Re: We got hearing aids!!!

[Guest guest]

. . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

staring at your child? "

Hi Sherry,

It's great to learn that your son is off to such a great start with

his hearing aids!

Honestly, I was really bothered when strangers gawked at my

daughter's aids. I recall a zoo employee saying out loud " hey that

baby's got hearing aids on " to no one in particular. You know the

type that shouts out " he's gonna jump " in movie theaters.

Annoying.

Today, my 2 year old daughter's aids are not easily visible. Her

hair is curly (think Shirley Temple), so it is less of an issue at

the moment. I vacillate from wanting her aids to be invisible to

wanting her aids in hot pink.

I try and think of her hearing loss as just a part of who she is

akin to eye color. Ultimately, I want her to feel confident and

unashamed of her hearing difference.

Best,

(mom to Kate mild to md)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/29/2006 11:22:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

sfreitasi@... writes:

Could this be the result of him having the hearing aids on and

being able to hear? I was shocked. He has never, ever, ever had this much

fun at gym class. I've been taking him since September and it literally

took him until last month to participate in the warm up session (usually I

have to carry him during it or sit and watch). So this was a completely

different child than usual. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Sherry,

Yeah, it could be just because he suddenly knows what is going on around him

and he feels free to join in. It may be that having all these new sounds and

experiences just makes him incredibly happy. Who knows, just enjoy your

newly-found outgoing side of him.. Our Ian was about 9 when he was aided

(heavens, I should probably remember that date, but I don't. However I vividly

remember the day itself ... I have to figure out the date every time now.

Senility!) Anyway, he was also far more willing to " dive in " to a group once

aided. He

was still his somewhat reserved and quiet self, but there was more self

confidence, more of a willingness to be the one to reach out to new people. For

Ian it was a more subtle difference, but one that we parents could recognize.

< >

When I became accustomed to seeing the aids in his ears. After a rather

short time I didn't even notice them anymore. I rarely notice the aids when

looking at Ian, and if he has them out, then I get a stupid look like something

is

missing but I can't tell what it is, until he starts to sign while talking

-- his way of letting me know he can't hear my spoken replies.

I never really felt like everyone was staring, but I would catch people

staring at his aids -- which are bright blue, so of course they'd stare. But

we'd

encouraged Ian to get whatever color he wanted (except red) and to be proud

of them. Our stance has been that they are nothing to be ashamed of, they

help him a lot and he appreciates them for that, so why not wear

glow-in-the-dark ones if he wants?! Since he needs to wear them, why not be

proud and let

them stand out? Ian gets a kick out of when little kids ask about them. He has

never had the urge to hide them or bury them in the back yard. But he will

readily admit that he would love to have his hearing back, (but is not at all

bitter about his circumstances).

Last year, he informed me that as childhoods go, he thinks his is absolutely

perfect, except for the hearing loss. And even with the loss, it's a pretty

darn good one. (grin)

As for me getting use to them ... at first I thought they would be a daily

reminder of what a terrible mom I was (he was 9!) and how I'd blown it and

messed up his life by not realizing he had a hearing loss. But I was wrong about

that. It was a pretty quick transition to not seeing them and then to feeling

as though he wasn't " safe " unless he had them in. I started to view them as

a protection for him, letting him know when cars were coming, or when the

class was on a field trip (a teacher had lost him once). An interesting

transition that I never anticipated ... from mother guilt to little guardian

angels.

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/30/2006 10:37:42 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

pcknott@... writes:

Then she saved money to give to Whitestone because she only had one

hearing aid and Maggie wanted her to have two so they could be just alike!

This made me laugh and tear up all at the same time. Our kids are just

amazing!

-- Jill

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/30/2006 11:20:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

Barbara.T.Mellert@... writes:

I actually came upon that report that talked

about him sucking his thumb and chewing on buttons. Wow! Hard to

believe that now or even 6 months after he got his hearing aids. So

sure - it's entirely possible!

