GROWING UP HARD OF HEARING IN A HEARING WORLD

Thursday, November 22, 2012

I am thankful I can Hear..

It has been months since I blogged due to the new illness that is horrifying. After being diagnosed with cancer this took a toll on me. But, I have to say I am thankful for being able to hear with my processor. Having an interpreter at every appointment just so I dont miss out on something is amazing. Definitely a life saver. The best part is I dont even have to request the interpreters they knew since day one and the cancer center does it automatically for me. Thank Gosh. One less thing to worry about.

Hearing almost everything takes a huge load off me. TREMENDOUSLY. Especially since I go alone to these appointments. There are times I cannot use my processor and I end up having severe anxiety. But again thanks to interpreters it helps a lot.

I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving. I miss communicating with all of you and being up to date with all your awesome blogs. It has been awhile since blogging. I sure do miss it. I miss all my friends. But, I just have to focus on this right now.

Soon I hope to be back up and running again...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Hi Everyone!

Hi Everyone! I have been quite busy. Unfortunality, I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer this summer. I had to get surgery and will be starting radiation soon. I am okay just very exhausted. The one thing I am thankful for is my PROCESSOR. Hearing before surgery and having an interpreter by my side really made this easy. That was a big relief for me.

I wanted to share this article with you that irritated me. As a deaf individual, I am highly offended by this schools request. It is bad enough that those of us with a sever hearing loss struggle to communicate as it is. I am not the type to "sue" people but I would definitely sue this school for discrimination. Common like a 3 year old is a threat? Give me a break... UNREAL.
3-Year-Old Deaf Boy, Told By Preschool To Change Way He Signs His Name

I would love to know what you think about this article.

Honestly, I cannot believe summer is almost over. Time sure does fly by.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Your Child's Hearing

If you are you a parent of a child who is hard of hearing or Deaf, the most important thing you need to know is YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I am sure when you first heard the news it was overwhelming for you. I have to tell you in this world today we have such amazing technology. The best part about all this is you also have amazing support. There are tons of support groups. Support groups is something my parents NEVER HAD. They didn't know what to do for me because not one professional guided them the right way.

Thats why this post is important to me.

These two websites below will help you get a head start on your child's hearing loss.

My Baby's Hearing

Beginnings for parents of children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

There are support groups you can join. You can talk with other parents. There are a lot more support groups out there. I also know on face book there are many groups. The three support groups below are very well known. I know alot of people who are on them and find them to be helpful.

CIcircle

CIhear

learn2hear

If anyone knows of another support group please let me know and I will add it to this list. Thanks :)

American Girl Doll has hearing aids for their dolls

American Girl now has hearing aids for their dolls. Isn't this awesome? We have to get them to make one for cochlear implant recipients.

I love how American Girl not only has hearing aids for the dolls but other products such as no hair, wheelchairs etc. To bad we didn't have this stuff when we were younger. Oh how I wish I can be a kid all over again.

This is perfect if your child has hearing aids. She would love this!

Above click the link and it bring you right to the website. Scroll down and you will see hearing aids. Click on that and it will bring up a page.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Hearing the Ocean

The other night I went with my friend to the beach. Since I couldn't exercise I decided to go down by the water to hear the ocean for the first time. My entire life I wore hearing aids up until I couldnt benefit from them anymore. It's amazing that I can hear the ocean with my processor. I didnt have the opportunity to hear water growing up.

Hearing the ocean with my processor for the very first time was overwhelming for me. I didn't get the chance to do this last summer with my first implant because the implant failed.

At first the waves seemed so loud because I was standing right in the water. After a few minutes the water became so peaceful to me. I wanted to sit there all night.

I had the perfect night for this moment. There was a clear sky and full moon. I even took an eight minute video so I can listen to the waves over and over again. That night when I came home before bed I listened to the waves again.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

X- Ray's

Today, I had to get some X rays done of my spine, legs and neck. I was nervous to step foot into the X-Ray room with my processor on. I am aware that I can have x rays done just not MRI's.

The first thing I did was tell the technician I was deaf and without my implant I cannot hear. I also told her I cannot have MRI's. She even knew what a cochlear Implant was and new that I couldn't have MRI's. I was surprised.

For the first x-ray she told me to take off the processor. Then for the rest of the x rays I left my put processor on. This was nice to communicate with such ease when she was around the bend by the computer. I even hear the machine talking slowly saying " Breath in" " Breath out". I even heard a new sound today while she was moving the monitor I heard a beeping sound. Totally awesome. I will probably brag forever once again being able to hear saved my life because its one LESS thing I have to worry about.

Then I had to get more blood work done today. I heard this new sound. I cant explain it but when the technician put the needle in my arm and put the tube in. Thats what i heard the Tube making a clicking noise. Last Friday when I had blood work done I didnt hear that!

On top of a very very busy month with Dr.'s the best thing hearing is a little princess saying
"Aunt D I love you with all my heart" or " Aunt D I love you so much" as she squeezes my leg so tight.

Priceless!

Visit to my surgeons office

Yesterday I went into the city because I had an appointment with my surgeon. Remember the pain I was experiencing on my implant side as well as the other side of my head? I now have whats called TMJ syndrome. He also asked if I have trouble swallowing at night. Dr. A looked at my ear and asked if I had pain on the other side of my head too. The reason why I cannot sleep on my implant side is because of the TMJ. TMJ is flaring up. I have heard of TMJ years ago but I didn't know much about it until now.

Then Dr A. put his fingers in my mouth and it HURT! He saids that I have to go to the dentist and get a " Night Guard". This is something I am not going to want to do. The night guard will help with the pain. He also thinks that I grind my teeth. I honestly dont know if I do. To have some pain relief I have to take Advil every four hours.

I thought I was loosing my mind the last two months. My jaw has been hurting me as well. I didn't think anything of it because I have to many health issues. So its official I am not loosing my mind. Not yet at least.

He prescribed me some ear drops called Prednisolone because I told him my ears are so itchy. I also asked him about Genetic testing because I really want to find out why I was born hearing impaired. This is something I always wanted to do. I just didn't think that was possible.
My surgeon doesn't do genetic testing so he refereed me to someone I called today and the earliest appointment is August 15th. I'm looking forward to this because I want to know the " Real Story".

I hope everyone is having a good summer so far.

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