Now that we have 3 kids with cochlear implants (Nolan, Theo, and Louise), Nikki and I have started doing a group class with them a few times a week.
The three of them are really good friends and doing the class together makes it more fun and also encourages them to be more focused and engaged.
Before I get into the class though, I want to give a quick update of each of them and an overview of where they are in their therapy.
Nolan:
I have sadly been horrible at posting updates about Nolan's progress. Nikki has been so good at documenting every step of the way that I have let it slip myself. Nolan had his CI surgery in February and switch on in March. So just over 8 months of hearing for him now.
When we decided to implant Nolan, we knew he would probably never develop speech because of his added challenge of CP and lack of mouth control. We were told that because he is older, he would also have a much more difficult time learning to hear. We were planning on much slower progress but with the hope that one day, he would understand speech fluently and sign his responses. It has proved much more challenging than that though. The auditory-verbal therapy he was getting at the hospital seemed useless to us but we didn't know what it should look like. After getting in touch with Lyndsey, a auditory-verbal therapist in the UK, we realized that the therapy was in fact useless and a waste of time and money. After a lot of prayer and talking through our options, we decided to pull him out of therapy so we could have more time to just work with him at home ourselves. Lyndsey has been so helpful in giving us guidance every step of the way and Skypes us frequently to work with the kids and give us new ideas and insight - a HUGE blessing!
Come to find out, in a lot of ways Nolan's therapy was actually training him to not listen as there was no point or encouragement to do so. We're now having to re-train him in a lot of ways. At this point, Nolan is definitely hearing and reacts to sound, but doesn't seem to be differentiating between the things he is hearing. It's hard to know for sure though as he is so good at reading people...
At this point, we are just focusing on reacting to sounds and recognizing and responding to a few common phrases.
Theo:
Theo has had his implant for a little over 5 months now and is doing great!
At first I was a little discouraged as I thought he wasn't learning as quickly as he should be, but after talking with Lyndsey and doing some more research, it looks like he is right on track!
Theo is familiar with many common phrases we use around the house and will follow a handful of commands consistently. He is answering to his name every time it is called - even from across the room. He is using a few words spontaneously to request things and can fairly accurately mimic everything we say to him. For months, Theo has been great at using his voice to ask for things but over the past week or two he is really trying to use different words. While I can't understand him, there is a lot of variety in what he is saying, rather than just one sound over and over again which is a great sign. I don't think it will be long before his verbal communication takes off!
Louise:
Louise has now had her implant for 2 1/2 months and is still at the beginning stages.
She is definitely hearing, but it is still not at full volume and her responses aren't consistent yet.
Right now we are just trying to get her consistently reacting to sound and using her voice to get our attention or make things happen. Both the boys would make a sound to get our attention when they wanted something even before they were implanted but Louise didn't and still doesn't seem to have quite found her voice yet. She is getting more and more consistent though and I don't think it will be much longer before we really start seeing her making a lot of progress.
So now that I've talked your ears off (eyes off?) with my set up, I'll actually tell you about the class! ;)
We just started these group sessions and while we are still figuring it out and tweaking things, it is already so much fun and has become our favorite part of the day!
We typically start with one or two activities that require them to listen for a sound and then react when they hear it. They also get to work on sitting quietly and waiting for their turn at the same time.
We do a game where we call their name and they have to turn to the one who's calling. Another in which they pretend to sleep when we say, "shhh" and then have to listen for the "wake up!" One to make sure they are hearing at all frequencies by putting coins in a bowl when they hear the Ling sounds (aah, eee, ooo, shhh, sss, and mmm).
We practice differentiating between sounds by taking turns with a baby doll. On their turn, they have to listen to what we say and then do the correct activity with the baby (aaah for water, mmm for food, and shhh for sleep).
Each of the kids are at a different level so we adjust the activity based on where they are and what our goals are for them.
For example, in the baby game we do Theo's from behind so he can't lip read and frequently have to prompt Nolan with the sign. Or with the sleeping game, Louise needs a visual reinforcement when the "wake up" comes but with Theo we say a handful of other phrases first and he has to wait for the right one.
And then as the kids progress, the games are set up where they can change with them so each is getting something useful out of it.
After we finish with that section of the class, we typically have Lily, Molly, and Dinah join us for the second half!
We sing songs and rhymes where they have to listen to what's being sung and do the hand motions that correspond with that song.
We also try to do one craft or group activity each day, integrating new language, working on play skills, and being creative.
Things like painting, floor puzzles, play dough, coloring, and Mr. Potato Head (a huge hit!).
Throughout the entire class, we try to talk through everything and integrate common words and phrases we use around the house like "high five," "no no no," "sit down," "up" "bye bye," and "uh oh," and are trying to get them to react correctly to the phrase without any visual prompts.
We are still changing things and adding activities as we get new ideas, but we've kind of settled into a groove with it now.
This time is so valuable for the kids and gives us the ability to integrate so many important things into a fun, play based setting.
I am so excited for the new plans and goals we have for our CI kids and the progress they are making! The three of them have really bonded and become a little club. Where you find one, you can usually find the other two. They have the rare privilege of having other kids with CIs in the same house and it has been so good for each of them. They have a sense of belonging and without even realizing it, encourage each other to grow in so many ways.
I love my CI kids so much and am incredibly blessed to have them in my life <3
Louise only needs one more sponsor to be fully sponsored for her 3rd birthday next week! Let's give this special girl the best birthday present ever! http://schindia.com/children/louise/
We do a game where we call their name and they have to turn to the one who's calling. Another in which they pretend to sleep when we say, "shhh" and then have to listen for the "wake up!" One to make sure they are hearing at all frequencies by putting coins in a bowl when they hear the Ling sounds (aah, eee, ooo, shhh, sss, and mmm).
Each of the kids are at a different level so we adjust the activity based on where they are and what our goals are for them.
For example, in the baby game we do Theo's from behind so he can't lip read and frequently have to prompt Nolan with the sign. Or with the sleeping game, Louise needs a visual reinforcement when the "wake up" comes but with Theo we say a handful of other phrases first and he has to wait for the right one.
And then as the kids progress, the games are set up where they can change with them so each is getting something useful out of it.
After we finish with that section of the class, we typically have Lily, Molly, and Dinah join us for the second half!
We sing songs and rhymes where they have to listen to what's being sung and do the hand motions that correspond with that song.
We also try to do one craft or group activity each day, integrating new language, working on play skills, and being creative.
Things like painting, floor puzzles, play dough, coloring, and Mr. Potato Head (a huge hit!).
Throughout the entire class, we try to talk through everything and integrate common words and phrases we use around the house like "high five," "no no no," "sit down," "up" "bye bye," and "uh oh," and are trying to get them to react correctly to the phrase without any visual prompts.
We are still changing things and adding activities as we get new ideas, but we've kind of settled into a groove with it now.
This time is so valuable for the kids and gives us the ability to integrate so many important things into a fun, play based setting.
I am so excited for the new plans and goals we have for our CI kids and the progress they are making! The three of them have really bonded and become a little club. Where you find one, you can usually find the other two. They have the rare privilege of having other kids with CIs in the same house and it has been so good for each of them. They have a sense of belonging and without even realizing it, encourage each other to grow in so many ways.
I love my CI kids so much and am incredibly blessed to have them in my life <3
Louise only needs one more sponsor to be fully sponsored for her 3rd birthday next week! Let's give this special girl the best birthday present ever! http://schindia.com/children/louise/
No comments:
Post a Comment