Barbara

Amazing what a little time and positive support can do, huh? Ian burst into

tears when asked to stand up and tell his kindergarten class his name and what

his parents did for a living. He was so painfully shy! Hard to believe that

the boy currently singing at the top of his lungs (to Rascal Flats) in our

living room was ever that frightened little boy who had to " practice being

brave " by buying his own french fries at McD's. (grin)

-- Jill

[Guest guest]

Sherry - how exciting! Boy, your post brings back memories... Both my

boys loved their hearing aids from the beginning and never took them off

- I'm sure because of the benefit they were getting from them. My Sam

has big, blue eyes. Our audiologist put his aids on and turned both on

at the same time when he first got them. The look on his face! His

mouth flew open and his eyes moved back and forth, back and forth - he

definitely was hearing for the first time!

We use a product called OtoEase (we call it the magic oil!) that helps

get the aids in - you can get it from your audiologist or from a mail

order or online company. I know that heartoday.org sells it. Their

website is https://www.hearingfulfillment.com/ecommerce/heartoday.aspx

I've used them a bunch for dry bricks for our Dry and Store - they're

very reasonable, have decent shipping prices and are really fast.

Thanks for sharing!

Barbara

Sherry Freitas wrote:

> My son got his first pair of hearing aids this week. I am so excited

> and sad all at the same time. is 2.5 yrs old, just diagnosed mild to

> moderate (possibly to severe) sloping SNHL bilaterally. Overall his speech

> is starting to sound somewhat clearer, which is so very thrilling to hear.

> It is hard for me to pinpoint what sounds he is producing better, but his

> speech is definitely changing. And he is hearing things he has never heard

> before - he couldn't believe it when the AC turned on. He thought it was

> the lawn mower and then decided it must be a plane. I took him to go see it

> and later his dad did too. He must have talked about it for 20 minutes.

> And he has been pointing out the birds outside and trucks going by. It is

> just incredible to watch his world expand from this " little " change.

>

> I've been amazed that he hasn't tried to pull them out yet. Although one

> did fall out when he was wrestling with his grandpa. He has been super

> patient with me trying to learn how to get them in his ears. Although we

> did have to take a break the other day when I couldn't get the left one in.

> Maybe because I am right handed or because his ear canal is so small &

> pratically makes an immediate 90 degree turn, I just can't seem to get that

> one in very easily. I know in a few weeks this will be 2nd nature to me,

> but right now I don't want to do anything that is going to cause me to have

> to take them out and put them back in - like a bath or even showing his

> grandma how they work!

>

> has always been a shy sort of kid, usually watching his peers more than

> playing directly with them. Tonight we went to his gym class where he

> actually scared another little boy with his exuberance and desire to play

> with him. Could this be the result of him having the hearing aids on and

> being able to hear? I was shocked. He has never, ever, ever had this much

> fun at gym class. I've been taking him since September and it literally

> took him until last month to participate in the warm up session (usually I

> have to carry him during it or sit and watch). So this was a completely

> different child than usual. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

>

> But I am sad because now it is like I can *see* his hearing loss, where

> before it was just this general concept. It just hurts to know that he will

> never hear like we do and that he will struggle because of it. And when do

> you get over feeling like everyone is staring at your child?

>

> I think I am on a bit of a ramble. I have so many thoughts and emotions

> running through me this week, I just needed to share some of them with

> others who would understand.

>

> Sherry

> Mom to (2.5 yr sloping SNHL)

> Mom to Drew (passed his newborn screen (but did too), and will

> hopefully pass his 6 month hearing test next week)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> All messages posted to this list are private and confidential. Each post is

the intellectual property of the author and therefore subject to copyright

restrictions.

>

[Guest guest]

My son got his first hearing aids last August, when he was 3.5. We knew he

had hearing loss for over a year before that, but it took that long to get a

reliable audiogram, and then to get the hearing aids through Early

Intervention. My son was very silent and withdrawn. All the therapists who

saw him insisted it was trauma from cancer treatment. Well, he got those

hearing aids, and boy did he start talking! Now we can't shut him up! While

he does have many symptoms of PTSD, I have no doubt that the silence was

mainly due to not being able to hear.

So for us, the hearing aids are a joy. I even forget that other people see

them as a tragedy. A while back, one of the kids from my older son's

kindergarten class asked her mother what they were. The mother shushed her

loudly. Not even thinking, I started explaining, with a huge smile on my

face " Oh, they're hearing aids, just like Ailish's glasses " . Suddenly I

realized that the other mom just did not see them in the same way at all.

Have fun with the hearing aids! I tend to have trouble getting them into my

son's ears too. And by the time I get used to a set of earmolds and can get

them in, it is time for a new set.

Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Sherry, my audiologist told me about this behavior thing with undiagnosed kids

when Maggie was diagnosed at age 4 1/2. Maggie was the opposite - a hellion!

The audie said most kids with undiagnosed loss become either very passive or

very aggressive because of the isolation from the hearing loss. So we had the

opposite reaction of your . Maggie got calmer and quieter and cooperative.

But with both kids, the hearing aids are allowing their true nature or

personality to come out. With Maggie, her language and speech were poor but

her behavior was worse. We saw immediate improvements in both as soon as she

got her hearing aids. Then in 3rd grade (5 years after diagnosis), we had a

teacher who didn't want to use the soundfield. We saw Maggie's behavior change

drastically right before our eyes. She was hitting and biting and destroying

property at school. Acted pretty ok at home, but nearly every day we got a

frownie note from the teacher. My husband finally figured it out, he said " we

haven't seen this kind of behavior since she got her hearing aids. " I checked

with some of the kids in the class and someone said " She used it a little on

Tuesday. " (All the kids in her class loved the soundfield and many were used to

it from 5K - 2nd grade.) And lo and behold, that was the problem. I went

round and round with the teacher and finally said " Please just try it our way,

the way it has been done from 5k-2nd grade. " She agreed and after a day and a

half called me, apologized and said she had a different child in her class!!

[Guest guest]

I kind of had to take my cue from Maggie who was 3 3/4 at diagnosis. She

suddenly insisted that her hair be up in a ponytail so everyone could see her

hearing aids because she loved them that much! Then she saved money to give to

Whitestone because she only had one hearing aid and Maggie wanted her to

have two so they could be just alike! My dad however, cried just thinking about

his grandaughter with ugly hearing aids. Once he saw them, he said it wasn't

so bad especially since he could see the huge change in her.

>

> . . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

>staring at your child? "

>

>

[Guest guest]

I meant to answer your question too! Yes, I believe that it could well

be because of being able to hear. When our older son Tom was first

diagnosed (he was a little over 3) and tested before he got his aids, he

was totally introverted. I actually came upon that report that talked

about him sucking his thumb and chewing on buttons. Wow! Hard to

believe that now or even 6 months after he got his hearing aids. So

sure - it's entirely possible!

Barbara

JillcWood@... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 6/29/2006 11:22:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> sfreitasi@... writes:

>

> Could this be the result of him having the hearing aids on and

> being able to hear? I was shocked. He has never, ever, ever had this much

> fun at gym class. I've been taking him since September and it literally

> took him until last month to participate in the warm up session (usually I

> have to carry him during it or sit and watch). So this was a completely

> different child than usual. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

>

>

>

>

>

> Sherry,

>

> Yeah, it could be just because he suddenly knows what is going on around him

> and he feels free to join in. It may be that having all these new sounds and

> experiences just makes him incredibly happy. Who knows, just enjoy your

> newly-found outgoing side of him.. Our Ian was about 9 when he was aided

> (heavens, I should probably remember that date, but I don't. However I vividly

> remember the day itself ... I have to figure out the date every time now.

> Senility!) Anyway, he was also far more willing to " dive in " to a group once

aided. He

> was still his somewhat reserved and quiet self, but there was more self

> confidence, more of a willingness to be the one to reach out to new people.

For

> Ian it was a more subtle difference, but one that we parents could recognize.

>

> < >

>

> When I became accustomed to seeing the aids in his ears. After a rather

> short time I didn't even notice them anymore. I rarely notice the aids when

> looking at Ian, and if he has them out, then I get a stupid look like

something is

> missing but I can't tell what it is, until he starts to sign while talking

> -- his way of letting me know he can't hear my spoken replies.

>

> I never really felt like everyone was staring, but I would catch people

> staring at his aids -- which are bright blue, so of course they'd stare. But

we'd

> encouraged Ian to get whatever color he wanted (except red) and to be proud

> of them. Our stance has been that they are nothing to be ashamed of, they

> help him a lot and he appreciates them for that, so why not wear

> glow-in-the-dark ones if he wants?! Since he needs to wear them, why not be

proud and let

> them stand out? Ian gets a kick out of when little kids ask about them. He

has

> never had the urge to hide them or bury them in the back yard. But he will

> readily admit that he would love to have his hearing back, (but is not at all

> bitter about his circumstances).

