Deaf 3yr old w/cochlear AND hearing aid.. help :(

Hazel - posted on 03/04/2012

My son is going through exactly the same thing he is getting his good ear done with cochlear implants in 3 days my whole family is very nervous. On his left ear which is the one with only 15% of hearing will remain with his hearing aid. I was wondering how ur child was doing? And if they eventually did the other ear?

Ann - posted on 07/21/2011

Sue - I am in Louisville, Kentucky. We have a new-ish chapter in Kentucky and I recently attended the national Hands & Voice conference in Portland, Maine. I LOVE Hands & Voices! Their mantra of "what works for your child is what makes the choice right" has been such a breath of fresh air throughout this experience. They have been a huge support for our family. I was recently trained to be a parent guide for their Guide By Your Side Program. I strongly encourage any parent who has a deaf/hh child to look into whether there is a chapter in your state.

Eileen - posted on 07/16/2011

hi...my daughter got her c.i. when she was 5, she's 18 now and is doing just great !! she only got 1 implant and wasn't wearing an aid, just her implant..her speech is good, it was a lot of hard work but well worth it...good luck and enjoy it along with your son as he exlpores and hears new sounds...

Debbi - posted on 07/12/2011

My daughter is 3, and she was born deaf. She got her hearing aids at 8 months old and is getting her first cochlear in about 30 hours and I'm scared but I am trying to do what is best for her. She only has 10% hearing in each ear. They want to do one ear at a time and say if it is all good they want to do the other ear in 3 months! So she will have a cochlear and a hearing aid for now and maybe for awhile depending on what they decide but it was nice to be able to read that there are others with the same concerns and a similar situation as my daughter! She has a few words right now but not many and only a few signs too! She has had speech therapy since she was 10 months old and still only has a handful of words and some are her own made up ones! The signs she has were just because we had to have a way to communicate some how just for some basic needs because she has no words for eat or drink or even sleep! I really have nothing helpful for you but I am just about to be going thru the same thing and it is nice to know I am not the only one and there are others with the same concerns as me!

Sue - posted on 04/20/2011

Hi Ann,
Where abouts are you that you know about Hands and Voices??? I was a member/ and on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Chapter,
Isnt is a wonderful group??
good luck
sue

Sandra - posted on 04/19/2011

My daughter is hearing impaired as well. Apparently from birth but it was not diagnosed until 20 months when we got her (we adopted her). Andrea does not have cochlear implants but she does wear one hearing aid on the right. The other ear has enough hearing to not warrant a 2nd aid. Hope I can answer some of the concerns you are having with just one. Andrea does experience balance problems due to one aid but generally she does well. She is 7 now but has been wearing her aid since just over 2 1/2. She did not start talking much until Christmas when she was 3 and she slowly progressed from there. She now talks well for the most part. She still sees speech therapy twice a month but is doing well. She has learned to compensate for the balance issues. My advise to you is to be patient. Your child will blossom one day and start talking (then you can't get a word in edgewise!). Good luck.

Sue - posted on 04/18/2011

how wonderful. Good luck. You might want to check out that web site that I told you about if you havent already.
Take care

Kelly - posted on 04/18/2011

Thanks everyone! Isaiah's cochlear is now turned on & I can already tell a little difference! He heared the microwave ding for the first time, and it was soo exciting! He is seeing a speech therapist a couple times a week & in school also! We have a long road ahead of us, but it will all be worth it!

Sue - posted on 04/13/2011

Kelly, I dont know where you are, but I was involved with a non profit organization in Denver, and its called Colorado Families for Hands and Voices. They are now almost nation wide, and you might want to check out their website. HandsandVoices.org. There is alot of awesome information and alot of help. They help those parents with children that are deaf, hard of hearing and also other issues.
My son was diagnosed with adhd, and a 72% hearing loss all at the age of 3. Hes now 20, and has over come the adhd, but still has some of it, and his ear is now at 92%. It doesnt stop him. Mark hasnt had implants, or hearing aids. We had to put him up close to the teachers, and face him towards the teachers on his right side that is the good ear. We went thru alot with him tho.
The doctors insisted on hearing aids, etc, and we knew that it wouldnt do him any good, and he wasnt good with changes at that age and thru school, but hes alot better now.
I wouldnt worry about the implants, and the things that you are facing.
I know you are facing some really tough challenges but you WILL get thru it.
There is always light at the end of that tunnel. Believe me!!!
Good Luck,
Hope I have helped somewhat.
Sue

