Can You Hear Me Now?
The day will always be etched into my mind – Tuesday, December 19, 2017. It was less than a week before Christmas and I was in full holiday mode. We had an early morning appointment with the Otolaryngology Department at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) for my 7 year old son Aidan. For a few months leading up to this appointment, Aidan would mention in passing that it felt like his right ear was clogged. Each time I made an appointment at the pediatrician’s office and each time we were told it was nothing to be concerned about. So we took the proper precautions to try and open his hearing. While he first said it helped a bit we were not a 100% sure.
Aidan had failed his 6 year old hearing test as well as his 7 year old test. His doctor immediately told us to see an Otolaryngologist. After a round of hearing tests, it was confirmed he had profound to severe hearing loss in his right ear. Questions were immediately starting to form: Why Aidan? Why now? Was he born this way? Was this related to something else? Was this just a temporary thing? The next moment, we were flooded with doctors’ appointments to find out the source and what our next step would be. Aidan, on the other hand, took the news with grace (he was also happy to miss a day of school!).
After coming to terms with his diagnosis, we started making appointments and jumping head first into researching the how’s, why’s, and what’s nexts. We could make adjustments at home to help him more, but what about school or any public environment, especially walking down a street? Things I never really had to consider are now things that I am constantly aware of and work on finding solutions to so that Aidan is confident in his surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, he is a strong willed 8 year old boy. He knows when to ask for help and is not afraid to ask for it. He lets people know which is his good side and which is his bad. And, just like many 8 year olds, he can also have selective hearing - especially when it comes to listening to his mother!
Helping him in the long run, especially in school, was something we had to take care of immediately. To help in a classroom setting, Aidan utilizes a stationary FM system that sits next to his desk. Another tool is his personal FM system, which looks just like a hearing aid but works as an amplifier. In addition, we have a 504 in place for him as well as an IEP (Individualized Education Program). The 504 plan helps him get the tools and accommodations he needs since he is hard-of-hearing. The IEP helps with ADHD, which children with hearing loss can experience. Because of our diligence in getting things done in a timely manner, Aidan now has the tools and resources he needs to succeed in school.
This is just a shortened version of what we have gone through in the past year and a half. It is something I am constantly learning and growing from. If I could take the hearing loss away from Aidan I would, but since that cannot be, I do the next best thing and help him succeed. I know I am not alone on this ride, and as long as I know where to look, I can find an abundance of readily available resources. The library is always the best place to start! The books listed below are filled with great information and also provide insight into what a child might be feeling. The websites and databases are great resources, providing the most up-to-date information.
Raising and Educating a Deaf Child: A Comprehensive Guide to the Choices, Controversies, and Decisions Faced by Parents and Educators by Marc Marschark
You and Your Deaf Child: A Self-help Guide for Parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children by John W. Adams
Aidan had failed his 6 year old hearing test as well as his 7 year old test. His doctor immediately told us to see an Otolaryngologist. After a round of hearing tests, it was confirmed he had profound to severe hearing loss in his right ear. Questions were immediately starting to form: Why Aidan? Why now? Was he born this way? Was this related to something else? Was this just a temporary thing? The next moment, we were flooded with doctors’ appointments to find out the source and what our next step would be. Aidan, on the other hand, took the news with grace (he was also happy to miss a day of school!).
After coming to terms with his diagnosis, we started making appointments and jumping head first into researching the how’s, why’s, and what’s nexts. We could make adjustments at home to help him more, but what about school or any public environment, especially walking down a street? Things I never really had to consider are now things that I am constantly aware of and work on finding solutions to so that Aidan is confident in his surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, he is a strong willed 8 year old boy. He knows when to ask for help and is not afraid to ask for it. He lets people know which is his good side and which is his bad. And, just like many 8 year olds, he can also have selective hearing - especially when it comes to listening to his mother!
Helping him in the long run, especially in school, was something we had to take care of immediately. To help in a classroom setting, Aidan utilizes a stationary FM system that sits next to his desk. Another tool is his personal FM system, which looks just like a hearing aid but works as an amplifier. In addition, we have a 504 in place for him as well as an IEP (Individualized Education Program). The 504 plan helps him get the tools and accommodations he needs since he is hard-of-hearing. The IEP helps with ADHD, which children with hearing loss can experience. Because of our diligence in getting things done in a timely manner, Aidan now has the tools and resources he needs to succeed in school.
This is just a shortened version of what we have gone through in the past year and a half. It is something I am constantly learning and growing from. If I could take the hearing loss away from Aidan I would, but since that cannot be, I do the next best thing and help him succeed. I know I am not alone on this ride, and as long as I know where to look, I can find an abundance of readily available resources. The library is always the best place to start! The books listed below are filled with great information and also provide insight into what a child might be feeling. The websites and databases are great resources, providing the most up-to-date information.
Books:
Raising and Educating a Deaf Child: A Comprehensive Guide to the Choices, Controversies, and Decisions Faced by Parents and Educators by Marc Marschark
You and Your Deaf Child: A Self-help Guide for Parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children by John W. Adams
Websites:
Each one of their departments is well staffed and can offer a plethora of information.
For those looking for support or advice for children who are experiencing hearing loss, this is a great site to visit.
Phonak is just one of the companies that offer hearing devices. From FM Systems (both stationary and portable) to hearing aids.
Databases:
• Databases are available everywhere, both in the library and at home. Go to www.mcl.org and click on the “Databases” tab. You may then sort the list by the subject “health and medicine” and type “subscription databases.”
– Dana Sessa, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
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