Talking

Mary is now talking. Well the sounds she makes are very like speech. She responds to her name and "no" and seems to follow oral instructions such as take your shoes off, or go upstairs or sit. Either it is coincidence that she does the alloted task or she actually understands the request and complies.



Have noticed though that she does vocalises to the pattern of speech. There are very few consonants but the intonation and lilt of speech is definitely there. She also says "Byyeee" and "Hiyyaaaa" "Up pup up" and her favourite film "pop pop pop" for Mary Poppins.

To the shop

Mary just signed to the shop and pointed the right direction. She also initiated a verse of baa baa black sheep.

Apple

Mary asked for am apple out of the tree on our walk. She was singing round round to herself earlier.

Red

Mary was supposed to be in bed tonight but wanted her "red". She was repeatedly signing "red" then went to her wardrobe. Red refers to her favourite dress. I explained to her in my perfect sign that she could wear it tomorrow. She just shook her head from herr position lying on the floor. I also signed "Bed time now" and "get into bed". Mary just closed her eyes and shook her head. I signed " lie on floor". She did not shake herr head so I left her. Half an hour later she had climbed back into bed.

Earlier today when big sister was getting into herr swimming costume to play in the paddling pool Mary signed "flower" and ran into the car park to Daddy's car. We were a little confused until Daddy worked out that she meant herr Flower swimming suit which had last been seen in Daddy's car. She is definitely too clever for us.

Cloth Where?

Mary just quite clearly signed "cloth where?" For those of you who havev not met Mary in person cloth is a stinky muslin that she goes everywhere with. Ealry on we realised this would be her comfort and so wanted a sign for cloth. The sign we use is like hug but holding your arms together to the left side. And wiggle your body. Well Mary added that bit in.

As to other signs well we have been busy. Camping and hospital.

Mary readily understood and signed tent. She loved camping. At the meal on our last night she was tired but signing tent. Clever girl.

While out with Daddy and the dog at camping she said "come".

We are no longer in receipt of language aide facility. This is both good and bad. MAry knows too much but is not letting on and having the laddy come once a week to teach her sign was a good thing. Oh well. I have completed my BSL Level 1 and Daddy is due to start his course in September. Mary will sign when she is ready.

One sign she has learnt really quickly is cheese triangle (make a triangle with your thumbs and forefingers; a homemade sign). She also learnt fridge as she has worked out that she can reach into the fridge to get out her own triangle using her little chair. Monkey Miss. Reinforcing the thought that she will learn and do when it suits her. Causign much frustration for herr porr speech and language therapist.

the S&L lady does say though for a year post implant Mary is making some wonderful babble noises. She also listens more.

One that note; the 30th July 2009 was her one year post switch on programming session. We have the Advanced Bionics processor and implant. She recieveed the T-mic attachment and is now a big girl wiht her processors not requiring a huggy. She also heard 500 Hz at 40 Db, 1000 Hz at 45 Db and 2 kHz at 50 Db. She can thus hear most of the speech sounds. She does here "s" and "sh" when spoken. So we are definitely making progress all round.

That is all I can think of for now. We are now waiting on her highness to do her thing. We may be waiting a while as she is happy with who she is. And that is a good thing.

In hospital Again...

Sorry for no writing we been stuck at home with Swine flu. Katy and I have sucummbed although Mary herself is/was bright as rain. Then she got an ear infection and was rushed into Addenbrookes yesterday. I can't be with her cos of my flu status. Daddy took this and sent it for her blog.

Mary's left her first answerphone message

Mary phoned Mummy from Hospital on Sunday 5th July while she was with Daddy. She left me this message. Hope you all can hear it. I think it is wonderful. Wont be the last I am sure.

Bah Humbug. WOnt let me upload the video. Oh well Will keep it for Mary to hear in the future.

Mary in hospital. Still thinks cows are sheep.

While waiting we playing with animal noises. And despite being strangely quiet even with ears on today she was copying the sounds i made. Oh and one cant possibly sign with our hand in a bandage!

