CI - in the morning... is it working ??

(btw.. Lotte doesn't have this at all. No blinking whatsoever. Just "plug and play"...)

A nice tip on CiCircle - the Yahoo group..

OK, I just watched this short film that I think might be the best film about cochlear implants ever.
It is very funny and it will explain why some kids don't like to put their processors on in the morning. Or maybe I just have a strange sense of humor.
(It's also a great demo on how to fix an Advanced Bionics T-mic.)
Warning: the lyricsof the background music are probably not child-appropriate.
http://www.medhumanities.org/2007/03/equilibrium_sho.html

L

It is a great movie and the powerful "hookup" will possibly be valid for some CI-users.
Lotte is not affected like this when she puts her CI's on in the morning. Not a blink!!

But I like the way deafness is shown; just the heartbeat is "felt", no other sounds. How the hearing is turned on, and the tap that was not heard before can now be heard.
How only part of the song is understood with only 1 CI, and when the other one comes on, there's definitely something wrong.
Love how the repair is visualized, and how in the end, the guy can hear those beautiful words... "I love you!"

Have a look, and enjoy !!

(YouTube version below.)

Broccoli

Lotte refuses to eat anything green, red, orange that still has the shape of vegetables and fruit.

So, we mush it all together, and she'll eat it - most of the time.

Today, she got mushed broccoli, potatoes and sausages. She loved it and was nearly finished when her mother said:
"It's good - isn't it Lotte ?? Broccoli.."

Lotte looked at her, thought for a bit and with a big grin, from ear to ear, she replied;
"Yeh" ,.. and indicated that it was mushed. Making a movement and sound of the tool we use for it!!

We had to laugh so hard - Lotte as well. She did finish her meal, knowing that it was broccoli....

Falling asleep

A lot has happened lately. As if there's a switch that got turned on.
Sentences that became longer. She's more open to other people. More secure with herself.

Today Lotte, her sister and me went to pick up her brother, who was playing with a friend.
it had been a while since Lotte had been there, and last time they visited us, Lotte played together with that little girl of that family. (Lotte's age.)
We went in, and Lotte followed without hesitation. went up and joined the others in playing. Chatted with the mother, followed her through the house. No problems. Previously, she would have been more withholding...

The great finale was later, when we left. Lotte had already gone out, to the car. Came back and requested a hug from the father and mother.
It's wonderful to see her grow like this.

Sunday morning..

I wake up because of Lotte going to the bathroom. 5:30.! She had her quota of sleep and started the day. Playing in her room, chatting away until her brother or sister wakes up. Or outside the room, on the play area in front of our rooms, playing with the doll-house.
Her sister wakes up, and she joins her playing.

Her sister is reading to her, and singing to her. Lotte tries to keep up singing. Repeating the words her sister is reading to her.
It's great to listen to it. The big and little sister keeping each other company, teaching and learning.

Ding-Dong

Lotte came to us this morning and said "Ding-Dong" and something we couldn't understand. We figured it out. The "Ding-Dong" is ringing the doorbel. This immediately makes a connection to her new friend. She wanted to go there and see if she was there ... and play..

She hasn't seen he during the week, but Lotte does associate "not going to the kindergarten" with "playing with my friend"

In the end, we checked if they were home, but they were out. Poor Lotte. Perhaps tomorrow.?

A new friend.. continuing story..

Today Lotte went to her new friend.
It's wonderful to see her take the initiative to get all dressed up and trodd out of the house, along the road, and to the neighbours hour......
And they were not at home.
Lotte checked all around the house. A little troll with a big blue "hat" on...

Later on, her friend was at home and they picked up where they left it yesterday.
Playing over there, over here, showing oof their rooms, sharing candy. It was just magic.

Playing - Alone!!

Another milestone.
Until 3 weeks ago, Lotte would not be secure enough to play alone with someone she doesn't know well. For example, babysitters were relatively safe when we had put Lotte to bed. Otherwise, the "going-to-bed" routine could be a disaster.

3 Weeks ago, she joined her sister in playing at a neighbour, 4 houses up the road (not down..) and Lotte had a great time. The children over there are known from the kindergarten, but is was still a first that she was out half a day and enjoyed herself.