>

> Last year, he informed me that as childhoods go, he thinks his is absolutely

> perfect, except for the hearing loss. And even with the loss, it's a pretty

> darn good one. (grin)

>

> As for me getting use to them ... at first I thought they would be a daily

> reminder of what a terrible mom I was (he was 9!) and how I'd blown it and

> messed up his life by not realizing he had a hearing loss. But I was wrong

about

> that. It was a pretty quick transition to not seeing them and then to feeling

> as though he wasn't " safe " unless he had them in. I started to view them as

> a protection for him, letting him know when cars were coming, or when the

> class was on a field trip (a teacher had lost him once). An interesting

> transition that I never anticipated ... from mother guilt to little guardian

angels.

>

> Best -- Jill

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:56:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

thetomlinsons@... writes:

I just

stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in private

later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So no

telling what strangers are going to spit out.

Well, one of Ian's favorites is " hey, you're wearing hearing aids. " And if

the person has annoyed him rather than simply being surprised by the presence

of his aids, he will often respond: " Yes, I know, I'm deaf not stupid. "

LOL -- Jill

[Guest guest]

I know what you mean. My daughter is getting the hot pink ones WITH

SPARKLES! I'm fine with that and was happy she was so excited about getting

to pick them out. However, she is really starting to think about it all, I

guess, and she recently tore the hearing aids off her babydoll (Lakeshore

sells hearing aids and glasses for dolls), and when I asked her why, she

said, " I just don't like them. My other dolls don't have them, and she's

fine without them, too. I don't like them. " Uh oh. When we couldn't pick

up her aids yesterday because the molds weren't in, she responded,

" Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyesssssss! " Okay, I'm getting worried here. What do I

do? The only way I seem to raise her excitement again is to tell her she is

going to be able to hear my secrets to Daddy now. She is such an imp.

I'm prepared for stares, but what gets to me are the things people say

without thinking. For instance, my own mother--IN FRONT OF MY

DAUGHTER--when told about the hearing aids, immediately said, " Well,

her ears are usually hidden under her hair so that hairdo works out great. "

Okay, that sends the message to my child that hearing aids are embarrassing

to let people know about and it's good her hair will hide them. I just

stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in private

later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So no

telling what strangers are going to spit out.

>

> . . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

> staring at your child? "

>

> Hi Sherry,

> It's great to learn that your son is off to such a great start with

> his hearing aids!

>

> Honestly, I was really bothered when strangers gawked at my

> daughter's aids. I recall a zoo employee saying out loud " hey that

> baby's got hearing aids on " to no one in particular. You know the

> type that shouts out " he's gonna jump " in movie theaters.

> Annoying.

>

> Today, my 2 year old daughter's aids are not easily visible. Her

> hair is curly (think Shirley Temple), so it is less of an issue at

> the moment. I vacillate from wanting her aids to be invisible to

> wanting her aids in hot pink.

>

> I try and think of her hearing loss as just a part of who she is

> akin to eye color. Ultimately, I want her to feel confident and

> unashamed of her hearing difference.

>

> Best,

>

> (mom to Kate mild to md)

>

>

>

--

Robin Tomlinson

thetomlinsons@...

[Guest guest]

Oh Robin, just wait when someone says something to your child and when she

doesn't respond, they said " Hello, didn't you hear me? Are you deaf? " I've

told my daughter that if anyone ever says that to you to look at them and

say " As a matter of fact I am and thank God I have aids so I can turn them

off and not listen to you anymore! " She used that on a friend once and the

teacher was shock but lived it!

Diane

Re: Re: We got hearing aids!!!

> I know what you mean. My daughter is getting the hot pink ones WITH

> SPARKLES! I'm fine with that and was happy she was so excited about

getting

> to pick them out. However, she is really starting to think about it all,

I

> guess, and she recently tore the hearing aids off her babydoll (Lakeshore

> sells hearing aids and glasses for dolls), and when I asked her why, she

> said, " I just don't like them. My other dolls don't have them, and she's

> fine without them, too. I don't like them. " Uh oh. When we couldn't

pick

> up her aids yesterday because the molds weren't in, she responded,

> " Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyesssssss! " Okay, I'm getting worried here. What do I

> do? The only way I seem to raise her excitement again is to tell her she

is

> going to be able to hear my secrets to Daddy now. She is such an imp.

