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Deaf twins speak up for others | CourierPostOnline.com | Courier-Post
Nine-year-old twins Kaitlyn and Tyler Weatherby are on a mission.
The two Hurffville Elementary School fourth-graders -- both of whom have severe hearing impairment -- are trying to persuade politicians to pass legislation that would help families afford hearing aids for children who are hearing impaired.
"I want to help other kids be able to hear," Tyler told the state Senate Commerce Committee on Jan. 28. "Without my hearing aids, I would live in a quiet and lonely world."
The twins are fighting for Grace's Law -- a bill now in the Senate Appropriations Committee -- that would require health insurance companies to provide $1,000 in coverage for hearing aids every 24 months for children 15 and younger.
"I want the less fortunate kids to be able to have hearing aids, too," Kaitlyn explained, pointing to her pink, sparkly earpieces. "Everyone should be able to hear."
Most hearing aids are not covered by insurance, and can range between $1,000 and $3,000 a set, which must be changed every few years as children grow. Batteries, which must be switched every two to three days, can cost about $150 per week.
Katherine Weatherby, the twins' mom, also has severe hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids.
"It can get really expensive, and for families who can't afford them, their kids can grow up with serious problems," she said, referring to delays in learning how to talk, communicate, read and listen. "It's not like when I was a kid, when you were either deaf or mainstream. Hearing aids are necessary and essential. Without them, my kids would have to go to a special school."
The law is named for Grace Gleba, an 8-year-old Hunterdon County girl with a severe hearing impairment. Her mother, Jeanine Gleba, started lobbying for the bill in 1999.
For the three Weatherbys, putting hearing aids on in the morning is as natural as brushing their teeth after breakfast.
At school, the twins put little "boots" on their earpieces so they can hear their teachers clearly. The instructor wears a small microphone, which makes it possible for the teacher's voice to be heard by the twins through their hearing aids.
"Other than their hearing loss, they're typical 9-year-olds," Weatherby said of her children.
At swim team meets, officials either use a light to indicate the start of the race or use an exceptionally loud buzzer.
But without the hearing aids, they would be able to hear only loud noises. Regular conversational voices, the rustling of leaves, the passing of traffic would be lost. The twins can only hear sounds like fire drills and shouting, loud dog barking and similar sounds without their hearing aids.
It is estimated about 10 percent of all public school children have some degree of hearing loss, according to the bill.
At the end of his speech in Trenton, Tyler described the first time he put his hearing aids in his ears and heard the birds chirping.
"I remember that," Tyler said. "Before that, I had stuffy ears. And then, I could hear."
State Sen. Fred Madden, D-Gloucester, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
"We're pushing for this, we're writing letters," Katherine Weatherby said. "It's been a long time, but it's important. This is something I'm passionate about and something my family really believes in."
Nine-year-old twins Kaitlyn and Tyler Weatherby are on a mission.
The two Hurffville Elementary School fourth-graders -- both of whom have severe hearing impairment -- are trying to persuade politicians to pass legislation that would help families afford hearing aids for children who are hearing impaired.
"I want to help other kids be able to hear," Tyler told the state Senate Commerce Committee on Jan. 28. "Without my hearing aids, I would live in a quiet and lonely world."
The twins are fighting for Grace's Law -- a bill now in the Senate Appropriations Committee -- that would require health insurance companies to provide $1,000 in coverage for hearing aids every 24 months for children 15 and younger.
"I want the less fortunate kids to be able to have hearing aids, too," Kaitlyn explained, pointing to her pink, sparkly earpieces. "Everyone should be able to hear."
Most hearing aids are not covered by insurance, and can range between $1,000 and $3,000 a set, which must be changed every few years as children grow. Batteries, which must be switched every two to three days, can cost about $150 per week.
Katherine Weatherby, the twins' mom, also has severe hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids.
"It can get really expensive, and for families who can't afford them, their kids can grow up with serious problems," she said, referring to delays in learning how to talk, communicate, read and listen. "It's not like when I was a kid, when you were either deaf or mainstream. Hearing aids are necessary and essential. Without them, my kids would have to go to a special school."
The law is named for Grace Gleba, an 8-year-old Hunterdon County girl with a severe hearing impairment. Her mother, Jeanine Gleba, started lobbying for the bill in 1999.
For the three Weatherbys, putting hearing aids on in the morning is as natural as brushing their teeth after breakfast.
At school, the twins put little "boots" on their earpieces so they can hear their teachers clearly. The instructor wears a small microphone, which makes it possible for the teacher's voice to be heard by the twins through their hearing aids.
"Other than their hearing loss, they're typical 9-year-olds," Weatherby said of her children.
At swim team meets, officials either use a light to indicate the start of the race or use an exceptionally loud buzzer.
But without the hearing aids, they would be able to hear only loud noises. Regular conversational voices, the rustling of leaves, the passing of traffic would be lost. The twins can only hear sounds like fire drills and shouting, loud dog barking and similar sounds without their hearing aids.
It is estimated about 10 percent of all public school children have some degree of hearing loss, according to the bill.
At the end of his speech in Trenton, Tyler described the first time he put his hearing aids in his ears and heard the birds chirping.
"I remember that," Tyler said. "Before that, I had stuffy ears. And then, I could hear."
State Sen. Fred Madden, D-Gloucester, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
"We're pushing for this, we're writing letters," Katherine Weatherby said. "It's been a long time, but it's important. This is something I'm passionate about and something my family really believes in."