skymama 37 #1 December 9, 2004 Even though he split his cheek from a stocking hanger and split open his incision on his head by falling off a scooter this week, I still thought things were going pretty good for him. Now my mom just told me that he has total hearing loss in his ear that's on the side of his head that they did the brain surgery on. My mom noticed he was looking at our mouths while we talked to him and it was this picture that prompted her to suggest he go back to the doctor. She said he's looking at my mouth instead of my eyes. Now he's set up with a hearing specialist later this month. Poor little guy! She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VampireGirl 0 #2 December 9, 2004 He's smiling!! He's here to enjoy your smile. Hope all goes well, he's young and bound to bounce back!!! All the best to him. XXwww.sneale-create.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #3 December 9, 2004 Poor kid! On the bright side, kids seem to adjust wonderfully to things like that. I have two young kids in my family (dad's cousins kids) who are both ounder 7 (both male) both with 70%+ hearing loss. They've adjusted wonderfully and don't seem to have any trouble with it. I hope the same is true for Ryan - he's such a cutie! JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amanduh 0 #4 December 9, 2004 Good job on your mom's behalf!! It is always best if any medical problem is recognized early. You know most people wouldn't have even thought twice about him looking at mouths instead of eyes. Your mom needs two big pats on the back!!! I hope everything works out for the lil one. He is so adorable!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjhdiver 0 #5 December 9, 2004 QuoteEven though he split his cheek from a stocking hanger and split open his incision on his head by falling off a scooter this week, I still thought things were going pretty good for him. Now my mom just told me that he has total hearing loss in his ear that's on the side of his head that they did the brain surgery on. My mom noticed he was looking at our mouths while we talked to him and it was this picture that prompted her to suggest he go back to the doctor. She said he's looking at my mouth instead of my eyes. Now he's set up with a hearing specialist later this month. Poor little guy! You never know. He may be suffering from SSHL (Sudden Sensonuerial Hearing Loss). In about 35% of cases, the hearing will return over time. Here's hoping so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #6 December 9, 2004 Talk about one really smart kid, though! Its a bad situation, but how smart does a little guy that have to be to have that happen and not miss a beat, start looking at mouths to see what you're saying. That's one bright kid!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #7 December 9, 2004 Here's hoping things go well for him! Hugs to him, you and the family.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
VanillaSkyGirl 6 #8 December 9, 2004 Andrea, I'm sorry that you are going through this still. Just remember that Ryan is a trooper. He is alive and well. (Hopefully, the hearing loss is temporary.) Things will work out in the end. Btw, your mother is amazing...reminds me of my own mother. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumperconway 0 #9 December 9, 2004 Sorry to hear Andi' He's young and if it doesn't return he'll be fine. Kids are amazing at adjusting to things that would really bother an adult. Hold that head high little man for there's a future for you yet. There's a lot of prayers going on for ya. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #10 December 9, 2004 -And he's so HAPPY!!!! Kids have a way of adapting and overcoming and STILL enjoying life when they have challenges that would seem insurmountable for us weak adults...I know this to be absolutely true, so you keep lovin' the lil' guy and he will keep blessing your heart. Kudos to gramma for recognizing, and for his family and extended family for giving him the best chance at the least restrictive life possible and loving such a special kid...~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheAnvil 0 #11 December 9, 2004 hope things go well for you/him! At least he's alive...that kid's been through a lot. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #12 December 9, 2004 Andrea, as you know, I'm an interpreter for the deaf and have been working with Deaf People for over 20 years. If I may, can I make some suggestions for Rayan and his family. ~Don't wait to start him in a formal sign language class. Do it now. ~Everyone needs to learn sign language along side of Rayan. Don't make him feel as if he is being punished for having to go to the classes with out mom and dad and family. It's important that when you all start learning Sign Language that you use it all the time around Ryan. Even if he's not paying attention. The reason why is that hearing children learn about things around them through listening to mom, dad, and anyone else around them talking. Hearing children pick that information up in just passing. Children with a hearing loss miss that information. But, if you are all signing, even when he's not paying attention, when he looks up, then he will catch what is going on. I suggest the sign language classes even if he has a slight loss. This will aid him as he gets older. Good luck, and let me know if there is anything else you need to know.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
