Sign Language

[Gwendolyn]

I just wanted to share. DS is deaf in one ear. We've (I've) had a hard time convincing doctors that he needs a hearing aid and speech therapy. We have finally gotten started and Tuesday was our first day in a sign communication group. Yesterday I had my first once-a-month family education meeting and I learned a great deal. Already DS is asking for things using signs instead of saying something I can't understand while pointing and then degenerating into whining and frustration. He knew some basic signs, but we are getting more complicated ones and it is so freeing to communicate with my son at a "normal" level while we work on his spoken language. We get a hearing aid in a month and then it will get even better!! I am very excited.

[DCJenn]

that's awesome. I'm sure the level of frustration you both have been dealing with will disappear somewhat.

It's amazing to see people find a way to communicate that works! You can SEE the lightbulbs come on.

Jenn

[Vanquisher]

My ds is also deaf in one ear. He wears a hearing aid. His other ear has completely normal hearing. My son does not sign. We were unaware of his deafness until he was 4 becasue he compensated so well. He has now officially been released from speech therapy. Good for you for pushing for what your son needs.

Have you discovered the cause of his deafness? We had to have a bunch of test including a DNA test (for somthing I can't remember) and a CT scan to rule out vestibular acquiduct syndrome. He has neither, so we will probably never know what caused his deafness. All we do know is that it is a sensorineural loss.

I am paranoid about his "good ear." My ENT was really great and always let me bring him right in if he had an ear infection because we need to be vigilant in protecting the hearing that he does have.

My daughter tested normal at her newborn hearing screen. My son did too, however. It is thought though that he probably had the deafness since birth even though the test did not pick it up.

I think speech therapy and hearing aids are great idea! He may not even need sign if you can boost his language hearing a little in his bad ear. My son is profoundly deaf in some ranges, but has a tiny bit of midrange hearing that they are able to boost enough to at least compliment his other ear. I'm not saying that sign is a bad idea. Some would say it is because the child doesn't have to work on listening and hearing with the affected ear. I think signing is a great thing, but definitely look into hearing aids and speech therapy. It will help him so much.

There are still weird things that I deal with every day and new obstacles that we come across. For instance, one time my son put his hearing aid in his jeans pocket and my husband was doing laundry - never checks pockets - and the hearing aid was laundered. Needless to say, it stopped functioning entirely after that, but luckily it was covered under warranty. Keep pushing, mama!

[Gwendolyn]

It sounds like a similar situation. DS did not pass the hearing screening at birth. It did not take long to notice that one of his ears is small...microtia (I have no idea how to spell it). Our ENT in Phx was conservative in his approach. Just when it was becoming apparent to me that DS was not picking up the language he should be, it was time to move for residency. We were poised for a hearing aid in Phx, but when we moved I had to get all new doctors and by then, all new tests. We lost about 6-7 months, which I feel like is a long time for a two year old.

More than anything I am just delighted that the aid is on order and speech therapy is twice a week and the communication group is going well. There are some kids in the group with unilateral hearing loss with hearing aids. I hope that it will make it easier for him to transition to see other kids with the same equipment.

We have our CT scan next month to check for vestibular aqueduct syndrome and we have also done the full genetic work-up. Apparently it is just who he is. I am glad that we are on the road to making that the best possible situation for him.