More and better swimming

It's been a couple of months now since Lotte started to swim.
And she told us that it is much nicer than handball as "with handball I don't know where to throw the ball."...
A team sport is of course much more difficult compared to a sport where you listen and then perform. Especially when you don't get all the information due to having CI..
The trainers are great. After we explained them that not all information is understood straight away, that they have to make sure Lotte understands, they have used that information well. I was really pleased when I noticed a trainer actually managing to get the volume of all the kids down, so that even she could speak with a normal voice... Not an easy thing to do in a swimming pool with 10 kids in a group.. (And more groups in the next lane..)
So, she thrives. Loves to go. Is exhausted after her hour training. Two times a week...
And, great progress..
I hadn't been with her for a while (she wants to go alone... It's her way of owning this activity..) I was surprised to see how much progress she had made in the last month..
Here a video of Lotte after 1 hour of training.... Even though she was exhausted, she still wanted to show her swimming with this video..

Swimming with both CI's on...

It's not easy to get them right, but when they finally sit... they sit...
After not wanting any CI under the swimming cap (pre-summer) she agreed (after we forced her) that hearing what the trainers said was kind of handy. So.. 1 CI was accepted. Then she came up with the idea of 2 CI's.. Who are we to disagree with that...

Anyway... We found out that when we first localise where the spool needs to go above the cap, then put the spool there - under the cap, and then push the processors under the cap (on the ear is really awkward..) it works well..

So.. Bilateral Swimming....

  

   

 

Swimming with CI

Yesterday the third training for Lotte at the swim club.
She's still excited to go, and loved it. The club is training for racing... In time..
The previous times I went with her to see if she was comfortable (YES) and if there would be good communication between the trainers and Lotte.. And vice versa. Both times I didn't push Lotte to wear the CI under her swim-cap (hasn't been a success up to now). For me it was more important to get her settled.
This last time, last Wednesday, her mother joined us and Lotte was eager to show what she could do. I told Lotte that we would use the CI under her swim-cap and she agreed without problems.

It worked well. No problems like disconnecting for some reason... Lotte was hearing all the time.
to do the excercise where previously whe would wait to see what needed to be done.It was wonderful to see how she now talked to the trainers, where previously she wold be silent, watching eagerly to what the trainer did. How she joked with the other children, where previously she would not make contact. How she would actually go first to do the excercise where previously whe would wait to see what needed to be done.
In general, she became so much more involved... It was great to see.

Mentally, cognitively, she has grown.. In the last couple of months she has become more sulf-sufficient.. This is just another of the steps to doing things herself.. her way..
an see that Lotte notices the differences herself. How much easier it is to follow what needs to be done. How much more fun it is to hear what the other children are saying..I can see that Lotte notices the differences herself. How much easier it is to follow what needs to be done. How much more fun it is to hear what the other children are saying..

So... For next time, I will have the CI swim bags with me, but I am not sure if I am going to suggest it to Lotte... I might leave it up to her to ask me... And if she doesn't.... I'll tell her to wear it..

----------------
Update 25. Sept... She suddenly told me she wanted 2 CI on in the water...
Well... OK.. :-)

Third swimming diploma..

Swimming for these diploma's has been the vacation "thing". In Norway children start relatively late. Especially compared to Holland
where most children 2 years younger than Lotte will already have this Diploma. We tried some time ago in Norway but at that time she wasn't ready.. (Here..)

      

When we arrived in Holland Lotte started practicing 4 times a week for this diploma. Just like the previous 2 years when she worked to get "A" in 2011 and "B" in 2012.
This year, the first time she got there I tried the official waterproof bags so Lotte could hear the instructions, but this was no success. She likes the sounds in/under water, but that pleasure doesn't weigh up to the  discomfort. Having to wear a bathing hat, they fall off, bathing cap falls off.. Frustration all around..

So.. swimming deaf. With help from her big sister, but also by herself this year. The instructors know her and are great in communicating to Lotte.


Today was the big day of the exam. Daddy was offshore, but the rest of the family and friends gathered from Holland to witness the event. Her grandfather made a special trip to be there...







She did great.!! Big ceremony, medal, certificate and is now the proud owner of a ceramic tile with Dolphin proving forever that she can swim... (To be used when there's no water around to proof that you can swim I guess..)



So, from now on, Lotte is allowed in any Dutch pool without supervision..

!!!..Yeh..!!!  

!!! ..Gefeliciteerd Lotte.. !!!

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Here below, the requirement for this diploma for Lotte's future reference.  If you're curious.. see Google translate to get an idea.. Getting this diploma is not easy..

Eisen zwemdiploma C

Gekleed zwemmen (With clothes)

1. Van de kant te water gaan met een rol voorover, aansluitend


2. 15 seconden watertrappen, gevolgd door


3. 30 seconden blijven drijven (HELP-houding) met gebruik van een hulpmiddel.


4. 
   
   1. Van de kant te water gaan met een sprong naar keuze, aansluitend 50 meter schoolslag, onderbroken door 1 keer onder een vlot door zwemmen en 1 keer over een vlot heen klimmen en
   
   
   2. 50 meter enkelvoudige rugslag; proef afronden met
   
   
   3. zelfstandig uit het water op de kant klimmen.
   4. 
      

In badkleding (With swimming gear)

1. 
   
   1. Van de kant te water gaan met een kopsprong, direct gevolgd door (zonder boven te komen)
   
   
   2. onder water zwemmen door een gat in een verticaal in het water hangend zeil dat zich op 9 meter van de (start-)kant bevindt.


2. 
   
