Miss-Delectable
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Sidney Herald - We are your story!
Tayten Bright, son of Chad "Peep" and Tiffany Bright, not yet 2 years old, shows the case of "terrible 2s" just like many other toddlers his age. As most children do. Tayten plays and finds ways to stretch the levels of tension with his parents, and just like so many others, he chooses selective "hearing" as a vice.
The only problem with Tayten using selective hearing is that he is deaf. So, in his case, he uses "selective-paying attention to mom and dad." Tayten is just as active as any other child and for the most part, does the same things other children do.
In the United States, 24,000 children are born with some degree of hearing loss each year and most are born to parents that have normal hearing and no experience with deafness. Newborn hearing screening is now a requirement in most states.
Early detection of hearing loss is very important since babies begin to develop speech and language in their earliest months of life. Many states now require the newborn hearing screening before leaving the hospital after birth.
At birth, Tayten did not pass his hearing test in one ear and continued to do so when re-tested throughout the following weeks. The medical staff did not make a big deal about it and had stated that he may have failed due to debris or fluid in the ear, or it may have been that his ear canal wasn't fully developed. The Brights, being first time parents, really didn't think anything of the results and now wish they would have pushed for further testing earlier in Tayten's life.
No one is certain that Tayten was born with hearing loss, but after many trips to the audiologist and finally an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test in Missoula on May 21, it was confirmed that Tayten had profound hearing loss in both ears. At this time, Tayten also had a CT scan, which showed no abnormalities and left his medical team questioning why the little boy could not hear.
After their trip to Missoula, the Brights went to the local audiologist where Tayten was fitted with hearing aids, but as Tiffany says, "It wasn't likely that the aids would help at all." After further testing, it was observed that the aids did not help in Tayten's case and another avenue had to be taken.
The next step was to think about cochlear implants. This electronic device provides a sense of sound to the profoundly deaf or severe hard of hearing person. The cochlear implant is also known as the "bionic ear." The implant works directly, stimulating the auditory nerves inside the cochlea with electrical impulses.
External components of the cochlear implant include a microphone, speech processor and transmitter. Since this is an implant, it means Tayten requires surgery. His surgery is set for Sept. 13 in Missoula where he will be the first child bilaterally implanted at that clinic.
Tayten's implant devices will not be activated until sometime in October, so he will not hear his first sound until then. When Tayten's implants are activated, it will be like hearing for the first time ever.
After many weekly and then monthly trips to a pediatric audiologist and auditory verbal therapist in Denver, the hope is that Tayten will be on his way to hearing and speaking like other children around his age by the time he reaches grade school.
Chad and Tiffany, along with local family, started self-educating themselves and using American Sign Language in mid-March. Today, Tayten can sign 75 or more signs, but understands more than just 75. This may seem like many signs, but it can still be frustrating for him and his parents as they are still in the learning stages.
The Brights became involved with the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind outreach program. A local woman, Tara Skaar, teaches adult sign classes and is helping to educate the couple, along with Tayten. "It is awesome to watch her sign as she speaks," Tiffany said. "She will be very helpful in our journey!"
In the words of Tayten's parents, "Tayten is the happiest little guy around, and of all things that could be wrong with our son, we are thankful that this isn't life-threatening."
There will be a benefit held at the Triangle in Sidney Sept. 22 to help with medical costs for Tayten. It will consist of a spaghetti feed and silent auction. For more information on the benefit, contact Amanda Reynolds at 776-2411 or Tara "Munchie" Bright, 488-6104.
Tayten Bright, son of Chad "Peep" and Tiffany Bright, not yet 2 years old, shows the case of "terrible 2s" just like many other toddlers his age. As most children do. Tayten plays and finds ways to stretch the levels of tension with his parents, and just like so many others, he chooses selective "hearing" as a vice.
The only problem with Tayten using selective hearing is that he is deaf. So, in his case, he uses "selective-paying attention to mom and dad." Tayten is just as active as any other child and for the most part, does the same things other children do.
In the United States, 24,000 children are born with some degree of hearing loss each year and most are born to parents that have normal hearing and no experience with deafness. Newborn hearing screening is now a requirement in most states.
Early detection of hearing loss is very important since babies begin to develop speech and language in their earliest months of life. Many states now require the newborn hearing screening before leaving the hospital after birth.
At birth, Tayten did not pass his hearing test in one ear and continued to do so when re-tested throughout the following weeks. The medical staff did not make a big deal about it and had stated that he may have failed due to debris or fluid in the ear, or it may have been that his ear canal wasn't fully developed. The Brights, being first time parents, really didn't think anything of the results and now wish they would have pushed for further testing earlier in Tayten's life.
No one is certain that Tayten was born with hearing loss, but after many trips to the audiologist and finally an ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) test in Missoula on May 21, it was confirmed that Tayten had profound hearing loss in both ears. At this time, Tayten also had a CT scan, which showed no abnormalities and left his medical team questioning why the little boy could not hear.
After their trip to Missoula, the Brights went to the local audiologist where Tayten was fitted with hearing aids, but as Tiffany says, "It wasn't likely that the aids would help at all." After further testing, it was observed that the aids did not help in Tayten's case and another avenue had to be taken.
The next step was to think about cochlear implants. This electronic device provides a sense of sound to the profoundly deaf or severe hard of hearing person. The cochlear implant is also known as the "bionic ear." The implant works directly, stimulating the auditory nerves inside the cochlea with electrical impulses.
External components of the cochlear implant include a microphone, speech processor and transmitter. Since this is an implant, it means Tayten requires surgery. His surgery is set for Sept. 13 in Missoula where he will be the first child bilaterally implanted at that clinic.
Tayten's implant devices will not be activated until sometime in October, so he will not hear his first sound until then. When Tayten's implants are activated, it will be like hearing for the first time ever.
After many weekly and then monthly trips to a pediatric audiologist and auditory verbal therapist in Denver, the hope is that Tayten will be on his way to hearing and speaking like other children around his age by the time he reaches grade school.
Chad and Tiffany, along with local family, started self-educating themselves and using American Sign Language in mid-March. Today, Tayten can sign 75 or more signs, but understands more than just 75. This may seem like many signs, but it can still be frustrating for him and his parents as they are still in the learning stages.
The Brights became involved with the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind outreach program. A local woman, Tara Skaar, teaches adult sign classes and is helping to educate the couple, along with Tayten. "It is awesome to watch her sign as she speaks," Tiffany said. "She will be very helpful in our journey!"
In the words of Tayten's parents, "Tayten is the happiest little guy around, and of all things that could be wrong with our son, we are thankful that this isn't life-threatening."
There will be a benefit held at the Triangle in Sidney Sept. 22 to help with medical costs for Tayten. It will consist of a spaghetti feed and silent auction. For more information on the benefit, contact Amanda Reynolds at 776-2411 or Tara "Munchie" Bright, 488-6104.