skymama 37 #13 December 9, 2004 Wow, Mary, I didn't know a sign language class would be that important since he can still hear out of one ear, but I see your point. I copied your message for his mother to read. At 23 months, he's not too young to start?She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mfrese 0 #14 December 9, 2004 Sorry to hear about this, Andrea. Let's hope this is temporary as Gareth suggested. If not, there's a wide range of possible solutions out there depending on the cause. My niece recently underwent her 35th surgery (in 13 years) to implant a mount for a Bone Attached Hearing Aid (BAHA). The BAHA has allowed her to have near-normal hearing after having only about 30% for most of her life. (Eleven of her surgeries were on her ears, to attempt to fix problems with her stapies (?) with a prostethic; only after those failed did they try the BAHA.) Bottom line, there are a lot of options out there...and Mar's suggestion about ASL is great, too. My niece still remembers signs from when she was about 2 that we were learning with her, so it's definitely not too young to start. Anyway, tell him the weird California people say hi, and best of luck to him and your whole family. And hey, if he's out splitting his head open already, he's probably going to tough this out just fine. Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mouth 0 #15 December 9, 2004 Lots of hugs for the little guy. He will do well I firmly believe that plus he is so lucky that you all love him and care so much about him. Mar has some good advice. At school we had a deaf 4 y/o who kept up with my 4th grade class because she taught us all how to sign her basic needs. She would go with us to lunch and outside to play so we all learned how to sign what was for lunch and restroom and playground, swing or ball. -- Hot Mama At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #16 December 9, 2004 QuoteAt 23 months, he's not too young to start? I'm no way an expert, but I remember seing documentaries of kids who learn sign and spoken language at the same time as they grow up since their parents were deaf but they were not. They mastered the same developmental stages of the languages at the same time (words, sentenses, qustions, etc...). Kids are much smarter then us... Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #17 December 9, 2004 QuoteAt 23 months, he's not too young to start? My boys were signing before they could talk. I realize that Ryan only has a slight hearing loss, but some thing I've learned from my clients with their different hearing losses is this: Give a child every opportunity to learn with what ever method works. *American Sign Language *Signing Exact English *Total Communication *Hearing aids *Hearing Trainers There are so many different options, please, please, please, don't wait till it's too late. Ryan is at a stage in his life where he is learning so much.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
SkymonkeyONE 4 #18 December 9, 2004 What am I missing here? Who is Ryan? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #19 December 9, 2004 I can belive that I'm telling a greenie to do a search. Better yet, here.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
jceman 1 #20 December 9, 2004 QuoteAt 23 months, he's not too young to start? I know others have spoke up on this, but I'l tell you a little story about my second youngest grandson -- Jackson's day care provider had her mother living with her and she was profoundly deaf. Jackson liked her a lot and she loved him, so they tought him to sign; by the time he was two, he could communicate in AmerSLan as well, if not better than he could talk. It most assuredly is not too early; if he regains the hearing on that side, he'll still have more language skills at his disposal later on in his life. That can never be a bad thing. Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, more money. Why do they call it "Tourist Season" if we can't shoot them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #21 December 10, 2004 Quote It most assuredly is not too early; if he regains the hearing on that side, he'll still have more language skills at his disposal later on in his life. That can never be a bad thing. Who knows, he might want to grow up to be an Interpreter for the Deaf. There seems to never be enough of them in this area.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
Layton 0 #22 December 10, 2004 i have a nephew that lost his hearing when he was a toddler.my sister put him in sign classes before he started regular school.sign language is a very interesting language.im learning now and its amazing to watch 2 people that are fluent talk to each other.my nephew and myself communicate pretty well.good luck to ryan and ill keep him in my prayers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #23 December 10, 2004 Skymama.....give the little guy a big hug from all of us...give his Mom and yourself one, too. We sincerely hope that all turns out well for him.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #24 December 10, 2004 Ryan sounds like he is experiencing similar hearing problems as my nephew Joshua. Poor Joshua was born pre-mature and was not diagnosed with 90% deafness until he was 2 years old. My brother was reluctant to "give him over to the deaf folk," and was able to arrange for coquliar (sp?) implant surgery. The young lad still only talks like a 10-month-old - something about having to train new lip muscles - but he is teaching himself sign language from a book! So far he has mastered signing numbers from 1 to 5 (easy with 1 hand) and is now tackling 6 through 10. Is that bright or what? While Joshua may have gotten a poor start in life, his teachers reassure us that he is bright and a quick study. My brother says that on several occasions, he has taught Joshua a new concept and had the young lad repeat it back to him the next day! In the long run, we expect Joshua to end up bilingual - like his dad - maybe just not in english and french. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites