Vivie

LOL!!

The same reasons push me to investigate moving abroad if possible!! My mother did the same , as you do for Samantha , but bear in mind that there Deaf schools are not only boarding , they also are VERY behind in education , so for my mother there never was an option for her..if you do have the option , research it fully first before moving!

I also was kept a year behind to get myself catch up..and I never learnt GSL , I am lipreading..Too well my AVT trainer is saying..LOL!! I always preffered books over TV , and I was always a lot behind than my peers..had the hardest time going to the school.I never felt age apropriate !! My mother tried to get my vocabulary going off , but after a while , seeing that I read adult books by the age of 10 she relented..I can tell you numerous hilarious episodes!! LOL!!

I can understand though what Samantha is going through , and sometimes it's like going on a rope..it's harder! Don't you have in States , the option of homeschooling? Maybe homeschool her for a year or so , and enlist her in various activities for the afternoon..Like , piano lessons , painting , horseback riding or any sport she wants to try out! My parents were always giving me activities..I was going ballet lessons , piano , tennis , and lessons in driving an motorbike and so on...I even went dancing Greek dances lesson! Just to have fun!!

For the correcting part , doesn't Samantha feels frustrated sometimes ? I do remember that I was , and I wanted to kill my mother for always interrupting me..the balance is easily tipped off..Sometimes is just as good to held back our corrections just for the sake of the kid completing her thoughts!I remember also that my frustration led me to turn rudely on my heel and go away , thus angering my mother just to feel justified! LOL!!My poor mom!Since I moved away for college , things between us are better than ever , but when we've met since CI operation have detoriated as she wants the change to happen overnight! So..I'm re-training her..LOL!

As for the 'friends' part I can understand her..She could get some CI pen-pals from other states or countries, maybe that'd help her..what do you think? And it's terrific that her sister Addie helps her and plays with her at recess , my older brother did too for a while and after a while started to go with his own friends.when he started middle school things began a bit downhill..but I did find a few and rare and valuable friends that helped me..And my favourite cousing was always a year above me ,and always looking over me!
For the withdrawing part, she has to fight that for herself.I was too till I went to college.then I learned that with withdrawing you never get what you want! So I started getting as active as I could..I still get 'withdrawing' crises but I try to be ok most of the time.

I never knew of ASL , and my parents learned very basic signs while they were at NY so I was always in a spoken environtment..but , even if I couldn't talk , I was very clever!! Every time I was thirsty , I would pull my mother to the kitchen and show her the tap to give me water..my mother never relented though , she wanted me to say it! and various other things! LOL!!

Your oldest , I can sympathize..the kids that I look over at nights and weekends are in very unhappy in the event that I might move abroad..they started even saying lots of things that I will miss , to change my mind! LOL! ( they're 12 and 6 and they don't need really looking over , but they love me to bits , and I do love them ) . But you can tell her that we will cross that bridge when it happens, not before , and she always can call or write her friends , and allow her to spend part of her holidays with someone you trust here , so she can see her pals! It's all about a compromise! But , do not forget , kids are bright and adapt anywhere..us adults are more...problematic! haha!

Hello Samantha! You seem to be a very good and eager kid! Wish I could meet u and your mother sometimes!And yes , you and your family always will support anything that will help you flourish and be happy!! And never worry too much about age gaps..I never did , and I'm much better for it!!

and a laugh for all of you..your mother wrote earlier that you do lipread too well..LOL! Lipreading isn't always speech reading , but also observing facial changes , features!! Well my AVT teacher used to cover her mouth so I could wean off it..But I could guess what she said , as I always was keen in observing a lot of things to help me in lipreading..she tends to crinkle up her eyes a lot for instance if she said ha , etc! And I always was correct in guessing what she did..She got suspicious..She looked me thoughtfully...I played innocent , although I knew she started to get wind of it..she grabbed a book and covered her whole face! and started continuing our lessons..but I had broken in laughter , and since then , every time she does it , I always grin and giggle..she too..it's far too funny!! but , even sometimes her chest gives her away..LOL the way she moves when she talks..it's too funny and she's starting to say jokingly that she'll order a whole screen to cover herself!

My AVT uses cueing sometimes , to help me understand the sounds I hear..have you tried that ? As for ASL , I do think that if you say that this hour..say for 10 to 12 will be only for signing , so she can boost her signing before she goes to school , and possibly , to help your whole family get at least a basic concept of it? just a thought! Samantha , do you know any Greek at all ?

Samantha does have an FM system in school, I think it helps some. When she was implanted we were told not to teach her sign....if only I could turn back time. She does lipread, sometimes too well.....

We started her in school a year late, trying to give her the chance to catch up. It really isn't happening. Her vocabulary is still about 15 months behind her chronological age. She doesn't seem to be closing that gap at all. That's why I wish we would have signed from the beginning...She has such a difficult time trying to get her thoughts across and I feel like we are constantly correcting her.

