Lioness 0 #1 February 8, 2005 I have a 1 month old son who was recently diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss. I have so many questions my mind is spinning. Even though he isn't a skydiver yet... (he does have 15 in utero jumps)... hehe. I was just hoping to network a bit and see if any deaf skydivers out there had any information for me regarding his condition, or your own stories. I have attached a picture of his cutie self. ______________________________________ Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #2 February 8, 2005 Can't help you with your questions, but your son is adorable! Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lioness 0 #3 February 8, 2005 Thank You! ______________________________________ Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #4 February 9, 2005 Awwwww! That's my shirt! PM me if I can use a picture of him on my web site. He is sooooooo cute! Give him lot's of love and you can't go wrong. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mx757 4 #5 February 9, 2005 I have profound hearing loss.. been that way all my life, best thing you could do is get him hearing aids asap. but i'm not sure what age is to start, sooner he hears things the better his grasp language will be, also its never to early learn sign language, kids pick it up right away.. in fact there's even been some research into children learning language faster via sign langage before they can even talk.. you should talk to hearing speclist but they all want different things, another thing to consider is cochlear ear implant, but I don't know how soon they can do them.. and they are but pricy, so besure insurance covers it... but being deaf is nothing to be ashamed of.. in fact I hate it when I have my hearing aids on sometimes.. TOO DAMN MUCH NOISE! background noises, other people talking, radio playing.. "noise pollution!" I am glad I can turn my hearing aids off.. and enjoy peace and quite any time. mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clite 0 #6 February 9, 2005 I have severe to profound loss( severe right borderline severe left). I was not diagonsed until I was 2. It is good you know at a early age so progress can be made. Hearing aids can do wonders nowdays and then there is cochler inplants, I don't know much about them. Some people can be very verbal and others may communicate thru ASL (American Sign Lanuage)only. Like Mike said deafness is nothing to be ashamed of, it is a culture of its own with many sucessful, fun people. Give him lots of love and do not let people say he can't do something because he is deaf. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mx757 4 #7 February 9, 2005 I often joke: God made me deaf, so I couldn't hear people tell me I couldn't be a pilot, skydive or aircraft mechanic.. etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lioness 0 #8 February 9, 2005 Thank you all so very much. Your input has helped me a lot. Blue skies & soft landings to you all! ______________________________________ Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #9 February 10, 2005 Teresa, I'm hearing and am an interpreter for the deaf. When my boys were young, I taught them sign language almost from birth. They were signing and communicating with me before they could talk. Every time I had them on the changing table to change their diaper, I would take their hand and place it on their chin and say "mom" over and over again. I was trying to teach them to sign "mom". By six months, they were doing it. Another great example of my boys knowing sign at a young age was one time I was sitting in the front seat of my van nursing my younger son. My husband and older son, he was about 2 1/2 years old, were in a store that had a big glass window and then a stage area. My husband was know to not really pay attention to the kids when he was into something else. Well, Luke decided he wanted to run back and forth on the stage in front of the window. Since I was stuck in the van and couldn't stop what I was doing, but was worried about the safety of my son running so close to the glass, I honked on the horn of the van, got Luke's attention, and signed to him to "Stop it." He looked at me, sign "no" and took off running again. My husband finally realized what Luke was doing, and got him to sit down. The mainstream programs at the schools I work at are wonderful. When I worked at the elementary level, the deaf children were in their classrooms with other deaf children, but mainstreamed with the hearing children for subjects that they were doing well in with an interpreter. I noticed that the other hearing children were very excited when it was time for one of the deaf children to come into the class, because they couldn't wait to show them the newest signs they had learned so they could communicate with them. During recess the deaf children were the most popular children on the playground. What ever you do, learn sign language as soon as possible for your child's sake and use it even when you are not talking to him. Hearing children learn so much just in passing. Passing the T.V., listening to mom and dad talk about their day, or even when the radio is on in the car. Deaf children don't have that opportunity, so signing when ever the child is present will allow them to pick up on things. Check with the local college in your area, most times they offer some kind of sign language class. Trying to learn sign from a book is hard, since it's only one dimension, and it's almost impossible to figure out what way they want you to move the sign, those darn arrows don't really help. You seem like a mother that loves her child very much. Love is the most important thing.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mx757 4 #10 February 10, 2005 well said Mary... thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkwskydive 0 #11 February 11, 2005 Hi, I am profoundly deaf and blind in my left eye. have no ability of talking orally but do ability to write. Am very proud of what I am...like Mike said - no shame...feeling norml like everyone. Being deaf is invisible. If you want more info about deafness, pls check out http://www.gallaudet.edu and click on "Clerc Center" to list. Hope that helps you.. john Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #12 February 11, 2005 Ya know, for being a computer geek you'd think you would know how to make a clicky. Gallaudet May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkwskydive 0 #13 February 11, 2005 Smile... I never thought but thank for a cute help. MY brain is fullllllllllllll. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skycurlycat 0 #14 February 11, 2005 John must be having the "wind tunnel" withdrawals if he can't think and his brain is FULL! PMS #113 PMTS #19 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jayruss 0 #15 February 19, 2005 QuoteI often joke: God made me deaf, so I couldn't hear people tell me I couldn't be a pilot, skydive or aircraft mechanic.. etc. best line I've heard all day, not being able to hear the "can'ts" in life would be great __________________________________________________ "Beware how you take away hope from another human being." -Oliver Wendell Holmes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maggott 0 #16 April 6, 2005 I am hard of hearing and am an ASL instructor. I have a degree in Education, and am working on a Master's degree in Psychology focussed on Deaf identity Development. My advice that echos that of many other posts is that Start Signing right now no matter what other choices you make. Ignore the people that tell you that it will affect speech. This is not true, but still believed by many "specialists." If I had a deaf child, I would do everything I could to make him or her a Happy and Whole Deaf person. I would not make any attempts to make the child hearing any more than I try to make my cat act like a dog. As for hearing aids and cochlear implants... keep in mind that the specialists that you deal with make a very good living off of selling and supporting such technology. I'm not saying that they are wrong... just be aware of their biases. I love Deaf people! But each is unique and has different needs. My biases are stron as well (I will be honest about that). I know too many Deaf adults who were wounded by attempts to make them more "hearing" instead of having happy childhoods. Learn ASL! It's a blast and a beautiful language! And learn as much as you can about raising a deaf child... you've got plenty of time! I could recommend books if you'd like (even those taht don't line up with my beliefs). Let me know if I can help you with anything. Enjoy that cute baby!!! Blue Skies.~Maggott __________________________________________________________________________________ "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
