Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Welcoming input & experiences


So basically I'm still sitting on the CI fence. I have been back & forth for weeks now. Last week after looking back over Savannahs Aided Audio gram, i had noticed & realized that her moderate ear (the "good" ear as we like to call it) does hear all speech sounds UNTILL the 4000Hz where she doesn't start hearing until 45db.
To me i had never thought anything of it to be honest until our speech coordinator pointed out that Savannah is clearing missing hearing the "f" & "Th" sounds which sit at 30db on the 4000hz.
How could i have missed this??? How on earth did the implant clinic send me away when my daughter isn't hearing everything
she needs?????
Apparently i was informed that these speech sounds can be made even if a child isn't hearing them?? (would love some clarification here)
I am starting to wonder if I'm actually being pushed aside with bogus information or if this is actually correct?
Can a child that CANNOT hear the "f" & "Th" Sounds truly be able to speak & learn speech??
As i have said before my daughter is deaf regardless of Ha's or not, she was born deaf & will always be deaf BUT why on earth is she not a candidate??
Before i go back to our Audi on Sept 1st I need to get some more info & feedback I would like to welcome ANYONE who is willing to share any experience with both Ha's & Implants that understands what I'm saying, or wears Ha's & is not able to hear some of the speech on the 4000Hz.
Are these as important as i think they are? Will this hinder my child? Remembering that my daughter is profoundly deaf on her right ear.
Thanks :)


Tuesday, August 2, 2011



Excuse all the background noise. there was quite a few people watching her when it was filmed lol

Is it ever enough.

Yep that's me this last few weeks. Is it ever enough with what I'm doing with Savannah?? Why doesn't she say more for a 16mth old? Are the HA's really working? Would the CI really help her & make a difference? I don't know if it is ever enough what i do :(
The reason i started thinking about this more was because Ive seen first hand children that have CI's are just amazing. Talk normal, hear amazing & are doing wonderfully. In all reality Savannah is profoundly deaf in her Right ear. Yes the hearing aide is helping BUT its not giving her the speech she will need. So to have her rely on her left ear solely is alot to ask.
Your probably asking Why have i started doubting myself & Savannah so much? Well simply because I don't know if shes progressing now like she should be. I was asked by a mother the other day who's daughter has Bilateral CI's why Savannah has not been implanted in her right ear? I kind of looked dumbfounded at her, but in all reality i had asked this question over & over myself. The only answer i could give was that the implant clinic no longer holds her as a candidate because her left ear is "to good." the lady looked at me with this WOW face, then proceeded to tell me that they most likely are not implanting her because it costs too much. Then she proceeded to continue to tell me that having 2 ears that can hear would be better than having 1 decent & 1 not so great ear.
Is she right? Most definitely.
I feel like the road is getting bumpier & bumpier & bumpier. The money is most definitely the main factor as to why the wont implant her. But what upsets me is, am i holding her back from having the best? If she had the 2 ears would this help her more?I know children with hearing loss should not be compared, BUT when you see children that are doing so much better at the same age, it makes you wonder.
Did i do the right thing with the Implant? Should i have fought harder for her to have a CI?
When does this get easier?
The questions, the worry the wonder... I just don't know where I'm at these days.
It could be alot worse..yes i know i need to tell myself this constantly.
But shes my little girl & all i want is the best for her...whatever that may be.......