CI Moments - Page 6

Tousi · 10-12-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vallee

Well enjoying nice warm Georgia. A quick hello! I talked to my mom on her choices for my communications. It was interesting. First, mom said yes my hearing loss was at age 3 from rheumetic fever. She took me to a lot of doctors to find out what was wrong and all said a mild hearing loss. Mom keep taking me to doctors until at age 10, one decided to fit me with a hearing aid.

I asked her did they know it was progressive. She said that they did not have a clue what was going on with me and thought that it was just a little. I asked why she did not enroll me in deaf education and her comment - the resources were not available in the 70's. Also I did not qualify. I also asked about sign language. She said she did want me to take when I was in high school, she also found classes, but me being SO busy in high school would not take the time. I did get the lecture that she has been asking me for 20 years to take sign language, but it was my choice because I was out of the house. I told her I did take a course, but need to take more. Mom said I need to take the course with my daughter so she can communicate with me when I don't wear my cis. Then the most important part, mom said I tried to give you the best I could. All I can say is you did!

This seems unusual where the parents begged their child to take sign language over a period of 20 years and the child resisted. Makes me wonder how Mom and child bonded, etc...did you have good hearing, oral skills? Did Mom not think that was good enough? I am not getting at anything or trying to start something but I find this case unusual because it is usually the other way around.

vallee · 10-12-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

This seems unusual where the parents begged their child to take sign language over a period of 20 years and the child resisted. Makes me wonder how Mom and child bonded, etc...did you have good hearing, oral skills? Did Mom not think that was good enough? I am not getting at anything or trying to start something but I find this case unusual because it is usually the other way around.

My oral skills are very good or were good. My mom and I are very close. She felt that sign language should be a part of my life since I was lossing my hearing quickly after age 20. My mom always felt that I should do what I can to be as independent as possible. I felt that I was doing great in an oral environment. I resisted. I'm the spirited daughter.

When I first explored CIs, my mom was my only supporter. She pushed and helped me to find a doctor and look over paperwork. And yes, she still said that I still need sign language. Only this time I agree with her.

R2D2 · 10-13-2007, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vallee

My oral skills are very good or were good. My mom and I are very close. She felt that sign language should be a part of my life since I was lossing my hearing quickly after age 20. My mom always felt that I should do what I can to be as independent as possible. I felt that I was doing great in an oral environment. I resisted. I'm the spirited daughter.

When I first explored CIs, my mom was my only supporter. She pushed and helped me to find a doctor and look over paperwork. And yes, she still said that I still need sign language. Only this time I agree with her.

That's interesting! And it's lovely that your mum and you are so close. she sounds like she really cares about your welfare and is good at thinking things through. However, I guess no parent can force a child to do something they are not ready to do. Do you think that knowing that you are now completely deaf without CIs has influenced your readiness to learn sign?

Tousi · 10-13-2007, 02:57 AM

That's really great, Vallee; thank you for the clarification. Best wishes to you as you go forth.

Keanusmom · 10-14-2007, 12:40 AM

You guys have some great stories! You brought tears to my eyes describing how hearing something like birds and fireworks affected your lives.

My CI moment would be when my son was turned on and turned around when I called his name. I cried like a cartoon character! I kept going in another room or behind a piece of furniture and calling him. He would come to find me and peek his cute little face around the wall grinning. *sigh* Man, that was the first most touching moment.

Another would be (fast forward) when he graduated from elementary school. He had a speech to do and rocked it!

PRESS PAUSE: Though my son has been implanted for 8 years, his language/ speech is severely delayed. He didn't have language before he was implanted. We learned ASL for like one year then we were told to "sit on our hands" because of the CI. But that is another thread. PRESS PLAY!