123 jump

Stuck in Walberswick for dinner Mary learnt 123 jump. There were two plastic life size sheep in the garden of the pub. She was calling them cows. Not sure if she playing tricks on us or getting it wrong. But she did sign sheep with a giggle.

Also said 'oun oun' for round round in a song at hiccups on monday. Its coming!

She says now:-

"iiiieee iiieee" for Bye Bye. She can say "b" but does not string them together. Early days I know. Just noting down stuff as observation not criticism.

"oun oun" for Round Round. Was absolutley marvelous on Monday to see/hear her do this. Usually there is only one or two renditions of each song but we did quite a few of "Shake it" that day.

"U U" for Up. Again she can just about do "p" but not linking the sounds. We use the dandelion seed heads to practice "p" and "f" sounds. She seeems to enjoy that.

"O O" as from Pop or toast. Not quite sure but she signs toast with vigour accompanied by the "o" sound.

Very difficult to write down exactly how she says her words and without context one would not know they were words. But her range of babbling sounds is increasing everyday and she is even babbling without her ears on. So wonderful to hear. Starting to worry now all our effort to learn sign and teach her sign will be wasted if she learns to speak. Think though she will always use it. Who knows be up to her in a few years.

The terrible twos

Ok I know she turned three a weekk ago but she has just hit the terrible twos. Was pretty easy going until then. Now everything is wrong and she regularly throws herself on the floor screaming. I am pretty certain that she fully understands what we are telling her and that it is just her protesting that she does not like what we said/signed.

Her sign of the week is Rabbit. She waves her two hands on top of her head like rabbit ears. Should be just fore finger and middle finger together as thin ears. Also walk fingers come out quite a lot as she is trying to walk everywhere. Not always at appropriate speeds hence the stropping when I try and put her back in the pram.

Her receptive skills are greatly improving and she understands me whne I tell her to get back in her big girl chair. She has the option of that or back in the baby seat at meal time. She does climb back into her seat.

Sounds are coming on and she is babbling wonderfully. Likes holding her hands over throats, including the dogs.

Getting slightly better at watching signing and lips. Still a little individual and has her own rules. We will get there I am sure.

Barbie horse

Mary just asked for Barbie horse which is her favourite film Barbie pegasus. So cool. First spontaneous two sign string i recall.

She is three today!!!

Birthday Girl blown out the Candles.

I really should be organised and add a photo of her and her cake. We had a lovely party yesterday and I think she understood that it was her turn with the cake and candles. She was lovely. She got a bike for her birthday and has a little trouble peddling. It will come I am sure.

At bed time she was telling me a story of her day. I thin kit was about her bike, not quite sure. Will be wonderful when I do understand her.

She is listening more and babbling with a bigger range of sounds. She still does not pay much attention but she is having fun in life.

OOOPs Loads to add

Sorry have been a bit lax over the past while have a few things to add in....

Weekend of 24-26 May, Sun -Tue, We went up to Bradford to see my biological family again. Was lovely and the first time they had all met Mary. I was very touched by how much effort they had gone to to learn some sign language. Cousin Chloe was marvelous she spelled her name very well. Mary thoroughly enjoyed her time. All week that week everthign was funny (Hold your open hand under your chin and shake it up and down like a jaw moving.)

2 June 2009
Playing with the boy I childmind. On the way home from preschool we play a game of Ready Steady Go. The boy waits and then runs ahead on the "Go". Mary wanted to walk and was playing the game. She learnt about the waiting and would run ahead on the Go. She has been signing and saying "oH"and flicking her finger forward.

This day she was out of the pram and really getting into the spirit of things. She came up to me and was actually saying "Beebe beeebeb Oh" Definitely trying herr best to say the "Ready Steady Go". I tried caputring this on camera but she went silent as soon as the camera came out.

New words:-

Ready Steady Go - Beebe beeebeb Oh

She can hear its a miracle!!!!