>

> I'm prepared for stares, but what gets to me are the things people say

> without thinking. For instance, my own mother--IN FRONT OF MY

> DAUGHTER--when told about the hearing aids, immediately said, " Well,

> her ears are usually hidden under her hair so that hairdo works out

great. "

> Okay, that sends the message to my child that hearing aids are

embarrassing

> to let people know about and it's good her hair will hide them. I just

> stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

private

> later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So no

> telling what strangers are going to spit out.

>

>

>

>

> >

> > . . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

> > staring at your child? "

> >

> > Hi Sherry,

> > It's great to learn that your son is off to such a great start with

> > his hearing aids!

> >

> > Honestly, I was really bothered when strangers gawked at my

> > daughter's aids. I recall a zoo employee saying out loud " hey that

> > baby's got hearing aids on " to no one in particular. You know the

> > type that shouts out " he's gonna jump " in movie theaters.

> > Annoying.

> >

> > Today, my 2 year old daughter's aids are not easily visible. Her

> > hair is curly (think Shirley Temple), so it is less of an issue at

> > the moment. I vacillate from wanting her aids to be invisible to

> > wanting her aids in hot pink.

> >

> > I try and think of her hearing loss as just a part of who she is

> > akin to eye color. Ultimately, I want her to feel confident and

> > unashamed of her hearing difference.

> >

> > Best,

> >

> > (mom to Kate mild to md)

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Robin Tomlinson

> thetomlinsons@...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Opps, sorry, sent that too fast. picked out purple aids with purple,

blue, and white mixed molds! I was approached with the " hair " comment by

the secretary at the school she attends. Needless to say, puts her

hair up in a pony tail every day and proudly wears them. When she was first

hesitant about the aids, I too made comments to her like now we can share

secrets and now we can whisper in the movie theater, etc. The best one she

liked was that I could now read her bedtime stores to her until she quietly

fell asleep and I would take the aids out for her. She is now 10 and doing

beautifully with her aids.

Once she realizes how much more she can hear with them, she'll be great! My

daughter freaked out when she heard the ticking of her watch for the first

time. She loved it, it made me cry!

As far as stares......when people stare, I always walk up to them and say

" aren't they cool looking " - it freaks them out but I don't care! Just

stare right back!

Diane

Re: Re: We got hearing aids!!!

> I know what you mean. My daughter is getting the hot pink ones WITH

> SPARKLES! I'm fine with that and was happy she was so excited about

getting

> to pick them out. However, she is really starting to think about it all,

I

> guess, and she recently tore the hearing aids off her babydoll (Lakeshore

> sells hearing aids and glasses for dolls), and when I asked her why, she

> said, " I just don't like them. My other dolls don't have them, and she's

> fine without them, too. I don't like them. " Uh oh. When we couldn't

pick

> up her aids yesterday because the molds weren't in, she responded,

> " Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyesssssss! " Okay, I'm getting worried here. What do I

> do? The only way I seem to raise her excitement again is to tell her she

is

> going to be able to hear my secrets to Daddy now. She is such an imp.

>

> I'm prepared for stares, but what gets to me are the things people say

> without thinking. For instance, my own mother--IN FRONT OF MY

> DAUGHTER--when told about the hearing aids, immediately said, " Well,

> her ears are usually hidden under her hair so that hairdo works out

great. "

> Okay, that sends the message to my child that hearing aids are

embarrassing

> to let people know about and it's good her hair will hide them. I just

> stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

private

> later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So no

> telling what strangers are going to spit out.

>

>

>

>

> >

> > . . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

> > staring at your child? "

> >

> > Hi Sherry,

> > It's great to learn that your son is off to such a great start with

> > his hearing aids!

> >

> > Honestly, I was really bothered when strangers gawked at my

> > daughter's aids. I recall a zoo employee saying out loud " hey that

> > baby's got hearing aids on " to no one in particular. You know the

> > type that shouts out " he's gonna jump " in movie theaters.

> > Annoying.

> >

> > Today, my 2 year old daughter's aids are not easily visible. Her

> > hair is curly (think Shirley Temple), so it is less of an issue at

> > the moment. I vacillate from wanting her aids to be invisible to

> > wanting her aids in hot pink.