Anyway, he is a performer, so when everyone applauded after his speech, he started to cry. He kept saying, "I'm not sad! I'm not sad! Why are my eyes crying?" I had to explain to him (the best I could) that he was emotional. He was "moved" or flattered by the response to something he did. He was like, "Oh. How do I make it stop?" LOL

My son never really payed attention to the lyrics of music, so you can imagine my surprise when he started singing the words to Outkast "The Whole World". We were in the car and I dang near crashed trying to turn around and see who was singing! After that, it was on! I was trying to teach him the lyrics to everything I was listening to! Had to eliminate DMX from the CD rotation though! LOL His current favorite song is We Will Rock You by Queen.

Last one (might not be funny to some, but it was hilarious to me): He loves to quote lines from movies. So, he got a "good" one from some movie he saw (obviously something he watched without me). We were in WalMart and a friend of ours held up this awfully horrid shirt that was for sale. We're all giving the ill-face and saying ewww, my son turns around and says (in his unaware of his own volume tone) "What the he!! is that??" It took us hours to recover from laughing at him! He's like, "What's so funny? That is what the man said in the movie!"

Guess I have to teach him about bad words and swearing! LOL

Tousi · 10-14-2007, 02:30 AM

Hahaha, that cracked me up, Keanusmom! You mentioned about his being language and speech being severely delayed. Do you have a plan of attack for those issues?

R2D2 · 10-15-2007, 01:06 AM

Awww Keanusmom your son sounds gorgeous. How old is he?

If you want to start a thread about his language issues then we'll do our best to give support. I just hope it doesn't turn into a war though as people have strong feelings on this website about CIs, languages etc on here.

Angel · 10-15-2007, 03:47 AM

hahahaha Keanusmom, he sounds soo cute...I enjoyed reading your story there....

Keanusmom · 10-15-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

Hahaha, that cracked me up, Keanusmom! You mentioned about his being language and speech being severely delayed. Do you have a plan of attack for those issues?

Kind of. This is a critical year for my son. He was implanted at age four and was made to function in the hearing world. So this year, I sent him to a school for the deaf and he realized that THIS is where he belongs. So along with puberty kicking in, his psyche going haywire, having to leave his friends from his last school (oral program in a public school), realizing that he is part of the DEAF society! At the school for the deaf, everyone MUST sign at all times, so he is learning ASL at a super rapid pace. I feel like such a bad parent for not realizing that was the issue for so many years. I was convinced that his "miracle ear" was gonna kick in one day and make him talk right! But, as I said. This year was a big reality check for the both of us (he will be 13 in December). Now I am in ASL classes every weekend just trying to keep up with him!

Thank God for things like ASLPro.com, Sorenson VRS and Jr. NAD! All big aids in getting us comfortable in our new society.

R2D2 · 10-16-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keanusmom

Kind of. This is a critical year for my son. He was implanted at age four and was made to function in the hearing world. So this year, I sent him to a school for the deaf and he realized that THIS is where he belongs. So along with puberty kicking in, his psyche going haywire, having to leave his friends from his last school (oral program in a public school), realizing that he is part of the DEAF society! At the school for the deaf, everyone MUST sign at all times, so he is learning ASL at a super rapid pace. I feel like such a bad parent for not realizing that was the issue for so many years. I was convinced that his "miracle ear" was gonna kick in one day and make him talk right! But, as I said. This year was a big reality check for the both of us (he will be 13 in December). Now I am in ASL classes every weekend just trying to keep up with him!

Thank God for things like ASLPro.com, Sorenson VRS and Jr. NAD! All big aids in getting us comfortable in our new society.

Glad that the new direction in education is working well for you both and it sounds like you wish you had the confidence to do it sooner. I think that with your son being implanted at the age of four and having no spoken language before that, he was always going to struggle in an oral only program and it would have been prudent for the professionals to have recommended a program with ASL in a Bi Bi or TC approach at that age.

By the way, your son has a lovely smile

contradica · 10-16-2007, 08:15 PM

Keanusmom, you just cracked me up laughing hysterically. I know the songs from Outkast and listened to DMX in my hearing aid days, so I can imagine how you were like dang, my song is rapping LOL!! The only one I had an issue with listening to is B.O.B by Outkast. His mouth just flaps way to fast for my ears hehe. That is just wonderful though that he has came a long way. I can't wait to hear about more moments

vallee · 10-16-2007, 08:55 PM

My CI moment!!!!!!