Annette - posted on 04/13/2011

Hello Kelly. I have a son who is now 13, but was implanted on the RT side only. At that time only one side was done. His LT ear has profound hearing loss; no aid. Be patient, your right you do have a lot of appointments ahead of you; Speech therapy, mappings, etc. When it came time for kindergarten, my school district did not have a hearing impaired classroom. They were obligated by law to find him one and transport him there. Luckily there were two~one 20 miles north and one 20 miles south. I choose the latter. He attended that school from K to 5th grade. He was mainstreamed gradually each year, had an interpreter also in the mainstreamed classes. By sixth grade he returned to home school district and entered middle school. He only uses and interpreter in the classrooms, but does have two learning support classes. He is now in 7th grade. Wanted to give you this background to let you know what he has gone through. Tharon speaks 'normally', like a hearing child. He pronounces words out if he doesn't know, (even does this without his processor on), and uses little sign except in school. But does love it when meeting someone who is deaf so he can sign. Not to brag but I also want to let you know that his grades are wonderful as well. Great speller, and since attending middle school for two years now, he has been on honor roll at least 3 of the 4 quarters each year. Time, time, time, and lots of work on your part. Work with him at home, check out your local IU for additional therapies, when in school the district should provide speech therapy as well as your therapy at the IU. You have to teach him what sounds he hears, the people he sees, identify all objects. Give all objects meaning. Involve your whole family; he will understand all he hears and communicates. Give it time and constantly work with your son. Best of Luck. Annette

Annette - posted on 04/13/2011

Hello Kelly. I have a son who is now 13, but was implanted on the RT side only. At that time only one side was done. His LT ear has profound hearing loss; no aid. Be patient, your right you do have a lot of appointments ahead of you; Speech therapy, mappings, etc. When it came time for kindergarten, my school district did not have a hearing impaired classroom. They were obligated by law to find him one and transport him there. Luckily there were two~one 20 miles north and one 20 miles south. I choose the latter. He attended that school from K to 5th grade. He was mainstreamed gradually each year, had an interpreter also in the mainstreamed classes. By sixth grade he returned to home school district and entered middle school. He only uses and interpreter in the classrooms, but does have two learning support classes. He is now in 7th grade. Wanted to give you this background to let you know what he has gone through. Tharon speaks 'normally', like a hearing child. He pronounces words out if he doesn't know, (even does this without his processor on), and uses little sign except in school. But does love it when meeting someone who is deaf so he can sign. Not to brag but I also want to let you know that his grades are wonderful as well. Great speller, and since attending middle school for two years now, he has been on honor roll at least 3 of the 4 quarters each year. Time, time, time, and lots of work on your part. Work with him at home, check out your local IU for additional therapies, when in school the district should provide speech therapy as well as your therapy at the IU. You have to teach him what sounds he hears, the people he sees, identify all objects. Give all objects meaning. Involve your whole family; he will understand all he hears and communicates. Give it time and constantly work with your son. Best of Luck. Annette

Sarah - posted on 04/12/2011

My son was implanted with two cochlears when he was 7 months. He will be three next month and we have had a long road to travel. He is also not talking, but babbling and he is signing also. It is hard when the other children around him ARE in kinder and talking, etc. I am a special ed teacher and hard still even when I know what to do. I have learned that each child is different and as long as you expose your child to as many different things he will do well. If you have not tried Signing Time that helps a lot. Good luck to you and your son.

Ann - posted on 04/12/2011

My son has a severe hearing loss but is not a candidate for a cochlear implant. However he attends a school for deaf/hh kids and there a lot of kiddos there with implants. Almost all of the children have only a single implant. Most were implanted younger than3, but not all of them. Like someone else said, it is going to be a lot of work, but being aided and implanted can be an ideal situation and with good intervention he can be a successful communicator. I would encourage you to visit http://www.handsandvoices.org/index.htm their site has tons of great info. You might even see if there is a local chapter. Hang in there and good luck! He is lucky to have such a supportive and caring mom. :)

Debbi - posted on 04/12/2011

Our son got his implant in June and turned 3 in August. He is 11 now and talks ALL the time. He doesn't even really use sign much anymore, he has taught himself to read lips when he isn't on the air.

