Hello, been lurking for almost a week. I am Kat, a hearie parent of a hearie 2 year old with expressive communication delay. Currently working with an EI therapist that wants us to learn baby sign language. I prefer to learn ASL instead of just baby sign language or English Sign Language (thank you for explaining the difference between ESL vs ASL).
Background: My daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma 4-s at 10 weeks old and underwent a couple of chemo treatments with platinum-based antineoplastic drugs, and a slew other drugs during her PICU stay which are ototoxic. She is currently in remission for almost a year now, thankfully no major health concerns on the horizon. Her hearing has been tested several times, and which she has passed.
While her hearing is ok at the moment, things might change in the future. Either because of a relapse requiring more chemo, or hearing loss as a late term side effect as she ages. My point for coming here was to have some exposure to the deaf culture outside of the pediatric cancer world. My exposure so far with our treatment centers is basically outlining all major side effects and what you can do to prevent or treat. Hearing loss was mentioned in my literature as something treatable and have meet several kids with HA/CIs. My outlook/worldview on CI/HAs has changed since I've come to this site. As well as being deaf is not something you 'treat', it is your new identity or culture if you so choose.
If we are going to learn signing as a tool for my daughter to become verbal, I would like to go the extra mile an learn a new language properly. Being a parent to a toddler and working full time is throwing a wrench in picking up a college course in ASL. So I'm looking into live online classes (mentioned here) and/or weekend program locally.
Thank you.
Background: My daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma 4-s at 10 weeks old and underwent a couple of chemo treatments with platinum-based antineoplastic drugs, and a slew other drugs during her PICU stay which are ototoxic. She is currently in remission for almost a year now, thankfully no major health concerns on the horizon. Her hearing has been tested several times, and which she has passed.
While her hearing is ok at the moment, things might change in the future. Either because of a relapse requiring more chemo, or hearing loss as a late term side effect as she ages. My point for coming here was to have some exposure to the deaf culture outside of the pediatric cancer world. My exposure so far with our treatment centers is basically outlining all major side effects and what you can do to prevent or treat. Hearing loss was mentioned in my literature as something treatable and have meet several kids with HA/CIs. My outlook/worldview on CI/HAs has changed since I've come to this site. As well as being deaf is not something you 'treat', it is your new identity or culture if you so choose.
If we are going to learn signing as a tool for my daughter to become verbal, I would like to go the extra mile an learn a new language properly. Being a parent to a toddler and working full time is throwing a wrench in picking up a college course in ASL. So I'm looking into live online classes (mentioned here) and/or weekend program locally.
Thank you.