her > > movies and > > > stuff. She brought up things that she knows he likes and shared > > experiences > > > they've had. > > > > > > > > > > > > In the past, she sometimes had problems with peer conversations. > > She didn't > > > seem to be able to expand on a conversation well unless it was a > > topic she > > > started and the other person went in the direction she expected. > > > > > > > > > > > > Her speech has also improved so much that people, even > strangers, > > understand > > > her. That'll do wonders for a conversation! > > > > > > > > > > > > It's hard to describe the specific changes, but I can tell you > that > > > something has changed. > > > > > > > > > > > > Michele W > > > Aubrie's mom 8 yrs > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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