I had been thinking a while that Mary has not been quite getting the hearing. She seemed to not hear me calling her all the time. She woudl only register after a few attempts and with me making my voice loud and deep.

After the session on Wednesday she seems a lot more responsive. She wore her processors happily at the raised volume in the canteen. At home she turns on the first call of her name. We have a toy aeroplane which makes two noises. The propeller start up noise is easier to get going than the engine running noise. She was playing with the propeller noise happily setting it going again and again when it stopped. I pressed the button for the other noise and she stopped and stared. Clearly she heard that it was different. Now I love and hate that aeroplane all in the same breath. She loves it. Oh well all good for her development.

Tuning session at the Emmeline

On Wednesday the 20th May we went for a 9/10 month tuning session. Following the plpay session ast week this was a stunning session. Mary was a little poppet. She did the hearing test very well. Not always responding appropriately but she was trying and did not have any fuss or screaming. She did have a little moment when she wanted her Bird (right processor) on and the would not let her as she was having her left ear tested. She responded at 1kHz at 60 dB.

Following the hearing test we had a tune up. Mary didnt mind having the wire connected and played very nicely while the audiologist fiddled. She was a wondeful child to be with. I was so proud of her.
Well done Mary.

Horses....

On Monday we had the pleasure of the company of Mary's Hiccups friends at Easton Farm Park. We had a lovely day and the weather held out much better than Sunday at Thetford.

We saw rabbits, guinea pigs, big Suffolk Punch Horse called Mary who is also 2 years old and needs to learn her manners. Mary had many rides on the horse and trap and also on a pony. She was quite happy to go without Mummy or Daddy or Big sister. She wanted to swim in the fountain. It is very nice to see that she enjoys being with other people and does not worry about new places or strangers. Will cause me heartache when I have to start the "Stranger Danger" conversations but for now lovely to watch her confidence. Lots of signing of the animals and a generally very fun day.

Mary Suffolk Punch

Guinea Pig Bash.. Sorry patting

Horse and trap ride. Mary had in excess of 6 turns round the farm.

Mary on her first pony ride. She was very good at waiting her turn. There were two girls in front of her in the queue and although they were physically behind her while we were waiting she easily understood the "Their turn" sign, flick your thumbs up to the person whose turn it is. What a clever girl. She signed horse very enthusiastically.

Banana Mummy

Mary came over to me in the kitchen. Signing something. Took me a while to get it. It was the sign for banana (mime yourself peeling a banana).

First time I recall her coming over to me and asking for something.

She is really taking off with sign this week and her vocalisations are getting more complex. I am trying to record it for this record but as soon as I get the camera out she goes quiet.

On another note, got a confession to make. I was wondering why we had not seen our speech and language therapist. Saw her at my sign class last night. Turns out it was my fault. I have missed two sessions. Oops Apologies. Will be in next week.

Family Fun day at Thetford

Ned the bear at Thetford with NDCS. We had a lovely day with other families with deaf children.

Think Mary wants to go back to climb all the big trees and swings.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Following our visit to the Emmeline Centre on the previous day, we took Katy to School. Mary was in her pram facing away from me as usual. Katy and I had been chattering also as usual and Mary was singing. Then I decided to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep to her. She stopped singing and turned her face up to look at me. We have three verses to our song: The boy, The girl and The dog who live down the lane. By the time I finsished the first two versus she was signing "Again" ( Flick two fingers of dominant hand down). Brilliant listening that day. Just goes to prove my theory about her overall desire to listen. Only on her terms.

Play at the Emmeline.

We had a play visit to the Emmeline Centre on Wednesday last week. Our friend Gavin was attending for other reasons and we had an appointment in the Metabolic unit in the afternoon. It seemed like a good opportunity to take Mary along for a play. She usually just screams when we get there and it is very difficult for the audiologist to tune Mary appropriately.

When we arrived one of her Legups friends was there in the corridor. She seemed happy to see him but refused to get out of her pram. Indeed when I unfastened the straps she signed for them to be refastened.