> >

> > I try and think of her hearing loss as just a part of who she is

> > akin to eye color. Ultimately, I want her to feel confident and

> > unashamed of her hearing difference.

> >

> > Best,

> >

> > (mom to Kate mild to md)

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> Robin Tomlinson

> thetomlinsons@...

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

LOL. I love it! Here's another good one . . . " Yes, but you're rude. Too

bad they don't make aids for YOUR problem! " ; )

We actually did have a nurse think she was being timid one time when Sydney

wouldn't come to her. The lady had her back turned, though, when she called

for Sydney to step us on the scale. She said, " It's okay. A lot of little

ones are scared of the scale and stuff in here. " I told her Sydney

Tomlinsons wasn't scared of anything I knew of in the world--LOL--she just

didn't hear that she was called.

>

> Oh Robin, just wait when someone says something to your child and when

> she

> doesn't respond, they said " Hello, didn't you hear me? Are you deaf? " I've

> told my daughter that if anyone ever says that to you to look at them and

> say " As a matter of fact I am and thank God I have aids so I can turn them

> off and not listen to you anymore! " She used that on a friend once and the

> teacher was shock but lived it!

> Diane

>

>

> Re: Re: We got hearing aids!!!

>

> > I know what you mean. My daughter is getting the hot pink ones WITH

> > SPARKLES! I'm fine with that and was happy she was so excited about

> getting

> > to pick them out. However, she is really starting to think about it all,

> I

> > guess, and she recently tore the hearing aids off her babydoll

> (Lakeshore

> > sells hearing aids and glasses for dolls), and when I asked her why, she

> > said, " I just don't like them. My other dolls don't have them, and she's

> > fine without them, too. I don't like them. " Uh oh. When we couldn't

> pick

> > up her aids yesterday because the molds weren't in, she responded,

> > " Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyesssssss! " Okay, I'm getting worried here. What do I

> > do? The only way I seem to raise her excitement again is to tell her she

> is

> > going to be able to hear my secrets to Daddy now. She is such an imp.

> >

> > I'm prepared for stares, but what gets to me are the things people say

> > without thinking. For instance, my own mother--IN FRONT OF MY

> > DAUGHTER--when told about the hearing aids, immediately said, " Well,

> > her ears are usually hidden under her hair so that hairdo works out

> great. "

> > Okay, that sends the message to my child that hearing aids are

> embarrassing

> > to let people know about and it's good her hair will hide them. I just

> > stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

> private

> > later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So

> no

> > telling what strangers are going to spit out.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> > > . . . And when do you get over feeling like everyone is

> > > staring at your child? "

> > >

> > > Hi Sherry,

> > > It's great to learn that your son is off to such a great start with

> > > his hearing aids!

> > >

> > > Honestly, I was really bothered when strangers gawked at my

> > > daughter's aids. I recall a zoo employee saying out loud " hey that

> > > baby's got hearing aids on " to no one in particular. You know the

> > > type that shouts out " he's gonna jump " in movie theaters.

> > > Annoying.

> > >

> > > Today, my 2 year old daughter's aids are not easily visible. Her

> > > hair is curly (think Shirley Temple), so it is less of an issue at

> > > the moment. I vacillate from wanting her aids to be invisible to

> > > wanting her aids in hot pink.

> > >

> > > I try and think of her hearing loss as just a part of who she is

> > > akin to eye color. Ultimately, I want her to feel confident and

> > > unashamed of her hearing difference.

> > >

> > > Best,

> > >

> > > (mom to Kate mild to md)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > Robin Tomlinson

> > thetomlinsons@...

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

My favorite time was the purple-haired girl in Borders who looked at Tom

(who at the time had two hearing aids with I think red earmolds) and

said " cool earbuds! " . ha ha ha ha - Tom very calmly told her they were

hearing aids. She felt so bad - he ended up consoling her!

JillcWood@... wrote:

>

> In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:56:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> thetomlinsons@... writes:

>

> I just

> stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in private

> later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So no

> telling what strangers are going to spit out.

>

>

>

>

>

> Well, one of Ian's favorites is " hey, you're wearing hearing aids. " And if

> the person has annoyed him rather than simply being surprised by the presence

> of his aids, he will often respond: " Yes, I know, I'm deaf not stupid. "

>

> LOL -- Jill

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You know, that reminds me, Barbara . . . we are living in such a tecno-age,

hearing aids will not be noticed after a while. Sydney sees people with the

bluetooth cell phones in their ears and thinks they're big blue hearing

aids.