She doesn't really have any "friends" in school. She is still young enough that her classmates have not yet begun to reject her. (That will come soon) They take care of her. She tends to withdraw. This is the first year that she does not want to go, she cries and begs to stay home with me. Her little sister, Addie, is one year behind her. They actually have recess together, so I know she has someone to play with then. It breaks my heart.

We are looking into the school for the deaf here. I'm hoping to get her somewhere that she can learn ASL and feel like she fits in, ya know? We would have to move though, and my oldest is not happy about that. (She is in 10th grade and has gone to school with the same kids since kindergarten)


Actually, you two have a lot in common, besides the Greek thing ...She is a total bookworm! Has always preferred books over TV.
(She reads all of your replies to me!) After reading your last post she agreed, we have to do whatever is best for Samantha.

Yeah I know how your daughter feels..and believe me, it's far worse here!!I was mainstreamed with HA's but , I was going to school only for the 'formal' education..the classmates weren't much interested to know me..and in afternoon I had homeschooling to catch up with school ( here , you can't opt out of school ) plus ballet , English lessons ( that's how I got so fluent..most of my friends struggle even to read novels in English..I relish them! ) , piano/music , and some years on/ off , tennis..I also never saw TV except the captioned Beverly Hills lol, and I was and still am an avid bookworm!

I had my HA's both till 11 years old , when I suddenly lost my right ear hearing and since then I was with my left ear , which decreased suddenly too last year or so..and I got implanted almost 4 months ago..I'm 25 , and it was my own decision! My family supported me wholeheartedly , and I don't regret it , even if I'm still at the starting phase..and I'm enthusiastic about my AVT , because my old one , back at my hometown wasn't very good..she's too strict and always overpressuring me sometimes..this one is cool and knows to set limits..and we're roughly the same age and we have a bit of a friendship..

I never knew Greek sign language , or even any sign language , though I think of learning it but I am excellent into lipreading greek language ( its very easy comparing to other languages..I struggled to french..in english I struggle sometimes , as I am not familiar with lipreading them , and only with the most basic! and I don't talk them much as I feel inadequate , even if I intellectually know that I'm excellent , reading , writing etc..) so even if my reasons for moving are partly to go bilateral , it was always a challenge dream for me to go abroad and challenge myself..I even moved away from my parents as soon as I was 17 , to go to college!

The only thing I sometimes regret is that I don't know GSL or ASL so I can communicate with deaf peers..and sometimes I feel lonely..my parents are hearing , as is my brother, so they opted out , for fear that I would not learn to talk or communicate with them any other way except GSL , not to mention that GSL schools are boarding ones , and with almost no education! Most deaf here are supported by their parents , or find a low paying job..so I can understand their opting out of GSL..And I'm trying to learn it on my own , but I'm not so consistent..

Does your daughter has an FM system ? or does she know ASL ? I remember being her age and feeling lonely and frustrated ..you definitely need some education system where your daughter will thrive..what are the options? If I were in your shoes , I would send her at a deaf school , and continue the therapy at home.or if that is not possible , get a pool of deaf friends, either with HA's or CI's or nothing at all , so she can get peer interaction.Does she has any friends ?

Samantha is 8. She is doing great with her CIs, but not so great being mainstreamed. We are looking at other options. So sad that technology has come so far but the school systems and the general population is still so backwards thinking!

How old were you when you got your implant?

It is awesome that you have found a good therapist, that can make all the difference in the world!

I will!! I decided to push it back for now , as I've found an really good AVT ( privately ) and although I pay her an handsome amount of cash , I'm impressed!

Maybe when I get around to move , insurances will cover the second..

How old is Samantha ?

At the time he said the same about it being expensive...

They weren't doing bilat when she was born so she only had the left side until now. Her initial stimulation on the right was Aug 18, so last weeks mapping was the first time she heard with it. She was SO excited! I am glad we were able to do it finally..
Good luck with the studies..keep me posted!

Well it sure is beautiful...But it's better you didn't move here..too expensive..and insurances aren't covering anything!

I am jealous about your daughter..I want too to go bilateral...will you adopt an 25 year old? LOL

Nobody replied in the thread..so I'm researching it on my own..*sigh* I am starting to look for States too...I might not have my family , but I'll be happier abroad I think..Greece is good only for holidays..

My middle daughter was born deaf (bilat CIs now)...I am so jealous of you living in Greece!! I tried to talk my ex-husband into moving back (to his home) when he took me there..Soo beautiful. The people, the country, etc..

No , but my parents have been..I have been in Thasos , Folegandros , Santorini , Chania.

USA..wow! I don't know much about North Carolina..is your d or you HA/Deaf ? just wondering..

We live in USA. North Carolina. Have you been to Lefkada?