Our Speech and Language rehabilitaionist (?) organised for her 1pm appointment girl to come in early. Thank you to them for their help. As they went into the room I made to get Mary out of the pram and she screamed. But as the room was set up for play she soon came round with only a few suspcious glances. We played some nice sound games designed to ease her anxiety and get her to listen. We sang Baa Baa Black Sheep at the end. Her face was funny when we just got up and walked out. We will se how she goes this Wednesday when she has to have a tunign session. I think she is in need of this desperately. But unless she performs properly at the hearing test they cannot fully adjust her sound input to match what she can hear.

Oh well Fun and games as usual with Mary.

I think however that even if she had perfect hearing she would not be a good listener. Good session all round.

Flower Mummy

Sorry for not posting this. It occured last week on Thursday.

Mary is gettign very good at poiting out the flowers now and we are movign onto the colours of flowers. She can sign yellow, for a buttercup and white and purple for some flowers that I have no idea what they are.

She is also getting very good at listening and locating aircraft in the sky. Necessary given her Daddy's job.

Non Verbal/sign Communication

Today we were at Gavin's house (you can follow Gavin here http://www.songavger.blogspot.com/). I was watching him and Mary playing in his garden. Gavin does sign and is very good with Mary. This was the first time at his house and she went straight in and looked like she owned the place. They have a large Trampoline in the garden and Mary knew exactly how to get Gavin to put her on and bounce her around. She had no problems communicating her needs. She used some signs and Gavin did encourage her to sign when he could get her attention. But Mary is very clever at communicating her needs in her own way. Afterall what is communication. In one sense it is the art of getting another person to do our bidding. She certainly excels at that.

I dont know if this hinders or helps Mary's formal language development this ability to get what she wants. However as it is communication it is lovely to see.

Thank goodness with all that bouncing we did not have trouble getting her to bed tonight.

Toast

Breakfast at Grandma's on Sunday was replayed to me by Daddy upon his return Sunday evening.

Mary was sat after her cereal at the table patiently or otherwise waiting to go and play. She kept raising both hands up in the air, fingers up, palms towards the chest. "Toast"
Grandma asks what it is she is doing. Daddy informs her it is the sign for Toast.
Grandma says OK if she wants toast I shall go and makes some. She toddles off to the kitchen as dutiful Grandma's are want to do. Mary continues signing toast.

A few minutes later Grandma returns with desired item. And signs toast.

Mary looks at it agrees with Grandma, signs "Toast" and then leaves the table with a nod.

This is so Mary. Just checking if you would obey my command. And of course Grandma would.

Swimming and shopping with Daddy

Daddy has taken Mary and big sister away to Grandma's for the night to allow me some free time with my friends. Very nice.

Teh plan was to go swimming at Grandma's pool, because they have a lovely set of water slides that Mary loves. Needless to say in the rush of packing yesterday I forgot to put the swimming gear in the car. But as the girls costumes were a little threadbare and Mike's a little old I said they should just get some new ones.

I received the following text from Daddy earlier this morning:-

"buying a swimsuit wound Mary up something rotten. She wouldnt take it off after we tried it on. Screamed the roof off when I took it off to pay."

Shows how Mary knows what she wants and and will let little stand in her way. Be nice to hear how they all got on.

Legups - Preschool group

Mary has started this term attending the next step up from Hiccups, called Legups (Language Enrichment Group Up to Primary School). The session runs at a Primary School in Bury St Edmunds, the nearest town to us where there is a Unit for Hearing Impaired Children (HIU). The session is run for three year olds until they go into the Year 1. It aims to build on language skills, social interaction and builds their confidence being away from Mum and in the school environment. Not that our Mary needs the confidence building. Sessions are on Tuesday and Friday afternoons for 2 hours.

Mary only goes on the Friday at the moment because she is not yet 3 and still goes to the Hiccups group. We jsut felt that Mary needed a little extra and as they were happy to have her start now we were happy to send her.

