My first experience with hearing loss occurred in kindergarten. When the teacher asked the class to listen to and respond to questions through headphones, all I heard through them was garbled speech. The audiologist later told my parents that I could hear normally, but that I just needed to pay attention. From the age … Continue reading
Filed under special needs child …
One Thing I Would Have Changed About School
Even though my hearing loss wasn’t diagnosed until I was 27, I remember having difficulty hearing as a child. In grade school, I struggled to hear lessons via headphones. When an audiologist tested my hearing, he told my parents I had normal hearing but had trouble paying attention. A second opinion was not sought. I … Continue reading
Helpers with Paws: A Closer Look at Dogs for the Deaf
As an adult, all of my pets have been rescue dogs. They included long-haired chihuahua ‘Shorty’ (1996-2000), Japanese Chin ‘Sammy’ (1998-2008), and cocker spaniel ‘Jake’ (2005-and still going strong). Although not specially trained, they have helped alert me to these noises around my house that I couldn’t hear because of my progressive hearing loss: knocking … Continue reading
What Causes Childhood Deafness and How Does It Affect Parents?
Zoey is a sweet baby girl who just began wearing hearing aids. Her father recently shared her heartwarming story with Lipreading Mom.com. This Is My Daughter – By Kyle Zentzer Zoey was born October 11, 2012. From the very beginning, Zoey never passed her hearing screening at the hospital. Finally after her first sedated Bear … Continue reading
Are You Bullied Because of Your Hearing Loss?
In my soon-to-be-published memoir, Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, I encountered someone who wasn’t too kind about my hearing loss… As we drove away from the church, I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds. With the window cracked, I heard moving cars coming from the nearby highway. That sound had been deaf … Continue reading
This Adorable Toddler Models His Cochlear Implant for Show Me Your Ears
Jaxson’s mom, Summer, blogs about her son’s journey through premature delivery and profound hearing loss. This is one of her posts, titled “You Are Perfect.” You Are Perfect – By Jaxson’s Mom You are a miracle, perfect in every way and stronger than any of us expected you to be under the circumstances. You have … Continue reading
My Whirlwind Day of Sign Language, Storytelling…and Dead Hearing Aid Batteries
I took part this past weekend in the KC Ability Expo, an event in my area that promotes understanding of differently abled individuals and support organizations. The annual fest features info booths, artists, wheelchair dancers, a Deaf choir, and other entertainment. As a second-year Expo volunteer, I split duties between helping with a Hearing Loss … Continue reading
Check Out This Pretty Girl’s (and Her Bear Friend’s) Ears
By now, you should know about the Show Me Your Ears Campaign to Promote Deaf and Hearing Loss Awareness. If not, I encourage you to check out the official page, then keep reading on… Young Kiersta was 16 months old when she received a cochlear implant called the Med EL Opus 2. Currently, Kiersta is … Continue reading
Why Can’t This Young Boy Sign His Name at School?
I was shocked to read that a 3-year-old boy in Nebraska has been denied the right to use his sign language name at school. Below is the entire article by Steve Ross with 1011now.com. It is Lipreading Mom’s conviction that children with deafness or hearing loss should be allowed to use the communication method that … Continue reading
How Hearing Loss Made Me More Compassionate – By Elise Bateman
Lipreading Mom Note: Going to college can be stressful, so imagine heading there with a new hearing loss. Elise Bateman was that student. Her story of grieving the loss of her hearing ends on a happy note. Through grief, she found the ability to help others. Elise’s Story Four and a half years ago, I … Continue reading