Today she went a step further. She loves riding the bike outside. She was OK for her mum to leave her alone outside, and played with the daughter of the neighbour down the road.
After a while, the neighbour called and said that the girl wanted to play inside... if that was OK.
OF COURSE !!!
First time that Lotte was secure enough to do this. She can make herself understand, and feels confident enough to handle the situation...

When finished she made it very clear that tomorrow she would play with her little friend again...
(Jeezzz it's not easy not to use names.... )

WOW, our little girl is growing.... and it goes so fast !!

A tribute to Lotte's brother and sister...

It has been said before, and I have no problem repeating it here again. Lotte is blessed with her brother and sister. They help her, teach her, amuse her and at times ignore her.... but all of it helps Lotte to grow..

Here a couple of pictures of 3 very good friends....

Writing

As mentionned before, Lotte loves to write as well.

She starts to get the idea of combining letters and create words. "Lotte", "mamma" and pappa" are favorites.

Early january, her sister helped her make a note to us (parents).

Her sister wrote "Hip Hura".. Lotte the rest...
I'm sure that seeing her brother and sister doing their homework, writing all the time, inspires her. She WANTS to do this...
I've said it before.... having a brother and sister is such a huge bonus!!

Implantation of Prelingually Deaf Patients ...

Reading...

New development in the "going to sleep" routine..
Two issues have now been combined...
1: Lotte's early waking in the morning.... which possibly can be "adjusted" by letting her go to sleep later,
2: Importance of reading...

These two are now combined by letting Lotte read for herself.
A bed-lamp had to be installed for this, and I'm sure that for Lotte this has a certain status.... After all, her brother and sister are also allowed to read for themself before they go to sleep.

So, after reading the usual bedtime stories, and some singing, she turns in the BTE's and almost tells us to get out and close the main light... This so that she can start reading herself, cosy in her bed... by her own little light.

We hoped she would read until 21:00 so that she would wake up later... as in 07.00...
However, even though she really likes reading... she "passes out" in no time. She manages to read for 5 to 10 minutes and then she falls asleep.
Book on her nose, belly.. whatever was the last position, and Lotto KO....

But beautiful to see. The love for books. So important for any child, and even more for these children....

Good morning - New Batteries...

Yesterday, sunday, trying to sleep in... she came to our bed with the CI's already on. This we allready did a couple of hours before.. this way, Lotte can play with her brother and sister, we continue to get some more sleep...

However, suddenly she came into the room. She had noticed herself that the batteries were empty, so she brought us a new battery-pack (she knows where they are..) and told us to change them.

How's that for problem-solving cababilities.....!!

Good Morning... Change batteries.... NOW!!

Wonderful !!

Hard-of-hearing or Language-deprived ?

A thought that crossed my mind - actually, it didn't cross, it got caught, is that the way we look at children with CI might be wrong. Wrong in the sense of what kind of support we give compared to the support they need.

Historically, CI's were the next step from HA's. And with that, CI's are many times still regarded as such. A hearing aid. Working in a different way, but still, an aid to hear.
People with CI are therefore still regarded as Hard-of-hearing since "obviously" they use an aid to hear.

This might very well be true in many cases, but a new generation CI-users is emerging. Children that are implanted (often on two sides) before the age of three that do not conciously grow up deaf. CI is giving them sound that enables them to speak and understand language.
The "problem" these children have is not lack of hearing. They hear very soft sounds, they understand and reply with whisper. In that sence they are not hearing impaired. (Keep in mind... I have Lotte in mind. I know results can be different.)

They ARE however behind in language and therefore cognitive thinking. The older the child, (1, 2, 3 years old) the more this is true. This is where the supportsystem should focus! On gaining on the lost language. Because language defines us.

Obviously, the situation depends from child to child. 1 CI will make undrestanding in noisy environment much more difficult, and with that, there is a hearing impairement. But think of children that do well with bi-lateral CI. These children need language, speech and above all, comprehension.