Last Friday I left her with my friend, who has been asked in as a teaching assistant. The one whose house we went to on Wednesday. Mary did not even bother that I was not there.

Alternate Fridays there is a session where the parents are invited in to watch the chldren present theri work. It is very nice. The older hearing impaired children of the school also come along to show a piece of work and discuss the work. The emphasis is on talking where the children are capapble but any communication from the children is encouraged. Mary was tired when I first went into the room and she wanted to sit and cuddle Mummy. The other chldren were sat on a low bench in front of the parents. The teacher would pick a child and then bring them to the front to discuss their topic. Then the child would walk round the room and show the parents and other children the piece of work.

Mary watched this for about half the children (6). Then she hopped off my knee and went to get her playdough model, that the younger ones had done ealier and were showing off. She stood with the teacher for a short time and then walked round the room to show the others her work. It was wonderful to see her interacting in this way. She had observed what was going on and wanted to copy. I was so proud. Times like this make me worry less about her abillity to cope in the wider world when she gets there. Perhaps I should worry more about the World coping with Mary!!

Shoes off Mummy

Today we went to a friends house. Her daughter too has bilateral cochlear implants. But the daughter is nearly six years old so does not really play with Mary at the moment. However it is nice to meet up with another mum who understands Mary and her needs. She signs to Mary and replaces her ears without any thought and I can truly relax.

Mary too enjoys our visits there and let out a big squeal and waved her arms when we pulled up in the driveway.

The girls were playing in the garden and us grown ups were in the kitchen. This scene reminds me of the issue I have with translation of BSL into English for the subtitles. I am beginning to understand BSL and find the subtitle translations very amusing. On a TV show we watch, Wicked, one of the presenters merely shrugged. The translation was "Well I suppose so then" accurate but wordy.

Mary's Language
M: Mary comes into the room sits on the floor and thrusts her foot in my direction.
Translation "Mummy please will you take my shoe off?"
Mummy: I sign "Want shoe off"(dominant hand inserted into non-dominant hand and pulled out as though taking a shoe off)
M: Mary looks at me, rolls her eyes and thrusts her foot at me again.
Translation "You know I want you to take my shoe off. You also know I know how to sign shoe off so will you just take my shoes off so I can get on with playing, thank you very much."

Needless to say I did not get her to sign "shoe off" on that occasion. She had her shoes and socks removed and promptly left to go back outside.

This highlights the biggest difficulty I have with my daughter. Her independent, know it all spirit. In one respect it is a blessing with all the added hardships she will have in life. However it makes for a frustrating time trying to get her to respond to us and show us what she does know. Why waste time signing what you know when you can be outside playing?

HICCUPS - toddler group

We attend a special toddler group on alternate Mondays for Hearing and Visually Impaired children. It is called Hiccups which stands for Hearing Impaired Children Coming up to Primary School. It started out with the HI children and we have since melded with the VI children. It is very interesting to find out the different challenges those children and their families have.

Back to Mary, our Deaf adult friend Gavin was there and Mary spent a lot of time watching his signing. She also wore her ears very well even in the noisy environment. It was so great to see her mixing with the other children. Brilliant day. Then after Hiccups we went to our new friends house. Mum is lovely, her daughter is only 5 months and HI and VI. Be wonderful to watch how she develops. Mary found that her big sister had a rocking horse and merrily signed horse. Then after being on the horse for a while signed up and off. She was tired but is starting to sign such a lot. What a clever girl.

After a bad weekend with the ears Mary wore her ears very well today and I noticed her making a range of different sounds. I tried getting it on video but as soon as she saw the camera she stopped.

But the best news today is that she can say Mummy properly. No Mummummumm. She has said it twice today so I know it was not a fluke the other day. Now does she actually need to say anymore???!