My husband gave me the best gift - my own video ipod. I decided to download a free Magic Tree House audiobook. I use these fantastic books in my classroom. I'm sure I know all the books by heart! Well I am listening without a book in front of me, I am so enjoying it!!! I'm understanding around 80%-95% of the words. So I am off in my own world - the words are so crisps and clear.

So the treehouse started to spin, it spun faster and faster until everything was still perfectly still.

Keanusmom · 10-17-2007, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R2D2

Glad that the new direction in education is working well for you both and it sounds like you wish you had the confidence to do it sooner.

That is SOOO true. Its like, I knew it all along, but I was listening to "experts". I was intimidated because I had not had time to do my own research (and there really wasn't much available) before he was implanted. Did I tell y'all that it wasn't my decision to implant him? I was "convinced" that this would be the best thing for him and that he would be hearing and talking. I personally accepted that I had a deaf child as soon as he was diagnosed, but, as I said, I was listening to "them" and they sounded like they knew what they were talking about.

Quote:

I think that with your son being implanted at the age of four and having no spoken language before that, he was always going to struggle in an oral only program and it would have been prudent for the professionals to have recommended a program with ASL in a Bi Bi or TC approach at that age.

I agree, now that I know what it all entails and the possibility of it not going the way we planned. I wasn't given the option of Bi Bi, only Oral and TC. NO ASL at all. It makes me sick sometimes to know that my son was part of an experiment (you know Black people are sensitive to that mess! LOL) yet, no one took any data from me. No one asked for MY feedback in these studies I am reading about daily. I have yet to read a story where a child is like mine. All success stories were available in the beginning.
Only in HERE have I heard the REAL on how the implant feels inside your heads, how sounds sound, how it feels to hear for the first time. My son wasn't able to tell me all of that when he got his. So, hank you all again for keeping it real!

Quote:

By the way, your son has a lovely smile

He get's it from his Mama!

contradica said:

Quote:

Keanusmom, you just cracked me up laughing hysterically. I know the songs from Outkast and listened to DMX in my hearing aid days, so I can imagine how you were like dang, my son is rapping LOL!! The only one I had an issue with listening to is B.O.B by Outkast. His mouth just flaps way to fast for my ears hehe. That is just wonderful though that he has came a long way. I can't wait to hear about more moments

LOL My son is a true card! Now, he was only singing the chorus (There is no way he could keep up with Andre 3000!)

Man, at that graduation I spoke of earlier, his class had to sing a song, You've Got a Friend by James Taylor. For the final chorus, they said, "Everybody sing!" The audience sounded terrible because there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Knowing your child is deaf...
and seeing him up there singing a song (which is already a tear-jerker)...
and they sound like angels...
just makes your heart melt, man!

contradica · 10-17-2007, 09:34 PM

This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine.

"Whose there?" I hear Pat say.

"It's me." I reply.

Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I.

"Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said.

I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store.

"Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly.

"I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said.

BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you!

deafskeptic · 10-17-2007, 09:39 PM

Yep, they do. It's an awesome moment, Abbie.

Tousi · 10-17-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contradica

This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine.

"Whose there?" I hear Pat say.

"It's me." I reply.

Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I.

"Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said.

I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store.

"Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly.

"I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said.

BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you!

Ahhh, we have graduated to NONCHALANTLY, have we? Lol, j/k....a great moment!

jag · 10-18-2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contradica

This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine.

"Whose there?" I hear Pat say.

"It's me." I reply.

Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I.

"Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said.

I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store.

"Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly.

"I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said.

BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you!

Cool. Glad it's going so well. My hubby was talking to one of my daughters on the phone and said something to her and I told him the answer cause it was something he was saying he didn't know. He goes you heard me? I said yeah. He says to my daughter 'she heard me from the other room' then laughing he says to her, 'that's scary'

neecy · 10-18-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contradica

This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine.