Example,
Lotte is now in an all-hearing kindergarten, and with the language she has, she is behind compared to other 4-year olds. (We are not worried about that. She only has two years of sound, so obviously she's behind - and catching up nicely...) She is not able to master communication with children that otherwise would be her "equal" because the others do not understand her. The result is that she will look for other children that either ar younger but at her speech level, or children that are more fysical that communicative. (e.g. boys, playing outside... where screaming and actions goes a long way.)
Focus should be on making sure Lotte is understand. (And this is being done in her kindergarden..)

It seems that for the children, focus is actually on communication and speech.
But what about the parents...
In Norway, the parents are offered sign-laguage classes free of charge. BUT, the focus is only on that. Sign. WE, Lotte's parents, do not have a need for that. Lotte does not use it any more. We need information in speech and language development. How does it work. What are the milestones... What to look for, how to play, what to do, what NOT to do.
BUT since children with CI are still looked at through "DEAF" glasses instead of "Language deprived" glasses, that support is not available. Only "DEAF" therefore "Sign" support...

How is that elsewhere..??
Is the support sysem different.
Like, AV-therapy. It's not available here in Norway, but I have a feeling that there the focus is on educating the parent.... Correction, it's not available where we live..
Anyway... have to do some more research on it.

Lotte's Morning Ritual....

The mornings have become a bit better. (Have a look here for the previous experience.)
Lotte is still waking up very early, but has gotten in the rhythm of going to the toilet to pee, then back to her room and starts playing.
During this time she will not be wearing her CI's, and it is therefore amazing that she still talks to herself. In a normal voice, she will babble along while playing.
After some time she will go back to the toilet for the bigger job. This will result in a loud cry "Daddy !! Poep" which is OK since not complying to this "distress signal" might result in additional cleaning.....
After this, she will go back to her room and continue playing. Still without her CI.
In addition, she will put on her clothes....


When we all need to get up, we go to her as well, say good morning... and that is for her the sign to put on the CI.
It's wonderful to watch how she goes straight for the CI's. They are hanging on the medicine cabinet, and she can reach it with the help of a little chair.

But interestingly, she will not take them before it's clear that people are finished sleeping.
We made that very clear, that when everybody is sleeping, she has to be quiet and remain in her room. Not wearing CI's is appearently also part of it.

Today, she started playing outside her room. I went out of bed... she didn't see me (Nor did she hear me) so I turned the light off/on to alert her.
I looked at her, pointed to her room and she said "Sorry Daddy!!" and went to her room.... turned the light on (she had turned it off, showing her intention not to return :-)

Ah... so cute!!!

---SON---SOL---SUN---ZON---

This happened today, when we came home around 17:00, and got the mail from the mailbox.
The mailbox was wet, and this turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to write with her finger, so Lotte started: "L-O-T-T-E”. While she wrote her name she pronounced the letters as out loud: "L-O-T-T-E”.

Then..... came the dutch variant of the word SUN, she wrote "SON" (should be ZON). This was a true breakthrough, and had I not have the knowledge that I have gained in the last months, I would not have perceived how big a breaktrhough this was.

Increadable... think this deaf girl that at the age of 4 after only two years with sound manages to break the reading code.....

----SON----SOL----SUN----ZON----

Det som skjedde i dag, var at når vi kom hjem i 17-tiden, gikk vi for å hente posten i postkassen. Postkassen var våt, og den viste seg å være et ypperlig middel å skrive på med fingeren, og Lotte satt i gang: ”L-O-T-T-E”. Mens hun skrev navnet sitt sa hun lydene til bokstavene høyt: L-O-T-T-E.

Så....... kom det en nederlandsk variant av ordet SOL, hun skrev ”SON” (skal være ZON). Dette var et sannelig gjennombrudd, og hadde jeg ikke hatt den kunnskapen jeg har fått inne de siste månedene, hadde jeg ikke skjønt på samme måten hvor stor denne begivenheten egentlig var!!!

Helt utrolig.... tenk den døve jenta som ved 4-årsalderen og etter bare to år med lyd holder på å knekke lesekoden....

Drawings..

There's a couple of activities that are definite favorites for Lotte.
One of them is "perle" which is creating figures by putting little pins on predesigned forms. Stars, rounds, animals... etc.