On a side note, those things bother me--hope I'm not offending anyone. It's

startling to be in the grocery store near someone who suddenly starts

talking loud. Before you realize it's the cell phone, you're scared half to

death out of your peas or green beans fog or else wondering if the person

has flipped. LOL.

>

> My favorite time was the purple-haired girl in Borders who looked at

> Tom

> (who at the time had two hearing aids with I think red earmolds) and

> said " cool earbuds! " . ha ha ha ha - Tom very calmly told her they were

> hearing aids. She felt so bad - he ended up consoling her!

>

> JillcWood@... wrote:

> >

> > In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:56:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> > thetomlinsons@... writes:

> >

> > I just

> > stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

> private

> > later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So

> no

> > telling what strangers are going to spit out.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Well, one of Ian's favorites is " hey, you're wearing hearing aids. " And

> if

> > the person has annoyed him rather than simply being surprised by the

> presence

> > of his aids, he will often respond: " Yes, I know, I'm deaf not stupid. "

> >

> > LOL -- Jill

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I agree with you, Robin - I think it's really annoying to have someone

talking on a cell phone int he store, etc., etc. We're in the boonies

up here (I'm in west-central New Hampshire) and we just got DSL last

year! We don't get cell service at home yet either...

Robin Tomlinson wrote:

> You know, that reminds me, Barbara . . . we are living in such a tecno-age,

> hearing aids will not be noticed after a while. Sydney sees people with the

> bluetooth cell phones in their ears and thinks they're big blue hearing

> aids.

>

> On a side note, those things bother me--hope I'm not offending anyone. It's

> startling to be in the grocery store near someone who suddenly starts

> talking loud. Before you realize it's the cell phone, you're scared half to

> death out of your peas or green beans fog or else wondering if the person

> has flipped. LOL.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>> My favorite time was the purple-haired girl in Borders who looked at

>> Tom

>> (who at the time had two hearing aids with I think red earmolds) and

>> said " cool earbuds! " . ha ha ha ha - Tom very calmly told her they were

>> hearing aids. She felt so bad - he ended up consoling her!

>>

>> JillcWood@... wrote:

>>

>>> In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:56:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

>>> thetomlinsons@... writes:

>>>

>>> I just

>>> stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

>>>

>> private

>>

>>> later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So

>>>

>> no

>>

>>> telling what strangers are going to spit out.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Well, one of Ian's favorites is " hey, you're wearing hearing aids. " And

>>>

>> if

>>

>>> the person has annoyed him rather than simply being surprised by the

>>>

>> presence

>>

>>> of his aids, he will often respond: " Yes, I know, I'm deaf not stupid. "

>>>

>>> LOL -- Jill

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

LOL! Or when you try to respond before knowing they are on the phone.

Tawnya

Re: Re: We got hearing aids!!!

You know, that reminds me, Barbara . . . we are living in such a tecno-age,

hearing aids will not be noticed after a while. Sydney sees people with the

bluetooth cell phones in their ears and thinks they're big blue hearing

aids.

On a side note, those things bother me--hope I'm not offending anyone. It's

startling to be in the grocery store near someone who suddenly starts

talking loud. Before you realize it's the cell phone, you're scared half to

death out of your peas or green beans fog or else wondering if the person

has flipped. LOL.

>

> My favorite time was the purple-haired girl in Borders who looked at

> Tom

> (who at the time had two hearing aids with I think red earmolds) and

> said " cool earbuds! " . ha ha ha ha - Tom very calmly told her they were

> hearing aids. She felt so bad - he ended up consoling her!

>

> JillcWood@... wrote:

> >

> > In a message dated 6/30/2006 2:56:59 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> > thetomlinsons@... writes:

> >

> > I just

> > stared at her with my mouth open. She never got it. I told her in

> private

> > later that she might want to be careful about hearing aid comments. So

> no

> > telling what strangers are going to spit out.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Well, one of Ian's favorites is " hey, you're wearing hearing aids. " And

> if

> > the person has annoyed him rather than simply being surprised by the

> presence

> > of his aids, he will often respond: " Yes, I know, I'm deaf not stupid. "

> >

> > LOL -- Jill

> >

> >

> >