New Word
Mummy

Scooting on a lovely Sunday

Two thing happened today that made me well up with pride. Mary 's physical development has been delayed by her Glycogen Storage Disease Type IX. Totally unrelated to deafness but affects her gross motor skills. Anyway yesterday she scooted by herself for the first time. And we had a conversation in sign about the scooter and scooting and it falling over. Mary was having a deaf day and refused to wear her ears all day. She was keen to copy my signs.

Check out the video... There is only a little sound on this which Mary makes - her "Eee" no other sound.

The sign conversation went something like this (In BSL)

Me: "Want to scoot?"

Mary: "Scooting yes"

At end of scoot Mary would try and turn it around and it would fall over. She would coever her mouth in a "oops" fashion. Later on when it stopped falling over she pushed it over and went oops. I told her in sign that no she shouldn't do that. She seemed to understand.

Nice

Tonight at dinner Mary asked as usual for food. She had beans on toast in front of her which apparently is not food. We gave her the remains of herr lunch, which had been refridgerated, ham and soft cheese on bread. She is signing good. Both thumbs up.

I sign "Lovely" (Thumb up on dominant hand and scrape your thumb across your chin, making a lovely type face)

Mary copied. And then repeated it when she started the next peice of bread.

It's lunch time Mummy

We had a busy morning shopping, sorting and unpacking. Oh and also playing in the garden.

I shouted out our upstairs window (our kitchen is on the first floor) to Mary who was sat in the garden. She heard me and managed to locate my voice. We then had a conversation about coming inside and upstairs. Which resulted in me going downstairs to fetch her! Her legs were obviosly a bit weak after hard shop. After a bit more sorting out she climbs excitedly onto her chair. Then tells me in lovely sign:-

"Time lunch mummy, now."

I repeat "Dinner time now"

Mary signs "Good"

Her "Good" is cute cos she doesnt always raise her thumb and sometimes raises her index finger instead. Today we got both. Sorry too slow for a picture though.

Mary signing driving and making the car sound. We have not specifically taught her to make the sound for a car. She picked that up herself. What a clever girl.

Wicked

Oh yeah Mary learnt a new sign watching TV on Wednesday morning with me before swimming.

We were watching the new TV show called Wicked, signed and deals with issues involving Deaf people. http://www.bslbt.co.uk/wicked/

Mary after the show was signing Wicked with a big grin on her face. Who says kids cant learn anything from telly???

Swimming in Ipswich

Mary and I went swimming with a couple of signing friends in Ipswich yesterday. Mary had a ball. After being thrown into the pool and dunked a few times she was signing funny. Although she discovered it is difficult to sign "Funny" when your arms are stuck out the side of your body by your arm bands and swimming ring!

Rough and smooth

Whilst out walking the dog we pass a number of silver birch trees. Last year I began to show Katy the concepts of Rough and Smooth and we would often have a guess and then a feel of the bark on the trees. Katy enjoyed this.

Up until recently Mary has not shown much interest in the idea.During the Easter holidays she started feeling the trees. Our Language aide with the help of a few texts told us the signs for Rough and Smooth.

Today Mary signed "Rough" and "Smooth". What a clever girl!

Further down the path she signs to me "Mummy, Look flower." WoW!!! The best Dandelion I have ever picked.

Yes upstairs!

Mary had enough eating and wants to go upstairs.

Mary plays guitar...

And drum and tambourine. Singing songs very well. Hearing all the noises and no blinking.

Remembering some things she has done

Mary has had some sound going into her ears since 29 July 2008. Over the past 9 months she has been developing relatively slowly. These are a few of the things I remember from her journey.

Day 1: She had her right ear fitted first. When we got home I made Chalky bark in the hallway she turned to him and opened and closed her mouth to copy him. She really enjoyed it.

Most of the first few months involved a lot of on/off with her processors. Very frustrating. But the perserverance has worked as she is now happy to wear them for large portions of the day.

