Summer Camp! (and another speech sample)

Ava has been spending a few weeks this summer doing full day camp programs.  She will be starting full day kindergarten this fall.  She has adjusted extremely well being away all day.  The last two weeks, she has been doing the gymnastics program.  She really loves it.  I keep her processors on using wig-tape and I secure her cables to her hair using little mini hair clips (the claw type ones with the spring).  Also, I screwed her magnets in a little closer to her head so that the  coils wouldn't pop off so easily.  This worked really well for her.  

I really love how they teach the kids new songs at camp.  In the past, when Ava would learn a new song at school, I would have to practice with her at home to make sure she has her articulation down pat.  She would often mispronounce some of the lyrics; especially new vocabulary.

Yesterday she came home from camp having learned the "Doggie Doggie Who's Got the Bone" song.   I was SO impressed that she learned the whole thing in one day.  With the exception of a couple of words, she did really well with it.  She was so dang cute I just have to share it with you!

Meeting Rachel!

Today was an extra special day for us, definitely one of the highlights of my year.

Let me tell you why.

Rachel and Ava

A few years ago,  while in the midst of shedding tears  trying to get my hands on ANYTHING I could find out about deafness and cochlear implants for Ava, who had just been diagnosed as profoundly deaf, I came across this amazing blog "Cochlearimplantonline.com".  The creator of that blog, is Rachel Chaikof.  Rachel is a young woman who is deaf and has bilateral cochlear implants.  She was implanted at the age of 3 in 1989 and was one of the first children to be implanted in the U.S.   Rachel is a success story.  She excelled in school, mastered the french language, received numerous academic awards, became a poster child for Better Hearing and Speech Month, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design and works as Community Engagement Manager for a company that provides an on-line platform for corporations managing community involvement.  You can read more about Rachel's accomplishments here.

Today, we were super excited because we got to meet Rachel in person.  My husband and I were in awe of her.  She is the whole package -  intelligent, articulate and beautiful.  My husband got to talk about US politics with her and I got to talk to her about FM systems, her experiences as a college student living in residence and learn things about the functions on Ava's processors that will come in handy when she is older.

And Ava, went to bed tonight, excitedly chatting about her afternoon with Rachel "who has CI's like me Mommy!"

Rachel, thank you from the bottom of our heart, for doing what you do. For reaching out to the 70,000 people per month who read your blog, a place where one can learn all he or she needs to know about  hearing loss and cochlear implants.  For your tireless efforts to spread awareness about hearing loss.  And especially for taking the time to meet Ava.  There really is no better role model, than you!



Ava has graduated from Pre School!

Ava graduated from Pre School yesterday! I can't believe the year is over.  She had a fantastic year at Silver Creek Pre School.  She met all of her language goals and we couldn't be more proud.  She blossomed socially and made a ton of friends.  She was so eager to participate in anything and everything, especially  "Show and Share".   She was always super excited to go to school each day.  

Ava receiving her diploma from her teachers Sueann and Tahlia

Earlier this week, I attended a Case Conference with the administrators of Ava's new school where she will be attending Kindergarten this September.  At this meeting, it was determined what supports Ava will receive at her new mainstream school.  She will receive a Soundfield system, weekly intervention with her d/hh itinerant teacher, in-service for the staff on cochlear implants,  her classroom will have the appropriate modifications made to reduce background noise such as hush ups on the chairs.  Her existing IEP will be carried through to the new school and adjusted in the fall.  While her articulation is improving, it is still not quite age-appropriate in terms of when she is speaking in sentences.  There is still work ahead of us in making sure she continues to progress with her language and not fall behind.  We will miss having her weekly TOD visits which were chock full of therapy.  In fact I plan to make an appointment with her auditory verbal therapist to have an assessment done to see exactly where she is at and from this arm ourselves with some goals to work on for the summer.  With our deaf kiddos, we always have to be on top of things and work ahead whenever possible as it is so easy for them to fall behind at school.

Attached is a video clip of Ava reading some words.  

Pensive Ava

Ava refuses to wear her CI's first thing in the morning.  Upon awakening, she wants to play a little by herself and eat breakfast in total silence.  During this time she becomes very pensive and deep in thought.  Shortly after she eats, she asks for her CI's and is ready to hear.  Hearing folks may not understand this. How could she not want to hear all the time? Why does she do this?  I'll tell you.  Having that ability to choose not to hear is bliss.  I love taking my out hearing aids at night, and sleeping in total silence.  I also, as a little girl, would not put my hearing aid in right away when I woke up, and would prefer to eat my cereal in silence.  It was my time to lose myself to my thoughts.  I was not ready to be bombarded with all the noise that my busy bustling household brought.  I'm telling you, the silence is so peaceful and relaxing. I love it.

Ava, I totally get it.

Social Interactions of Kids with hearing loss in School

My husband and I attended at lecture at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto last week.  The topic discussed was Social Interactions of Kids with Cochlear Implants in School. The guest speaker was Dr. Janet Jamieson, associate professor and director of the Program in Education for the deaf and hard of hearing at the University of British Colombia.  She has conducted extensive research on peer interaction among hard of hearing children and their hearing peers in elementary school.  Her research was designed to explore the challenges and coping skills of hard of hearing children (she stressed her research was in relation to kids who have hearing loss; not necessarily with cochlear implants - although she found similar results in the little research that has been conducted exclusively with implanted children) who are integrated into regular classrooms in terms of establishing and maintaining friendships.

