Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Re: Two daughter who are hearing impaired Yes you may pass my on my letter. I want all to understand and hopefully help many other children in the world! Deborah Deborah A. 509-(moderator removed) ddavis73@... (ddavis73 at ) December 15, 2007 Dear Sir or Ma'am: I am writing today as a middle school special education teacher and mother of three beautiful daughters (2 of which are hearing impaired This week, I learned that my youngest daughter (age 5 years) has almost the exact same hearing loss as my middle daughter (who was diagnosed at birth with hearing impairment). We now know their hearing loss is hereditary. However, we do not know which relative this comes from and do not know how fast their hearing will deteriorate. Our insurance, along with all other insurances, do NOT cover (not even a single penny) hearing aides. If I was not working, I could apply for state assistance and get the hearing aides covered in full. I just started my first teaching position this August and quitting is the last thing I have on my mind. I love my job! Being a teacher and mother are the greatest joys! It is devastating that after contacting contacting all local resources (Lions, Shriners, church, insurance company), there is no one to help cover the expense of hearing aides. I am sick to my stomach and have cried many tears over the fact that I cannot afford hearing aides for my youngest daughter. If I was to purchase them, it would be after months of saving. This would mean she would spend her entire year in Kindergarten and some of first grade without the hearing aides she desperately needs. We knew my middle daughter was hearing impaired since birth and it is obvious in her speech and certain actions. Last spring my husband and I started having behavioral issues with our youngest. She wasn't listening or following directions. We now know why. It wasn't until the school district sent home a letter saying she failed the school hearing test. They recommended us to see an audiologist. Why is it a school district will test ALL students for hearing and eye sight and recommend they see a doctor for proper fittings and testing when insurance only covers eye sight? School districts know how important hearing is when learning. Why can insurance companies see the same? My school district will even buy my daughters FM systems in which the teacher wears a microphone and his/her voice goes directly into the hearing aide. The school MUST buy these systems for my children as per laws. Why is there not a law that insurance should also cover hearing aides? Why does Insurance NOT COVER hearing aides for children when it is crucial to their learning and to their involvement in our community as our next generation? If you have any suggestions on how to receive help to purchase my daughter her hearing aides, contact me at 509-302-5535. Sincerely, Deborah A. Teacher/Mother/Wife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 She should contact her state office for disabilities. Every state has one. It may be something like " Herstate Advocacy Office for Disabilities " also, I would be certain that her kids qualify for social security disability income or medicaid with this disability. There probably is also a state assistive technology office which can/should be able to provide these for kids. Her best start would probably be to contact a school for the hearing impaired (which is probably a public school) and find someone there who knows how to help get things done. kiddietalk <kiddietalk@...> wrote: Re: Two daughter who are hearing impaired Yes you may pass my on my letter. I want all to understand and hopefully help many other children in the world! Deborah Deborah A. 509-(moderator removed) ddavis73@... (ddavis73 at ) December 15, 2007 Dear Sir or Ma'am: I am writing today as a middle school special education teacher and mother of three beautiful daughters (2 of which are hearing impaired This week, I learned that my youngest daughter (age 5 years) has almost the exact same hearing loss as my middle daughter (who was diagnosed at birth with hearing impairment). We now know their hearing loss is hereditary. However, we do not know which relative this comes from and do not know how fast their hearing will deteriorate. Our insurance, along with all other insurances, do NOT cover (not even a single penny) hearing aides. If I was not working, I could apply for state assistance and get the hearing aides covered in full. I just started my first teaching position this August and quitting is the last thing I have on my mind. I love my job! Being a teacher and mother are the greatest joys! It is devastating that after contacting contacting all local resources (Lions, Shriners, church, insurance company), there is no one to help cover the expense of hearing aides. I am sick to my stomach and have cried many tears over the fact that I cannot afford hearing aides for my youngest daughter. If I was to purchase them, it would be after months of