Our Appointment with the Audiologist
We had our son’s appointment with the audiologist today and I feel like we’re a little more prepared for everything that lies ahead now. While we aren’t certain we believe his hearing loss is due to his birth experience and his lack of oxygen after birth. With that being said if that’s the case his hearing will remain the same. If it’s caused by something else then it’s possibly progressive in which case they’ll be keeping an eye on it over this next year just to be safe. What he hears when we talk to him is like what we’d hear if someone were whispering to us all the time. I can’t imagine how frustrating that must be for him.
Our biggest concern right now is paying for hearing aids. They’re ridiculously expensive.. like around $4,000 expensive and that’s $4,000 we don’t have. Monkey’s audiologist is amazing and has found us a good pair of loaner hearing aids for now. However, it’s definitely the goal to get him into his own hearing aids some time within the next 6 months. I’m not sure how we’ll do it but we just have to do what we have to do and pray it all works out okay.
On Monday he gets fitted for his loaner hearing aids, which will also be known as his “buzz lightyear ears” because he’ll have cool green ear molds. His audiologist said anything we can do to help him think hearing aids are cool and fun is what’s going to work best to get him to want to keep them on. She said some parents call their children’s ears “bionic ears” and another set of parents whose child has yellow hearing aids and ear molds call theirs “spongebob ears.” I have a feeling monkey isn’t going to go for it no matter what we call them.
Tuesday he begins speech therapy with a speech assessment and we figure out where to go from there. Our insurance is not covering any of this. Can you believe they don’t find it necessary for a child to hear? Apparently it’s not important if they ever talk either. Either way, we’re getting him the help he needs and I can’t wait to finally have a conversation with him that he hears and understands. Until now we’ve been living in the same house but it was almost like we were speaking different languages and he would get so frustrated and often cry. It’s like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We’re finally going to be able to talk to our son and soon he’ll be able to learn to talk back to us as well. That’s just SO EXCITING!
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I am glad you have a good relationship with your audiologist! Everything will be fine
Prayers and hugs!
Hi Miranda! Thanks to Kim for connecting us. My younger two kiddos have a moderate to severe hearing loss, my oldest has a profound loss. My daughter hears well on the phone but my son misses out quite a bit. It drives me insane that hearing aids aren’t covered by insurance. We have a bill in our state (IL) to try and pass it but what we need is the health care reform that includes hearing aids.
You’ll want to do some practice each day to have your son connect the sounds he hears around him with the hearing aids. The Ling sounds are a great way to start to get him practicing– if you go to Listen-up.org there’s flashcards you can use with Ling sounds.
Your state may have a program that covers hearing aids– check with your early intervention program even if your son is over the age of 3–they may have resources. In IL, we have DSCC which provides hearing aid coverage up to age 18 for qualified families (income based).
Feel free to call me at 630-405 6262 if you’d like to chat.
Hi Miranda! Our youngest (of 4) has moderate to severe hearing loss. We found out when he was 2 and he is now 13. We live in Pennsylvania a WONDERFUL state! We moved here from Texas (where we were born and raised) 4 years ago. In Texas our son did not qualify for benefits due to income and since he wasn’t “Profound” we received no deaf ed through the school. Moving to PA was the best thing that ever happened for our family, especially our son. ALL disabled children receive medical assistance in PA until they are 18. We receive hearing aids, auditory aids, and all dental, vision, doctor, for free with no salary discrimination. From the time he was born until 8 we bought 2 pairs of hearing aids and only had loaner auditory aids to the tune of about $12,000. Now, in PA, he has deaf education in school for classroom strategy planning twice a month for an hour. He was dismissed from speech in the 5th grade and is all oral, mainstream, on grade level. We have been there and done that and my heart goes out to you. Keep strong and keep in mind when he starts school that you will need to know your rights and also know all the programs available.
elieve hearing aids aren’t covered- that’s crazy! Sounds like you are handling the situation with grace and optimism- I will keep your little boy and your family in my thoughts.