It is very likely (but not always) that the hard of hearing child will feel socially isolated and withdraw at times because communication in a mainstream school and outside in the school yard can be difficult.  It could be because they have trouble following rapid fire verbal exchanges between their peers, or not understand the quick rule changes that children may make in their daily play, or perhaps your child feels left out because they don't know the lyrics to popular songs, or maybe they misinterpret subtle social cues.  Perhaps they have trouble knowing what to say if they just want to be included with a group of other kids already engaged in an activity.  Some deaf children just need encouragement and a boost, to help them seek and build friendships.

Here are a few tips that Dr. Jamieson provided to help boost your child's self esteem and encourage friendship building:

1.  Usually all a child needs is at least one good friend at school.  Invite this child over to your house, often.

2.  Consider signing up your child for after school activities that encourage social interaction, such as a sports team or drama.  Encourage a friendship with a team mate outside of the regular team practices/games.

3.  Model how you would have your child join in a group of other children playing.  For example, if a group of boys have been playing with trucks at recess, send your child to school with a truck and have him just walk over to the group and start playing with them.

4.  Get to know the parents of your child's peers.  For example, Ava's older sister Lauren, who is 7, was upset about a particular classmate who was bossy and a bit of a bully.  I got to know this classmate's mother and initiated having this classmate come over for a playdate.  Now, Lauren and this classmate are good friends and regularly visit each other's homes.

5.  If your hard of hearing child participates regularly in a group sport activity at recess (such as kicking around a soccer ball with a bunch of other kids), research showed that that child was as popular or more popular. 

6.  We have to realize that sometimes our child enjoys solitary or quiet play and that is ok.  It does not necessarily mean she has withdrawn from group play due to a hearing issue. 

A few of my own tips:

7.  Print off the lyrics to the popular songs for your child (clean version of course!)

8.  Learn the rules to common school yard games and lyrics to jump rope songs and practice with your child.

9.  Another mom always buys the latest tech gadgets for her older implanted child (iPod touch, smartphone) so that they can text with their friends and not feel left out.

10.  As soon as your child starts school, have them do a show and tell about their hearing aids or cochlear implants.  Have your child explain, with confidence, why they are wearing equipment on their ears and how it works.  Practice with your child what to say if someone at school asks "what are those things on your ears/head?"

If you have any additional suggestions that may be helpful, I would love to see them.  Please post a comment with your suggestions!

Friendships




Sara and Ava

 

Ava had her first school mate playdate. Little Sara's mother overheard Ava and Sara at school making plans to go to each other's houses for a playdate. How dang cute is that? They are only 3 years old! So, Sara's mom and I arranged to get the girls together for their first real playdate. It was a huge success.  Afterall, these two monkeys attend pre-school together 3 days a week plus a pre-school program run by the City of Toronto on Monday afternoons.  "Sara is my best friend!", Ava proclaimed after Sara had left.  The best part of the playdate? Just listening to the two girls converse while playing with Ava's Petshop toys and not noticing any difference between their language skills.  Mission Accomplished. We've already booked their next playdate.  And coincidentally, Sara and Ava will be attending the same school for kindergarten next year.  I've got a feeling this is the start of a long lasting, beautiful friendship.

Ten On Tuesday and Speech Sample

1. Ava's left processor went kaputz a couple weeks ago. We were so worried that it was the internal device. The processor kept flashing a slow amber light. We swapped everything out to no avail. Even though the processor appeared to be working fine (we could hear sound through the listening headphones), problem was solved when Cochlear exchanged it for another processor. All is well now. In light of the recent recall on the N5 internal devices we were naturally very very concerned! Cochlear customer service was pretty impressive and attentive. I got a replacement shipped to me overnight.

2. I had Ava's first parent teacher interview at school. She is doing amazing! She is very helpful in getting other kids to follow through with teacher commands and prompts. She acknowledges all her peers as they come in to the class. She plays so nicely with everyone. She actively participates in sing alongs and circle time. She just loves her school and her teachers. She is so happy there. I was so pleased to learn that quite a few of her classmates will be going to to same school as Ava for kindergarten next year! This social interaction with her peers is so important.

3. Ava is consistently speaking in 6-7 word sentences now. So proud of her.

4. One of Ava's goals is to break her habit of referring to herself in the third person. For example she might say "Ava wants more juice please" instead of "I" . She is now using I, you, my, mine about 85% of the time.

5. There's a little girl in Ava's class that can read already! So I thought, why not Ava? I saved all of Lauren's sight words from kindergarten and got out a few two- letter words to start with. Ava is now reading the words "up, no, is, a, I, me". I also have her find those words in a book. Once mastered, I will add another 5 words. Why not give her a head start? She really enjoys learning the new words. At the same time she has started with phonics- learning the letter sounds. She has learned "S" and "M".

6. We have a big plastic calendar hanging on the wall. Every day we talk about the date, add the day's number and sing the days of the week. We talk about the day's weather and what we did "yesterday" and what day it will be "tomorrow".

7. Here's a speech sample. Ava is 3 years 4 months. She's had her CI's for 2 1/2 years. She is discussing the days of the week with her 6 year old sister Lauren.







8. I asked Ava's school for the lyrics of all the songs she is learning. At home we practice the songs to improve her articulation of them. She tends to rush through the songs sometimes and you can't always understand her words.

9. Amazing CI moment #326. I asked Ava's playdate in our basement playroom "where did Ava go?" . Ava, having overheard this, answers me from the upstairs bathroom which is off the laundry room "I'm right here Mom upstairs in the bathroom!" WOW.

10. I downloaded the Blogger app from my iPhone. I can now blog from my phone. The only thing I can't seem to do is post a video using the app. So I had to do that from my desktop. Pretty cool though.