saving. This would mean she would spend her entire year in Kindergarten and some of first grade without the hearing aides she desperately needs. We knew my middle daughter was hearing impaired since birth and it is obvious in her speech and certain actions. Last spring my husband and I started having behavioral issues with our youngest. She wasn't listening or following directions. We now know why. It wasn't until the school district sent home a letter saying she failed the school hearing test. They recommended us to see an audiologist. Why is it a school district will test ALL students for hearing and eye sight and recommend they see a doctor for proper fittings and testing when insurance only covers eye sight? School districts know how important hearing is when learning. Why can insurance companies see the same? My school district will even buy my daughters FM systems in which the teacher wears a microphone and his/her voice goes directly into the hearing aide. The school MUST buy these systems for my children as per laws. Why is there not a law that insurance should also cover hearing aides? Why does Insurance NOT COVER hearing aides for children when it is crucial to their learning and to their involvement in our community as our next generation? If you have any suggestions on how to receive help to purchase my daughter her hearing aides, contact me at 509-302-5535. Sincerely, Deborah A. Teacher/Mother/Wife --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 First, get your daugheter eligible for an IEP in your school district based upon her hearing loss and its effect on her school progress and language. Second, request that the school district provide her with hearing aids. I have worked for three different states and all of the schooll districts I worked in provided hearing aids but for school use only (meaning they have to be left at school at the end of the day, otherwise parents are responsible if they're brought home and lost). FM systems are fine, but primarily, the school audiologist can test her hearing and get her fitted for ear molds and hearing aids. Third, look up your state's medical assistance for kids with disabilities. In OHio its called Bureau of Children with medical handicaps. They will assist with whatever balance our insurance doesn't cover, based upon my child's specific medical diagnosis (i.e. will not cover other issues not related to medical condition, for example, they will cover the balance after my insurance for orthotic braces but not for general doctor visits when she is sick with a cold). Fourth, You might want to contact your local children's hospital and get assistance there. OFten they have a large audiologist office with resources and connections that your local audiologist may not have. They may even give loaners out. ALso, ask to see a social worker who can assist you with the huge paperwork required for eligibility with the state medical assistance for disability. Fifth, you may be eligible to get SSI (and medicaid) for both of your girls. Its income based but they do allow for a home, a car and some savings. It is worth a shot to try, you can apply online and then make an appt. I hope that helps. If I think of anything else, I'll write another message. Lori > > > Re: Two daughter who are hearing impaired > > > Yes you may pass my on my letter. I want all to understand and > hopefully help many other children in the world! > > > > > Deborah > > Deborah A. > 509-(moderator removed) > ddavis73@... (ddavis73 at ) > > December 15, 2007 > > > > Dear Sir or Ma'am: > > I am writing today as a middle school special education teacher and > mother of three beautiful daughters (2 of which are hearing impaired > > This week, I learned that my youngest daughter (age 5 years) has > almost the exact same hearing loss as my middle daughter (who was > diagnosed at birth with hearing impairment). We now know their > hearing loss is hereditary. However, we do not know which relative > this comes from and do not know how fast their hearing will > deteriorate. > > Our insurance, along with all other insurances, do NOT cover (not > even a single penny) hearing aides. If I was not working, I could > apply for state assistance and get the hearing aides covered in > full. I just started my first teaching position this August and > quitting is the last thing I have on my mind. I love my job! Being a > teacher and mother are the greatest joys! > > It is devastating that after contacting contacting all local > resources (Lions, Shriners, church, insurance company), there is no > one to help cover the expense of hearing aides. I am sick to my > stomach and have cried many tears over the fact that I cannot afford > hearing aides for my youngest daughter. If I was to purchase them, > it would be after months of saving. This would mean she would spend > her entire year in Kindergarten and some of first grade without the > hearing aides she desperately needs. > > We knew my middle daughter was hearing impaired since birth and it is > obvious in her