Life is Bliss - Lily's Cochlear Implant Journey

Technology has changed the teaching of deaf students

Interesting article from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education concluding that Technology has changed the teaching of deaf students

Family photo shoot

Photos by Loveequals

What parents want from physicians

Great article about what parents want from physicians after their child has failed a hearing test or been diagnosed with a hearing loss.  All these were true in our case. 

Nebraska's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Stats

I recently started serving on Nebraska's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Advisory Committee. The staff just released the 2010 Annual Report starting on page 29.    

Interesting Summary

1. All the current birthing hospitals in Nebraska were conducting newborn hearing screening in 2010. All but one had conducted the hearing screenings during the birth admission. 
2. The benchmark of 95% of newborns having a hearing screening during birth admission by December 1, 2003 established by Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-4742 continues to be met. In 2010, birthing hospitals reported screening the hearing of 99% of newborns during birth admission or prior to discharge home for those babies who were transferred to another hospital.
3. The overall “refer” rate during 2010 for initial hearing screening during birth admission was 4.4%.
4. In 2010, follow-up hearing screenings or audiologic evaluations were initiated within one month of birth for 67.1% of those newborns for which follow-up activities were provided.
5. The average age at the time of the initiation of follow-up hearing screening or diagnostic evaluation was 32.0 days.
6. For the 51 infants identified with a permanent hearing loss, including congenital, later-onset and progressive hearing loss, the average age at confirmation of hearing loss was 125.2 days.
7. There are 350 babies born in 2010 whose hearing was not objectively established and there are 109 who expired before receiving or completing a hearing screening.
8. The incidence of Permanent Congenital Hearing Loss identified and reported to NE- EHDI Program (1.9 per thousand screened in 2010) is within the anticipated range of one to three per thousand.
9. Over 70% of the infants with a permanent congenital hearing loss were verified for early intervention and special education services.

 

Neptune - AB's waterproof processor

Excellent blog post on the Neptune, AB's new waterproof cochlear implant processor.  Lily's hoping for one at Christmas time.  

Sonova announces FDA approval for U.S. market re-entry of the Advanced Bionics HiRes 90K cochlear implant

Yeah!!! So excited for Advanced Bionics return to the US market.   

Hearing Care in Developing Countries

Great article explains promise and challenges of bringing hearing care to developing countries.

Preschool Update

Lily is now in her second year of mainstream preschool.  She attends two different preschools and is loving it.  She has grown from a more reserved three year old, to a eager four year old answering and asking endless questions.  

For Lily's new preschool this year, we (my public school SLP, TOD and I) met with the teachers before class started and discussed good teaching strategies for kids with hearing loss, as well as "how tos" with her CIs and FMs. It's the "how tos" and the "this could happen but probably won't" that scares the teachers the most.  We also asked the preschool to use static spray on the plastic slides and plastic play structure.

They took it all in, asked great questions and have placed static spray around the building :).  We've had no problems with the CIs or FMs at preschool.  In fact one of her teachers said she loved the FM.  Great to hear.   I love the FM too.  Such a great tool, especially in noise.  

Already during the second week of preschool, Lily was eager to serve as a host for a new student, showing her the ropes. Lily's made lots of new friends and is off to a great start. 

We continue to work with our public school SLP three times a month, through home-based services and have a TOD visit once a month, typically to Lily's preschools or on-call for technology issues.   This has been a perfect fit of services for our family and has helped Lily to thrive.   

Curtains that squelch noise

Interesting article about the use of modern sound absorbing cutains that squelch noise.  Think of all the possible uses.

Service above Self

Loved helping with the annual Rotary International Student Picnic.  Students were there from over 40 countries.  Applying Rotary's motto of Service Above Self.   Did some hearing consultations at the same time.