Guest guest Posted November 18, 2005 Report Share Posted November 18, 2005 I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally different baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around him, he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP advocacy. I want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't do him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district is alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail them on their obligations. Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual assistive technology arguments? Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 Sheri-- What state are you dealing with on this? I know here in Massachusetts, it's pretty cut and dry that EI services do not include providing hearing aids (and a multitude of other assistive devices for myriad medical issues), but there are a few states out there that provide hearing aids through Early Intervention. Kerry IFSP and hearing aids I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally different baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around him, he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP advocacy. I want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't do him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district is alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail them on their obligations. Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual assistive technology arguments? Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 IDEA specifically states that hearing devices are part of related services and DO belong in IFSP's and IEP's It is not subject to state interpretation. Now, their practice may be different, but it is the right of the child to receive such devices from the school system if it is necessary for them in order to receive a free appropriate public education. This includes the infant and toddler programs. --------- IFSP and hearing aids > > I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with > bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). > This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just > arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) > device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally different > baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around him, > > he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. > > I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP advocacy. I > > want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as > assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't do > him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district is > > alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing > aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail > them on their obligations. > > Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual assistive > technology arguments? > > Sheri > > > > > > 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. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 >IDEA specifically states that hearing devices are part of related services and DO belong in IFSP's and IEP's It is not subject to state interpretation. Now, their practice may be different, but it is the right of the child to receive such devices from the school system if it is necessary for them in order to receive a free appropriate public education. This includes the infant and toddler programs. Hi , There has been an OSEP letter around for a long time that said school districts had to provide hearing aids based on the findings that many of the children tested had non-working hearing aids at school and that it was the school's responsibility to provide working hearing devices. You can probably get a school to get you " adequate " hearing aids - remember the school has to provide a Volkswagen not a Cadillac per the Supremes. Their definition of adequate and yours will probably be miles apart. Then there will also be the discussion about whether or not those aids go home or stay at school. Sigh. In my experience most people get their own aids - trials through a pediatric center, Lions club, insurance, out of pocket on the payment plan (our approach). I looked into this and decided I would fight for the FM, noise reduction, speech therapy, etc. and purchase the hearing aids ourselves. I am sure other people have succeeded in getting good quality aids for their children out of the school system, BUT watch the fine print ( " adequate " and aids that stay in school when most of the auditory learning goes on outside the classroom). Terri , mother of Kathy, 11, formerly hearing aid user, now bi-lateral CI user (we've lived in CA, TX, and MA, none of them provided hearing aids without a fight) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Wow, Terri, I didn't know Kathy had bi-lateral CIs! Very cool! Stefanie on 11/21/05 7:46 PM, Terri RCN at terri.charles@... wrote: > Hi , > > There has been an OSEP letter around for a long time that said school > districts had to provide hearing aids based on the findings that many of the > children tested had non-working hearing aids at school and that it was the > school's responsibility to provide working hearing devices. You can probably > get a school to get you " adequate " hearing aids - remember the school has to > provide a Volkswagen not a Cadillac per the Supremes. Their definition of > adequate and yours will probably be miles apart. Then there will also be the > discussion about whether or not those aids go home or stay at school. Sigh. > > In my experience most people get their own aids - trials through a pediatric > center, Lions club, insurance, out of pocket on the payment plan (our > approach). I looked into this and decided I would fight for the FM, noise > reduction, speech therapy, etc. and purchase the hearing aids ourselves. I > am sure other people have succeeded in getting good quality aids for their > children out of the school system, BUT watch the fine print ( " adequate " and > aids that stay in school when most of the auditory learning goes on outside > the classroom). > > Terri , mother of Kathy, 11, formerly hearing aid user, now bi-lateral > CI user > (we've lived in CA, TX, and MA, none of them provided hearing aids without a > fight) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 I (and the family) are both in California Thanks Sheri >Message: 7 > Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2005 21:48:00 -0500 > >Subject: RE: IFSP and hearing aids > >Sheri-- >What state are you dealing with on this? I know here in Massachusetts, >it's >pretty cut and dry that EI services do not include providing hearing aids >(and a multitude of other assistive devices for myriad medical issues), but >there are a few states out there that provide hearing aids through Early >Intervention. > >Kerry > IFSP and hearing aids > >I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with >bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). >This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just >arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) >device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally different >baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around >him, > >he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. > >I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP advocacy. >I > >want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as >assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't do >him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district >is > >alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing >aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail >them on their obligations. > >Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual assistive >technology arguments? > >Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Your interpretation below is what I'm planning on going with. I was just hoping there was some great IDEA " chapter and verse " or magic case law that someone knew that I could cite to support this. The bottom line is Aiden will hear very little without the bone conduction devices. I am hoping to convince the school district to pay for one and the insurance to pay for the other, and make them both think they got off lucky not having to pay for both of them. Sheri >Message: 8 > Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 04:05:39 +0000 > From: semesky@... >Subject: RE: IFSP and hearing aids > >IDEA specifically states that hearing devices are part of related services >and DO belong in IFSP's and IEP's It is not subject to state >interpretation. Now, their practice may be different, but it is the right >of the child to receive such devices from the school system if it is >necessary for them in order to receive a free appropriate public education. > This includes the infant and toddler programs. > > >--------- IFSP and hearing aids > > > > I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with > > bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). > > This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just > > arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing >Aid) > > device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally >different > > baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around >him, > > > > he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. > > > > I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP >advocacy. I > > > > want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as > > assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't >do > > him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district >is > > > > alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing > > aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail > > them on their obligations. > > > > Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual >assistive > > technology arguments? > > > > Sheri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Actually, IDEA was specific about related services, but it was OSEP's policy letter that clarified that hearing aids must be purchased by the school system if specified in the IEP/IFSP. The trick is to make sure it is included in the IFSP or there is no mandate that they provide it. You'll still need to battle for what is appropriate. It's much easier to define appropriate in the case of a measurable item such as hearing improvement than what constitutes a " quality " education. Stick to your guns and provide private audiological reports stating the necessity of this item for him to be able to hear. --------- IFSP and hearing aids > > > > > > I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with > > > bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). > > > This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just > > > arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing > >Aid) > > > device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally > >different > > > baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around > >him, > > > > > > he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. > > > > > > I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP > >advocacy. I > > > > > > want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as > > > assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't > >do > > > him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district > >is > > > > > > alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing > > > aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail > > > them on their obligations. > > > > > > Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual > >assistive > > > technology arguments? > > > > > > Sheri > > > > > > 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. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 If you're going to try to get the school system to buy the aid, insist on both. You should be getting them to support your private audiologist's recommendation. As a compromise, you can offer to run the purchase of BOTH aids through your insurance and have them pick up any difference. They're allowed to request you to use your insurance as long as it does not result in a reduction in future benefits or rate increases to you personally as a result of them using the insurance. If your child needs hearing aids, he needs hearing aids...2. That is what the school system should be getting. It makes no sense to get 1 and could potentially make you look foolish if you request one, like you don't know what you're doing. You need to look like you have the utmost knowledge of his needs. Fight for what he needs, not what you think you can get. Be prepared for a tough battle. It would help if you know of any other parents in either the Infant and Toddler's Program or in the school system that have aids provided by them. You can request this information under the Freedom of Information Act. If they are providing others with aids, then you would have more leverage in getting some. If they are not, then you know how hard you're going to have to fight. Just my two cents. --------- IFSP and hearing aids > > > > > > I am helping advocate for a family with a 10 week old that was born with > > > bilateral microtia and atresia (no ear canals and deformed outer ears). > > > This is causing about a 60 dB bilateral conductive loss. Our clinic just > > > arranged for him to get a loaner softband BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing > >Aid) > > > device which conducts sound through his skull. He was a totally > >different > > > baby with the BAHA on, eyes wide open and very focused on sounds around > >him, > > > > > > he was extremely squirmy and disengaged when it was off. > > > > > > I've done a fair amount of IEP advocacy, but not very much IFSP > >advocacy. I > > > > > > want to try and get him a permanent BAHA device through his IFSP as > > > assistive technology -- all the other services they are offering won't > >do > > > him a darn bit of good if he isn't hearing anything. The school district > >is > > > > > > alternating back and forth between being clueless ( " we don't do hearing > > > aids " ) and pleading poverty, so I need to cite chapter and verse to nail > > > them on their obligations. > > > > > > Any hints about how to go about doing this other than the usual > >assistive > > > technology arguments? > > > > > > Sheri > > > > > > 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. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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