A Word a Day

This little guy is coming up on two, come April.  So hard to believe that our baby is no longer physically a baby.  He is pushing boundaries, and taking on the toddler attitude.

In all seriousness, he's starting to realize that he can communicate.  Being completely Deaf, he doesn't hear, or speak.  We use sign with him, but he must have thought we were just using silly gestures up until this point.  The thought of that makes me smile.

I have to wonder what goes through his head, and what has brought him full circle, to finally start signing back to us.  The last couple days his signing vocabulary has exploded, and every day he picks up on new signs.

We keep busy with supports in our area, plus being around other families that use sign language.  It helps immensely for the kids to see others using the same language.  Not just the members of their families.

If you are in a child's circle, speaking specifically about that child's needs, you need to acquire a way to fully support that child.  Whether it be using their language, helping their family find resources, or just to be understanding, without passing judgement.

What can you do to support a child who has a different language than your own?  The first thing is to check out Youtube, or Library resources.  Every little bit that you learn, and use with them does not go unnoticed.

How do you feel when someone starts a conversation with you, especially on something positive they notice about you?  You feel pretty ecstatic, right?  Please take the time to learn one new word a day.  You'll be happy you did when the next little one you sign to brightens at seeing someone else speaking their language.

Thank you for reading!

Pros and Cons

There's days, and times as a parent you wish you could go back to.  Before everything gets hard.  This picture is from a time when it was just the two oldest.  Don't get me wrong, there were tough days then already, but that was before school.  Before everything started needing labels.

Those days were spent exploring, reading, learning to share, and be kind to each other, among other things.  We talked about differences, and how those little boys were so very unique because they had two languages.  We worked on our signs, and did as much as we knew how.

Starting school this past fall was especially heartbreaking for this momma.  I knew that their differences would be picked up, and they would struggle to fit into the schedules, structure, and social aspects behind those brick walls.

I'm left toying with the idea these last couple weeks of sending them to another school out of the their district.  That would mean more travel, early rise times, less time spent with them, etc.  The oldest is having social issues with his peers, and really seems to be struggling in that regards.  He is also starting to struggle with his identity.

He is now six years old, and up to this point has been considered Oral, or having good hearing.  I think he is feeling the most shock with the news.  He doesn't want an FM system, or hearing aids.  However, his hearing loss could have an impact on his education, as it would leave him missing out on information.

I always want what's best for my children, and that's what becomes the most upsetting as I sit and think at night, while they're sleeping.  How can I make that happen?  What does that really mean?

Would this transfer to a new school be the best thing for them?  They provide interpreters, and the extra help that a Hard-of-hearing or Deaf child would need, as well as having others there just like them.  Children going through the same struggles, or rather growing up and having more power to be proud of who they are, instead of singled out.

Staying in the district that they're in now would be so incredibly draining, as everything will come with a fight, but let me tell you, SO worth it.  Staying and fighting would also mean paving the way for other families in the area.

The pros and cons are just beginning, and I don't plan on making a decision before the end of the school year.  Hopefully by next year my feet will be more steady, and ready to forge ahead.

Thank you for reading, and if you have ever been in this situation, what are some tips you would give a parent?

The Start

Introduction:

My husband and I both having hearing loss, and met one summer when both of us worked at the same place. He is Deaf, and I, hard-of-hearing.  The loss has created a unique dynamic in our home, as I essentially had to learn American Sign Language (ASL).  This has been a long journey, and one that we are still working on.

Our three boys each have a varying degree of hearing loss. Our oldest, was recently diagnosed, and he poses the most struggle with it.  He's scared about what it means, and the changes that he'll have to deal with because of it.

He's more than halfway through Kindergarten, and has already had to deal with the struggle of fitting in, and bullying.  He feels this will be another thing to add to the difference between him, and his peers.  As a mother, this makes me sad.  He is a bright child, with so much to offer.

His loss is not that severe, but it poses the risk of putting him behind in school.

The yellow area is called the speech banana.  I mapped out his audiogram on this sheet I printed out, just because I was curious to see where he fell. Based on this he is missing sounds that will help with learning to read (sounding out words), following directions from his teacher, as well as his peers.  This is so important for me to know, as his mother because we are putting together an IEP for him.  The information allows me to make decisions about what we can do for him, when it comes to the classroom, and his learning.

Our second child was diagnosed fairly soon after birth.  He failed his hearing test at birth, and we were referred to an Audiologist to have his hearing tested.

When we went in for that test they did ABR on him.  It showed quite a significant loss in both ears, and he was fitted for hearing aids.

The above picture is the Audiogram that I mapped out for him.

We struggled through his IEP (this will have to be another post entirely), as we had no clue what to expect, or what we could ask for.  We're learning, and moving forward from our mistakes.

He is currently receiving Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, DHH, and regular ED.  He's only in 4K, and his days are busy!

The baby of the family failed his hearing test at birth as well, and we were once again referred to audiology.  His path has been a struggle to get the right audiologist to actually do the testing.  He's going on two, and we have finally received confirmation that he is Deaf.

Did not map out his audiogram because it's basically a flat line way at the bottom of the chart.  Nothing was picked up.

There is SO much to share, about each individual, and their struggles, but I think it would be best to write a post relating to only one at a time.

Thank you for reading.