Another really favorite is making drawings. Obviously, some problems are connected with this.. For a 4-year old, 1 line can allready make a drawing and a new drawing can be started - on a new piece of paper. A masterpiece is three lines crossing each other everywhere on the paper. Parents seem to disagree.

Fortunately, there is progress and sometimes they come in big steps.

Like yesterday, when Lotte made the drawing below.

It was really good. A face, hair... and the hair coloured in as well.

Lotte's mom would not have believed it had she not been there witnessing the creation of the masterpiece.

Quotes regarding language

I enjoy quotes. They give quick insight in certain subjects. Lotte's mother is currently studying Special Education (Not sure if that is the corect translation for "Spesial Pedagogik" - will correct it later..) and with the papers she has to write, quotes actually give good starting points.

Here are a couple we found... Of great interest are the ones from long LONG time ago. The filosphers of the old days - gnostics - regarded language and debate very important.....


Neither can embellishments of language be found without arrangement and expression of thoughts, nor can thoughts be made to shine without the light of language.

Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)

As was his language so was his life.

Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889 - 1951)

Cochlear Implants - A Technical and Personal Account

A very interesting overview of hearing for those who are interested.
Got it on AllDeaf from Boult. Thanks !!

Install the files as instructed and be amazed. It's a big file (50 Mbyte), but worth the waiting...

------------------(Below the original post with links) -----------------------------------------

Cloggy and et al, You may be interested in viewing this PP slides..
It is windows only... Ian Shipsey's Colloquium "Cochlear Implants a Technical and
Personal Account" (he has CI, a Medel Combi as per his page; Ian Shipsey's Web Page )
Go to IanShipsey's Colloquium "Cochlear Implants a Technical and Personal
Account" to read direction to view his Colloquium via powerpoint.
For information about his Colloquium; Professor Ian Shipsey

(as for mac user, just click that says "View other files available for download" and get all files except for those ".exe" and start with "cochlear_implant_physics_colloquium.ppt"
be advised that may be some error loading that powerpoint file in Keynote (part
of iWorks) )

Enjoy!

Argumentation starts....

Yesterday, Lotte had cleared up her room but had left some clothes lying around.
When her mother came in, she mumbled about the clothes, and then Lotte said

"But mommy, look - cleaned up!!"

One of the first times she has argued in her defense.

Other things pop up. How simple tasks are now interpreted. Her mom asked her to get a bag for the needles of the christmas tree. She normally would use plastic shopping-bags and knows where they are. But for bio-degradable waist we use special bag. Located on a slightly different place...

She drew her own conclusion, and brought back the correct bag.

Later on her mom asked for bags to put the christmas-tree lights in. She asked for 3, and Lotte brought back the correct bags AND the right amount.

In a way, this is not remarkable for a 4½ year old, but we have allways noticed that compared to other children of her age, she understood less. Not directly because a lack of communication, even though that has allways been there, but more because "normal" hearing children will pick up so much more information by just listning, by being part of the situation, that they "mature" quicker.

This maturing is now happening in Lotte as well, and it is directly linked to understanding speech. She is making good progres. Much to do with the (all-hearing) kindergarted she is in now.

Reading with Lotte.

One of the most important things to do with children is to read to them.
It will give them a feeling for words, for rhytm, rhyme, pronounciation etc. There's a direct link between the amount of reading a child gets (read to or reading themselves) and the performance at school.

Today Lotte's mum was reading from the "Mijn eerste Van Dale", a book with rhymes for little children, going through the whole ABC...
Lotte loves to do this. Loves to learn new words.

The book is obviously for all 3 children, but for the others we also bought the "Junior Spreekwoordenboek" a dictionairy with uhh. (cannot recall the english word.....) proverbs. (Thanks to this website)
It's great for them. Stimulates them to read, search for info elsewhere than on the internet.
They love it and read with grandma (who's staying with us), learning all kinds of new proverbs.


In addition... (the ease of the internet allows you to click on yet another item to buy) we bought the "Van Dale Praktijkgids voor Spelling". Not living in Holland, we have to make sure the kids can write proper Dutch.