"Whose there?" I hear Pat say.

"It's me." I reply.

Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I.

"Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said.

I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store.

"Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly.

"I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said.

BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you!

That brought tears to my eyes!! What a wonderful CI moment!! Its stories like these that make me smile!!!

R2D2 · 10-18-2007, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by contradica

This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine.

"Whose there?" I hear Pat say.

"It's me." I reply.

Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I.

"Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said.

I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store.

"Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly.

"I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said.

BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you!

Wonderful!

Roadrunner · 10-19-2007, 12:08 AM

Ahh...a moment of elation--nice.

~RR

deafskeptic · 10-19-2007, 01:26 PM

Earlier this morning, I could hear what sounded like running water but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized that it was pouring outside and that I've heard it once before. I went out to my patio to check and yep its rain Where I live, we're in middle of an expectional drought. I'm like has it been really that long since I last heard rain? I hope it rains again soon even if the sound drives me crazy as we won't have to rationize water if it rains and ends the drought.

contradica · 10-19-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafskeptic

Earlier this morning, I could hear what sounded like running water but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized that it was pouring outside and that I've heard it once before. I went out to my patio to check and yep its rain Where I live, we're in middle of an expectional drought. I'm like has it been really that long since I last heard rain? I hope it rains again soon even if the sound drives me crazy as we won't have to rationize water if it rains and ends the drought.

Woo hoo!! Thats great skeptic!! Doesn't rain sound so cool? I now know why people find it very soothing. What is next on your list to hear?

10-15-2007, 01:06 AM	#157 (permalink)
R2D2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 2,563	Awww Keanusmom your son sounds gorgeous. How old is he? If you want to start a thread about his language issues then we'll do our best to give support. I just hope it doesn't turn into a war though as people have strong feelings on this website about CIs, languages etc on here. __________________ Left ear implanted 9th June 2006 Activated 29th June 2006 Right ear implanted 31st August 2007 Activated 18th September Both Nucleus Freedom Cochlear implant myths

10-16-2007, 08:15 PM	#161 (permalink)
contradica Contradica Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 358	Keanusmom, you just cracked me up laughing hysterically. I know the songs from Outkast and listened to DMX in my hearing aid days, so I can imagine how you were like dang, my song is rapping LOL!! The only one I had an issue with listening to is B.O.B by Outkast. His mouth just flaps way to fast for my ears hehe. That is just wonderful though that he has came a long way. I can't wait to hear about more moments __________________ When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest. 8.27.07 -Left ear implanted with HiRes90k 9.17.07 -Activated with Harmony 120! http://contradica.blogspot.com

10-16-2007, 08:55 PM	#162 (permalink)
vallee Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 881	My CI moment!!!!!! My husband gave me the best gift - my own video ipod. I decided to download a free Magic Tree House audiobook. I use these fantastic books in my classroom. I'm sure I know all the books by heart! Well I am listening without a book in front of me, I am so enjoying it!!! I'm understanding around 80%-95% of the words. So I am off in my own world - the words are so crisps and clear. So the treehouse started to spin, it spun faster and faster until everything was still perfectly still. __________________ Right and Left Implanted July 19, 2007 Activated August 9, 2007 Both Advanced Bionics Harmony http://talesfromacigal.blogspot.com/

10-17-2007, 09:34 PM	#164 (permalink)
contradica Contradica Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 358	CI Moment!! This morning I was at work passing through an office to get to the fax machine in what I call a walk in storage closet. Passing through, there is a woman I work with name Pat concentrating so I sprinted passed her because I did not want to bother her. Pat is a cool chick, she was one of the few that felt my magnet on my head. I'm half awake trying to remember whether the document goes face down or face up in this fax machine. "Whose there?" I hear Pat say. "It's me." I reply. Mind you, there is a wall separating Pat and I. "Abbie! You heard that?!" Pat said. I peer around the corner and I see Pat sitting right in front of the doorway, with wide eyes just like a kid going to a candy store. "Yeah Pat, I heard you." I replied nonchalantly. "I can't believe that! Now before you would have never heard me before right?" Pat said. BOOM! It hit me like an espresso shot. Talk about a super delayed reaction. These moments sure sneak up on you! __________________ When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest. 8.27.07 -Left ear implanted with HiRes90k 9.17.07 -Activated with Harmony 120! http://contradica.blogspot.com Last edited by contradica; 10-17-2007 at 10:01 PM.

