bpi's, hearing, and vision problems........

[DeShawn]

Hi everyone. I was just wondering if any of your children have problems with hearing in the ear on the injured side. Rain had a hearing screening done at the pediatricians Friday and she failed it majorly. We have gotten a referral to see an audiologist. I never thought that she had problems hearing but I guess you live and learn. She has had severe delays in speech and this could explain it. We will also be starting speech therapy once the referral is received. On a good note though, Rain had an appointment with the opthamologist last week and he said that her Horners is improving, the lid is not nearly as droopy as it had been. He did detect that the vision is a little worse that it had been when he saw her 3 months ago, but he decided to give her another 3 months to see if her vision improves before he gives her glasses. We'll see how things develop. I guess this started out as a question and sorta turned into something else, but I have a tendency to go on and on sometimes. Anyway thanks for listening and your input will be appreciated.

DeShawn

[Tessie258]

So sorry to hear about your daughter's problems....I just wanted to let you know that American Sign Language is an awsome tool for hearing and non hearing people....It really can help people over their speech problems.....unfortunately Jameson is a little embarrased to sign in front of others because of his arm...He feels like he's not doing it right because he can't turn his wrist...I told him it doesn't matter though...I understand what he means and told him it gives him character the same as an accent would give to someones voice. Most kids love to sign. Here's a site that can show you lots of signs:

http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm

I hope this helps.
T.

[Kristie]

Tessie,
We use sign language with both our kids. We introduced it at the whiney toddler stage to help them have away to communicate better. Ian does well with it. Karis my non BPI child did too! I have a friend who does sign for a living that said in some ways they both were signing like "deaf" kids since they were not so ridge about it... there was a better flow. And it is a huge compliment to be told that! Maybe if people say anything to Jameson about the way he signs he could just say well at least I don't sign like a hearing person!!... whic is a big insult in the deaf world!
Kristie

[DeShawn]

Thanks for the responses. I had considered using some signs with Rain in the past, and attempted to teach her a few, but was unsucessful. I am fluent in both ASL and Singlish. I learned to sign when I was 13 (long time ago), but I noticed with the introductions of sign to Rain left her a little confused. Maybe it was due to her age, I don't know, but it may be worth a try again. I'll let you all know how this turns out. Thanks for your input.

DeShawn

[claudia]

DeShawn, I don't remember how old Rain is, but Juliana had her hearing checked at about 18 months at a local school for the deaf/communications disordered. She did okay, but at that age the kids hear "globally"-in other words, they can't discriminate which ear they are hearing in. She was extremely language delayed (the silent child) and not at all bothered by not speaking. We started speech therapy not too long after that hearing test. Okay, so when the audiologists say "you are going to start speech therapy, right?" You do it!! I have believed for a long time that injury to the plexus effects the ears and vistibular system. TCH agrees with me in principle, but has no studies to back it up. It is all anecdotal evidence. Ask the adult bpis, they will tell you that they also have issues with their hearing. Juliana also suffered from terrible ear infections as a kid up to about 20 months. I think that is pretty common among the opbi kids too. Although Juliana talks up a storm, and sings along to the music in the car, she speaks sort of funny. I will have her tested again at that school before nursery starts in September.
I just don't think you are alone, I think there is just not info out there...
claudia

[christy]

Katie's hearing tests have always come out inconclusive but so far they seem to think it is ok since speech is the only area she has no problem with. She started using sign at about six months and does quite well with what she has been taught so far. Even when she can't quite do the exact sign you know what she is doing / saying. It really helps when they are too small to verbalize their wants or needs. She too has repeated ear infections on her BPI side and TCH has always agreed the kids seem to follow that pattern but again nothing to back it up. I think really it is not followed closely enough with the kids as they are more concerned with the BPI repairs. Maybe we could all ask them to start asking it as a exam question at track it?

Sorry to hear Rain is having more difficulties at this time, I know you guys didn't need something else to take up your summer. But she is worth it and she'll show you once again just how strong she is! You know I haven't been able to get an optho referral for katie's Horner's at all..her docs keep telling me it won't affect her vision but I think it does. She squints all the time and has to be on top of something to see it.

Write soon, I miss ya and hope all else is well.