speech and certain actions. Last spring my husband > and I started having behavioral issues with our youngest. She wasn't > listening or following directions. We now know why. It wasn't until > the school district sent home a letter saying she failed the school > hearing test. They recommended us to see an audiologist. > > Why is it a school district will test ALL students for hearing and > eye sight and recommend they see a doctor for proper fittings and > testing when insurance only covers eye sight? School districts know > how important hearing is when learning. Why can insurance companies > see the same? > > My school district will even buy my daughters FM systems in which the > teacher wears a microphone and his/her voice goes directly into the > hearing aide. The school MUST buy these systems for my children as > per laws. Why is there not a law that insurance should also cover > hearing aides? > > Why does Insurance NOT COVER hearing aides for children when it is > crucial to their learning and to their involvement in our community > as our next generation? > > If you have any suggestions on how to receive help to purchase my > daughter her hearing aides, contact me at 509-302-5535. > > Sincerely, > > Deborah A. > Teacher/Mother/Wife > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2007 Report Share Posted December 19, 2007 Re: Schools for the deaf - my son attends one and it's private not public - although technically funded by students from public schools that have special needs that cannot be service in-district. But if you cannot find a school for the deaf in your area i'm sure someone at my son's school can help you find a resource or sister school in your area. It's a tight knit community and they have a lot of outreach. Just go to www.beverlyschoolforthedeaf.org and they have a page of phone numbers and emails. If you hit walls elsewhere - try them. > > Re: Two daughter who are hearing impaired > > Yes you may pass my on my letter. I want all to understand and > hopefully help many other children in the world! > > Deborah > > Deborah A. > 509-(moderator removed) > ddavis73@... (ddavis73 at ) > > December 15, 2007 > > > > Dear Sir or Ma'am: > > I am writing today as a middle school special education teacher and > mother of three beautiful daughters (2 of which are hearing impaired > > This week, I learned that my youngest daughter (age 5 years) has > almost the exact same hearing loss as my middle daughter (who was > diagnosed at birth with hearing impairment). We now know their > hearing loss is hereditary. However, we do not know which relative > this comes from and do not know how fast their hearing will > deteriorate. > > Our insurance, along with all other insurances, do NOT cover (not > even a single penny) hearing aides. If I was not working, I could > apply for state assistance and get the hearing aides covered in > full. I just started my first teaching position this August and > quitting is the last thing I have on my mind. I love my job! Being a > teacher and mother are the greatest joys! > > It is devastating that after contacting contacting all local > resources (Lions, Shriners, church, insurance company), there is no > one to help cover the expense of hearing aides. I am sick to my > stomach and have cried many tears over the fact that I cannot afford > hearing aides for my youngest daughter. If I was to purchase them, > it would be after months of saving. This would mean she would spend > her entire year in Kindergarten and some of first grade without the > hearing aides she desperately needs. > > We knew my middle daughter was hearing impaired since birth and it is > obvious in her speech and certain actions. Last spring my husband > and I started having behavioral issues with our youngest. She wasn't > listening or following directions. We now know why. It wasn't until > the school district sent home a letter saying she failed the school > hearing test. They recommended us to see an audiologist. > > Why is it a school district will test ALL students for hearing and > eye sight and recommend they see a doctor for proper fittings and > testing when insurance only covers eye sight? School districts know > how important hearing is when learning. Why can insurance companies > see the same? > > My school district will even buy my daughters FM systems in which the > teacher wears a microphone and his/her voice goes directly into the > hearing aide. The school MUST buy these systems for my children as > per laws. Why is there not a law that insurance should also cover > hearing aides? > > Why does Insurance NOT COVER hearing aides for children when it is > crucial to their learning and to their involvement in our community > as our next generation? > > If you have any suggestions on how to receive help to purchase my > daughter her hearing aides, contact me at 509-302-5535. > > Sincerely, > > Deborah A. > Teacher/Mother/Wife > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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