10-17-2007, 09:39 PM	#165 (permalink)
deafskeptic AAACCK! I got BORGED! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,211	Yep, they do. It's an awesome moment, Abbie. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th.

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

10-13-2007, 02:57 AM	#154 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 6,849	That's really great, Vallee; thank you for the clarification. Best wishes to you as you go forth.

10-14-2007, 12:40 AM	#155 (permalink)
Keanusmom Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Stone Mountain, GA Posts: 47	You guys have some great stories! You brought tears to my eyes describing how hearing something like birds and fireworks affected your lives. My CI moment would be when my son was turned on and turned around when I called his name. I cried like a cartoon character! I kept going in another room or behind a piece of furniture and calling him. He would come to find me and peek his cute little face around the wall grinning. sigh Man, that was the first most touching moment. Another would be (fast forward) when he graduated from elementary school. He had a speech to do and rocked it! PRESS PAUSE: Though my son has been implanted for 8 years, his language/ speech is severely delayed. He didn't have language before he was implanted. We learned ASL for like one year then we were told to "sit on our hands" because of the CI. But that is another thread. PRESS PLAY! Anyway, he is a performer, so when everyone applauded after his speech, he started to cry. He kept saying, "I'm not sad! I'm not sad! Why are my eyes crying?" I had to explain to him (the best I could) that he was emotional. He was "moved" or flattered by the response to something he did. He was like, "Oh. How do I make it stop?" LOL My son never really payed attention to the lyrics of music, so you can imagine my surprise when he started singing the words to Outkast "The Whole World". We were in the car and I dang near crashed trying to turn around and see who was singing! After that, it was on! I was trying to teach him the lyrics to everything I was listening to! Had to eliminate DMX from the CD rotation though! LOL His current favorite song is We Will Rock You by Queen. Last one (might not be funny to some, but it was hilarious to me): He loves to quote lines from movies. So, he got a "good" one from some movie he saw (obviously something he watched without me). We were in WalMart and a friend of ours held up this awfully horrid shirt that was for sale. We're all giving the ill-face and saying ewww, my son turns around and says (in his unaware of his own volume tone) "What the he!! is that??" It took us hours to recover from laughing at him! He's like, "What's so funny? That is what the man said in the movie!" Guess I have to teach him about bad words and swearing! LOL

10-14-2007, 02:30 AM	#156 (permalink)
Tousi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 6,849	Hahaha, that cracked me up, Keanusmom! You mentioned about his being language and speech being severely delayed. Do you have a plan of attack for those issues?

10-15-2007, 03:47 AM	#158 (permalink)
Angel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 18,635	hahahaha Keanusmom, he sounds soo cute...I enjoyed reading your story there....

10-19-2007, 12:08 AM	#170 (permalink)
Roadrunner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,090	Ahh...a moment of elation--nice. ~RR

10-19-2007, 01:26 PM	#171 (permalink)
deafskeptic AAACCK! I got BORGED! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,211	Earlier this morning, I could hear what sounded like running water but I couldn't figure out what it was. Then I realized that it was pouring outside and that I've heard it once before. I went out to my patio to check and yep its rain Where I live, we're in middle of an expectional drought. I'm like has it been really that long since I last heard rain? I hope it rains again soon even if the sound drives me crazy as we won't have to rationize water if it rains and ends the drought. __________________ Left ear implanted with Med-El on April 24 2007. Activated on May 9th.