“Hearing Loss In The Family”

Thought this was interesting…  and worth sharing:

Documentary video about hearing loss in the family

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=440288214442594246&hl=en&fs=true

Hearing Loss Effects, Difficulties, and Stats – Oh My!

I research and read a lot about hearing loss, and frequently see lists stating what the “common effects of hearing loss” are for children…  or what to expect if your child has hearing loss..  or common symptoms or ways to detect if a child has hearing loss.  I’ve read about studies proving how high percentages of kids who have hearing loss will often face many difficulties with this, that and the other thing.   It’s not something that is easy to swallow – especially when you first learn your child has a hearing loss. 

I remember reading many of these articles and feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach.  Was my child going to have these problems? Just how bad IS this “mild to moderate” hearing loss anyway?”  How can “mild” be so bad?  

Mother’s Guilt…

As a mother, I think feeling guilty often comes with the territory.  When dealing with discovering your child has a hearing loss - and you didn’t even know it  for some time – these feelings can often surge up to al all time high.  At least they did for me back in 2001, when we realized AC had a hearing loss. 

As I mention on the “background page“, AC was probably born with mild/mod hearing loss, but, we didn’t know it until he was 4 years old.  Once we were LOOKING for it, there were signs everywhere…  but, up until that point, we really had NO clue. 

This is an email I found that I had written to a friend back then…  I thought

Is Child with Passing Grades Eligible for Special Ed Under IDEA?

I wanted to share this blog entry from The Wrightslaw Way Blog…  since it seems to be a reoccurring issue… and that is that kids do NOT need to be failing their classes BEFORE they qualify for IEP or 504 plans…

check it out: 

Is Child with Passing Grades Eligible for Special Ed Under IDEA?

“They say he is not eligible because he does not have failing grades. Is this correct?

Nope. The law says just the opposite . . .”

Read more

 

What Does a Hearing Loss Sound Like?

Interesting…  and really shows what an impact background noise has on moderate hearing loss.  I give my son (and anyone else with mild/mod hearing loss) a lot of credit for dealing with this on a regular basis… 

From:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/topics/hearingloss/hlsoundslke.htm

Normal hearing

Moderate hearing loss

 

Normal hearing with background noise

 

Moderate hearing loss with background noise

 

Finding help… and friends… (who can relate to mild/moderate hearing loss)

I’ve been so busy lately, and AC has been doing so well, that it’s been easy to forget about updating this blog.  Yet, every once in a while… something, or some ONE, reminds me of why I started this blog a few years back.  This is what happened just recently when I received an email from a woman who had found this blog, and she could relate to much of it. 

Her son is now in third grade, has mild/moderate hearing loss, has not had an IEP or 504 – and didn’t seem to need one.. until now.  And, now the school is telling her he doesn’t qualify, because he isn’t failing anything…  and, that his “problems” are “behavioral” and not “hearing loss related”.  

That’s Just the Way We Hear…

This is great.  Thanks to Paula’s Facebook page and “HearingExchange” for leading me to this great website and video…

From: http://www.dosomething.org/bands/entry/sophies-tales

 

Check it out! =)

AC, ASL & Eyeth Day

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here.  Life has been crazy… but, good.    AC is finishing up 6th grade, his first year of middle school.  He’s done remarkably well.  We had his 504 plan meeting last week, and basically will just repeat it for next year.  The main thing it entails really is the use of the FM system, and some basic consideration.  Right now, it seems that is meeting his needs.  AC actually won 2 awards last week at the awards ceremony – one for being on high honor roll with distinction all year, AND the other was a math award.  We’re very proud of him. 

Next year, he will be in 7th grade, and take ASL (American Sign Language) as his foreign language.  He’s looking forward to that.  I just finished up a little beginner ASL class for staff where I work.  I learned a lot, but feel like I have so much to learn.  ASL, and the Deaf culture in general, are

Walk4Hearing – Coming up!

So, the other day I received an email about the Walk4Hearing coming up soon, on Sunday May 3rd. This will be the 3rd annual Walk4Hearing, sponsored by the Hearing Loss Association of America (Rochester chapter), and I’m really looking forward to it.  We will join Katy’s team, with her daughter Rory.  If anyone can participate, sponsor, or donate – please click here.   

The person who emailed me, Katy, is the same person my husband approached out of the blue while they were waiting in line at the Planetarium in 2005.  I briefly mention

ASL as “Foreign Language” for Hard of Hearing Children

Apparently, ASL (American Sign Language) is a very popular choice for kids to take at my son’s public school as their “Foreign Language”.  So popular, that they do not guarantee any child can take it.  

My son, AC , is in 6th grade now and mainstreamed.  His school recently sent home a standard form for kids/parents to state preferences for class choices for next year.  They made it clear to pick more than one option for Foreign Language, as there were no guarantee’s to get into your first choice.  ASL is one of the most popular choices.  A separate topic all together I’d like to explore more sometime…

We really wanted our son, AC, to take ASL as his “foreign language” next year since he’s hard of hearing.  Is just makes sense and seems like an obvious placement for him, right?  I mean, it’s not like he just WANTS to take ASL for the fun of it (although he does really want to take it, and thinks it will be fun).  He has obvious good reasons for taking ASL rather than Italian or French, right?  Well, like many things, I’ve learned that when you are dealing with a ”mild-moderate” hearing loss – not much is obvious. 

So, the school asked me to put in writing my request explaining why I was so adamant about him taking ASL,  and return it with the form – and they would do their best to accommodate.  So, here’s my letter and top reasons on WHY I think my son, or really any hard of hearing child, should take ASL for their Foreign Language…

Hello XXXXXX,

I’m writing this letter regarding my son, AC, and his language preference for 7th grade. I understand that students will not necessarily get into the language preference that they want, and that is going to be assigned. I’m requesting that, if at ALL possible, AC be placed in ASL for his language due to the fact that he is hearing impaired.

As you know, AC has a mild/moderate bilateral hearing loss. He wears hearing aids, and is using the FM system in school. He’s having great success so far this year and we are thrilled with his progress. We look forward to his continuing in accelerated courses next year. Because of his hearing impairment, ASL would be the logical, most beneficial, and possibly essential, language for him to learn. I would really appreciate it if you would consider the following reasons/explanations for this request.

1) AC’s hearing loss could be progressive, and should he ever lose more of his hearing (which we hope will never happen – but is impossible to know for sure) he could really use adequate ASL skills in order