8 August 08 She picked up the processors and put them to her ears. Showing she knew what they were for.

10 August 08 She made a "tut" sounds with her tongue and a "ggghh" at the back of her throat.

13 August 08 Started making a "mmm mmm" sound as soon as they were put on. Was very noisy with them on.

18 August 08 The processors had a wash in the muddy water in the back of the toy car in the garden. :P They dried off ok fortunately. Heard the wasahing machine from in the hallway and signed it.

20 August 08 Turned to my shout when she walked away from me at Mothercare.

24 August 08 The right processor was nearly eaten by an Emu at White Post Farm near Grandma's house. Mary got a nip on her ear. We were lucky to get it of the bird.

25 August 08 Knows when she is being talked to. Asked for them when they were taken off at bedtime. When I gave them to her she cuddled them as she turned over.

30 August 08 Singing scales "ah ah ah ah". Wearing them well. Shouted " mummm meee" from her room at about 8pm.

March 09 She turned to the sound of a water tap in the downstairs loo and also turned to the flushing of the toilet. Similar but different sounds.

Well that is all for tonight. More from the early days another time.

Mary and an ice cream.

Mary heard the flag flapping in the wind at the ice cream van and turned to the sound.

Mary aged 2 3/4. Does some signing with her Language Aide.

Talking to geese at Needham Lake

Mary heard the geese and made a "ha ha" sound to answer them.

Just testing the link

Mary playing with animal noise toy but alas no ears. Hmm.

An hour at Addenbrookes...

We spent nearly two hours in the car this afternoon for less than an hour at the Orthoptist (Eye person who tests eye sight). Well at least I only paid £1.80 for parking. Mary's eyesight supposedly is quite bad and unless we get her wearing her glasses now she will have poor eyesight always after she turns 8. Poor girl. She hates them. Will have to persevere though.

On a more positive note she wore her Magic Ears happily throughout the session. Just the evil glasses she didnt like.

No new sounds but she has invented a sign for Wotsits. Kind of like ice cream but instead of licking your hand you make an O sucking face as if you are sucking a wotsit in. All good communication.

Will fill you all in about her progress from switch on until I started this. Will jump about a bit when I remember things. Until I am up to date.

Words to date she has said
Mumma
Barbara (Bwarbwarbrrraa)
Fish (ishhhh)
Bike (bk)
Ball (bbbblll)

Girls in the mud.

Mary digging and katy singing.

Where to start...

My Darling Mary has been profoundly deaf since birth, we think. I first realised there was a problem when she was 7-8 months old, she had always been a listless sickly baby. I asked the health visitor to check out her hearing and she claimed that she couldnt be deaf because "She is a happy baby." I should have pushed harder because things may have happened quicker. Through other means we got referred to the audiology unit at hospital. She was eventually seen by paediatric consultant two days after my mum's funeral. She was tested electronically via an ABR a week later and by 17 July we had a confirmed diagnosis that she was profoundly deaf. She was fitted with her first hearing aids on the 1st August. She was 13.5 months old.
We perservered with the hearing aids for 4-5 months but there was no improvement in her vocalisations.
In December we were referred to the Emmeline Cochlear Implant centre. Numerous tests later she was admitted to the program. We were lucky as we were able to secure a place in a trial to determine if two implants were better than 1. The NHS at the time were only funding one implant. I always felt that we were meant to have two ears so it seemed bizarre to only offer one implant. Mary had her operation on 23 June when she was a week over 2. She was switched on five weeks later after a few complications with infection.
It has been slow progress but since January, Mary being 2.5yrs, she seems to have come on in leaps and bounds with her hearing and vocalising. I wanted to make a record of her journey to hearing and speaking. Please bear in mind she is still a profoundly deaf little girl and although she can hear me shout "no" and her name when she is wearing her processors, it is still very difficult for her to make out sound.
The cochlear implant is a very sophisticated, almost magical piece of equipment but it is not a cure for deafness. I call them her "Magic Ears". We are learning sign as well because I feel it is important for her to learn the language of her peers.
With this blog I am hoping to record all those little milestones she does. Hope you enjoy it.

Makka mary

Collecting stones