Tonia - posted on 04/12/2011

It's really tough waiting for results! I have heard many stories about kids implanted much later than 3 having a ton of success! If you are not already on cicircle.org for resources and support, you should check it out!

Tonia Rowe
www.rowefamilyadventures.blogspot.com

Krista - posted on 04/07/2011

Hi Kelly. I don't have special needs children, but joined just to answer your question.

My half-brother got a cochlear implant at age 20.

Prior to that, he had been 100% deaf in one ear, and mostly deaf in the other. He got by with one hearing aid. But an ear infection destroyed the rest of his hearing. So he got the implant and is now doing wonderfully.

I think the key to his success was his mom -- she's a teacher for the deaf, and she worked very diligently with him to help him learn how to properly enunciate his words, instead of that back-of-the-throat sound that many deaf speakers have.

From what I know of implants, I think that he will actually BENEFIT from having the hearing aid and the implant.

The implant works by providing electrical stimulation to the nerves in your brain. So let's say for example you see a dog barking. Your brain receives electrical impulses from the implant. And your brain then translates that into sound.

Where your son has a hearing aid, he'll actually have a bit of an advantage, I think. So let's say he sees that dog. His hearing aid ear will hear the dog as it ACTUALLY sounds.
His implant ear will send impulses to the brain. His brain will KNOW what a dog is supposed to sound like, because it's receiving those signals from his other ear. So then his brain will more readily interpret those new electrical signals and translate them as "Woof woof!"

That's why, when my brother lost his hearing, they fast-tracked him for his implant, because it is much easier for your brain to translate those electrical impulses into sound, if it knows what things are SUPPOSED to sound like.

You are still in for a lot of work, but I'm sure he'll get by just fine. Good luck!!!

Krista - posted on 04/07/2011

Hi Kelly. I don't have special needs children, but joined just to answer your question.

My half-brother got a cochlear implant at age 20.

Prior to that, he had been 100% deaf in one ear, and mostly deaf in the other. He got by with one hearing aid. But an ear infection destroyed the rest of his hearing. So he got the implant and is now doing wonderfully.

I think the key to his success was his mom -- she's a teacher for the deaf, and she worked very diligently with him to help him learn how to properly enunciate his words, instead of that back-of-the-throat sound that many deaf speakers have.

From what I know of implants, I think that he will actually BENEFIT from having the hearing aid and the implant.

The implant works by providing electrical stimulation to the nerves in your brain. So let's say for example you see a dog barking. Your brain receives electrical impulses from the implant. And your brain then translates that into sound.

Where your son has a hearing aid, he'll actually have a bit of an advantage, I think. So let's say he sees that dog. His hearing aid ear will hear the dog as it ACTUALLY sounds.
His implant ear will send impulses to the brain. His brain will KNOW what a dog is supposed to sound like, because it's receiving those signals from his other ear. So then his brain will more readily interpret those new electrical signals and translate them as "Woof woof!"

That's why, when my brother lost his hearing, they fast-tracked him for his implant, because it is much easier for your brain to translate those electrical impulses into sound, if it knows what things are SUPPOSED to sound like.

You are still in for a lot of work, but I'm sure he'll get by just fine. Good luck!!!

Meg - posted on 04/07/2011

Know that he has implant and a hearing aid, he is now ready to learn speech. Most of us (and kids) pick it up from our environment. Do the same things you would do if he was younger. Label things, respond to his expressive communication giving him the words, read to him. Also bring him to play groups and activities. Talk to the audiologist about getting spech therapy too. Work with therapists and doctors to maximize,

Meg - posted on 04/07/2011

Know that he has implant and a hearing aid, he is now ready to learn speech. Most of us (and kids) pick it up from our environment. Do the same things you would do if he was younger. Label things, respond to his expressive communication giving him the words, read to him. Also bring him to play groups and activities. Talk to the audiologist about getting spech therapy too. Work with therapists and doctors to maximize,

Virginia - posted on 04/07/2011

My kids were later implantees (with one implant each) and they do talk---but I'm not sure they would have without cued speech. Please consider using it as your child develops his language. www.cuedspeech.org

Karen - posted on 04/07/2011

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You have the community to help you raise funds, but stem cells really work . chat soon.karen