This post is made possible through the support of Cochlear. This company is a huge part of our lives and something I am very passionate about. As always all opinions are my own.
I will never forget the day we found out that our daughter SJ was deaf. The intensity of those feelings that seemed like they would always be raw have since been diluted with time. It took a good two years though to find our new rhythm.
No one in our family was deaf. So at the time all I had was a stack of books and pamphlets from the audiologist about “Understanding Your Child’s Hearing Loss.” To say it was overwhelming would be an understatement. I knew nothing about hearing loss. I honestly had never even heard of the cochlear implant before. Now I don’t know how I missed it, but it just wasn’t a part of our lives at the time.
When I did hear about the cochlear implant I thought it was brain surgery, which isn’t true. I also thought it would be better to wait until my daughter was an adult and let her decide for herself whether or not she wanted cochlear implants. However, after learning so much about how critical those early years are in language development we decided we wanted her to hear. Deaf children as early as 12 months old may qualify for cochlear implants and SJ was already two and a half years old. There was a lot of time to make up for and we wanted her to hear as soon as possible.
Like I said, we didn’t have any friends or family that were deaf that I could talk to, but I heard that my friend’s dad had cochlear implants. I was desperate to hear his thoughts. So even though he lived in another state I got his email address and reached out. He told me about his hearing loss and why he chose Cochlear for his hearing implant. In short, he explained how Cochlear has an amazing track record. Cochlear has been in operation for over 30 years. They are the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. SJ and my friend’s dad have Cochlear implants, but they also provide other products such as bone conduction implants. Cochlear has helped over 450,000 people worldwide who have moderate to severe hearing loss.
Deciding to implant a hearing device into your child’s head is not an easy decision and then deciding which manufacturer she will be committed to for the rest of her life is certainly something we did not take lightly. In the end we felt like we could trust Cochlear. She’s only had her hearing implants for 3 1/2 years now, but Cochlear has gone above and beyond when it comes to partnering with us to provide SJ the opportunity to live a life without limits.
Nearly 90% of children born deaf come from parents who are hearing (source), as was the case with our family. It’s hard to know what to do and who to reach out to. If you are one of those parents, friends, or grandparents in the middle of a hearing loss journey www.IWantYouToHear.com is an incredible resource. It can ease the sting of that overwhelming shock that you feel at first. Cochlear isn’t there to pressure you into making a decision about what to do when your child has a hearing loss. That’s something extremely personal and you have to decide what’s best in your situation. However, if you have decided that you do want your child to hear they are committed to being a support for life.
When people ask me about parenting a deaf child or a child with a disability I always say the same thing.
Being a parent is a full time job. Being a special needs parent is a like working a second job on top of that.
You can’t and shouldn’t do it alone, but luckily there is help out there. I encourage you as an advocate for your child to get a support system in place. This could include doctors, early intervention specialists, teachers, therapists, and even the team at Cochlear and iwantyoutohear.com.
Another thing I say on repeat about raising special needs children (and this applies to raising children in general) is that It isn’t easy, but it is a privilege.
Speech, language, and hearing are skills that take a lot of extra effort for these precious deaf children. But as you teach them you will learn too. You will learn how to really pause, and listen, and to not take any little sound for granted.
I am truly thankful for this journey we’ve been on. I have been connected with so many amazing people along the way. I have never regretted our choice with Cochlear. We wanted our daughter to hear and now she can. We wanted our daughter to have a life with out limits and she does.
I think it’s wonderful that you continue to share your thoughts and feelings about this. It helps us remember to be grateful for things, remember other people have struggles and successes – that we cannot imagine. Your family is happy, healthy and thriving! Hugs to your amazing spirit and inspiration! You’ve taught me a lot my friend! 💕
Thank you for expressing EXACTLY how I feel. My daughter was the first in our family to be born deaf as well, and it was so overwhelming. She is now 8 years old, a bilateral Cochlear recipient and excelling in a mainstream classroom. It hasn’t always been an easy ride, but definitely a rewarding one!
Thank you for commenting Tiffany. Your words made me tear up. It helps so much to have someone that relates. I am also so glad to hear that your daughter (who is only two years older than mine) is doing so well! That is encouraging.
Out son was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss at 3 weeks old. It was a shock for me and devastating even though I have profound hearing loss and have Cochlear implants. We were told that the chances of me passing down my deafness was very unlikely. So in this case, the genetic doctor was wrong. My parents was in the same boat as you were in the late 80s and early 90s. No history of family members with deafness.
My baby boy is fearfully and wonderfully made by our wonderful Creator. <3. That has helped in giving me peace that God is in control!
I am counting down the days till he gets the surgery at 12 months.
Wow. Each story I hear has similarities and yet no two situations are exactly alike. I am sure you must have been so caught off guard in the midst of that. I just prayed for your little one’s surgery. I am so grateful for His peace and strength that passes all understanding.Blessings.
Natalie, Lexi just shared your blog with me. Thank you for letting me help you and your family. You’re correct that it is a very personal and tough decision that you made for your daughter. I applaud your honesty and thank you for sharing your journey with so many others.
I’m trusting that your daughter is making great stides daily, she’s such a beauty!