   1. 100 meter schoolslag, onderbroken door 1 keer een koprol voorover en
   
   
   2. 1 keer een hoekduik richting bodem maken; proef afronden met
   
   
   3. 100 meter enkelvoudige rugslag.


3. 
   
   1. Van de kant te water gaan met een kopsprong (een startsprong heeft de voorkeur), direct gevolgd door 5 seconden uitdrijven op de borst, aansluitend enkele meters schoolslag, waarna
   
   
   2. 10 seconden drijven op de borst.


4. 
   
   1. In het water afzetten van de wand, direct gevolgd door
   
   
   2. 5 seconden uitdrijven op de rug, aansluitend enkele meters enkelvoudige rugslag, waarna
   
   
   3. 20 seconden drijven op de rug, gevolgd door
   
   
   4. 5 meter hoofdwaarts voortbewegen op de rug met gebruik van armen.


5. In het water afzetten van de wand, aansluitend 15 meter borstcrawl


6. In het water afzetten van de wand, aansluitend 15 meter rugcrawl.


7. 
   
   1. Van de kant te water gaan met een hurksprong, gevolgd door
   
   
   2. 30 seconden watertrappen met verplaatsen in meerdere richtingen, met gebruik van armen en benen, en 30 seconden verticaal blijven drijven met gebruik van armen.

Swimming ?

Swimming with sound.. That has been a while (2008).

But... we got some watertight bags for the BTE and coil, made by Cochlear..

Will see how they work..
Have seen some pictures of grown-ups and it didn't look comfortable.

But I guess it depends on the motivation of Lotte. I'm quite sure that she is looking forward to try them out in the water..

Thanks Bobbi

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Cochlear Aqua Accessory Review

  

Swimming....

.... that has been the thing this week.

School is finished, and the "After-school organisation" (No idea how I had to translate the Norwegianterm "SFO" ) send the children that enlisted to a 2 hour per day swimming course during the week. For free, payed by a fund that wants to make sure more kids know how to swim. A wonderful initiative

Having Lotte in a structured environment in order to teach her to swim has not been succesfull, up to now. (See this post.)

She didn't want to have the CI on. We have used the CI while swimming by putting it in a sealed plastic bag (which worked well..) but Lotte made clear that she did not want it. After some asking she indicated there was too much noise. And I can imagine that in an inside swimming-pool the sound must be horrible. I dislike it with two ears, with 1 ear (we only gave her 1 ear under the swimming cap) it must be awful..

So.. No CI.

After the first day she said something like "It was nice. Not going back..".. And that even with her being proud to be on Norwegian (local) TV in the pool..

But we told her she had to. The following day she was in tears.... but she did go, and it went fine.

The promise of a bikini (A "Hello Kitty" bikini.. ) at the end of the week might have had something to do with it, but even so.... she did go.

And still enjoyed it. Mind you, 2 hours of swimming every day is quite a task for a 7-year old.. (OK.. quarter to 7)

The end result.... She did all 5 days, all 10 hours and got a bikini. (Picture will come later.. sorry)

No big information when her mom asked how it was... Just an OK...

That is, until dinner. The she suddenly stopped eating. Crossed her arms and said "I can swim.! I can swim to the other side without the floaters on my arm.."

Wonderful.... !!!! Now we still have to confirm this.. but knowing Lotte.....

Update:

(btw.. It was Lotte's idea to wear the swimming-cap and inflatable tube... we had nothing to do with that. )

Water-rat with wings..!!

Nope.. she's not afraid any more to jump into the water..

took a while for her to get this free, but then she went for it 100%

As long as she remembers to put on the little wings... she should be fine..

Enjoy her show...!

Vacation - looking back

3 Weeks ago we went to a warmer climate for a week. We had been there before and we were all looking forward to go again. One week with nice temperatures is great after the cold weather of Norway.

Lotte was hyper from the day we told her... Turned out we did that way too early, but what's done is done. So, she started counting down. She's fanatic with that, and keeping good track of it as well. Going to bed with it (Mommy.. tomorrow it's 15 days before we go") and it's the first thing she'll tell us when she wakes up, and enters our bedroom to get the CI's.. (Mommy, today it's 15 days and then we go on vacation") All this before she starts to hear.. ;-)

But something else seemed to happen as well. With the vacation in her head, the excitement, anticipation, she lost focus.
Homework which she loves to do becomes tiresome for us (not for her) since she is no longer dedicated to it. No concentration, no trying to do a good job. Taking the easy way out.
This was especially in the last week before we went..

When finally on the move, and on vacation, she did great. She has grown so much in the last year that it's great to travel with her. Not that it was difficult before, but as apposed to previously, she required hardly any attention. Especially on the way back, she and her brother and sister were sitting on the row behind us, and we hardly noticed them. First time for everything..

All the kids loved the sun, sand sea and pool. Last year we used the CI under the bading cap every time she swam. For our sake, but also at Lottes request.
This year we did it once, but Lotte didn't want it again. She saw no need for it.. She's comfortable not hearing anyone, and we're comfortable with her floating around with her inflatable wings. For her it's just the rule. "When swimming, you put on the wings." and sometimes the rigidness the little lion works in our advantage..
Of course, another possible reason why Lotte doesn't want them is that now she can tell everyone what to do.... but she doesn't have to listen to what they say... ;-)

We had a great time. Morning buffet and dinner buffet, with possible unlimited desert was true bliss for the kids, and for us watching the downing it all... (Well, they had one day with unlimited deserts.. It's vacation after all..)

So much more to tell... but I'll add that later.. perhaps..

Swimming - With CI - Why Not !!

Lotte & swimming is a great combination. The one minor setback was that she could not wear her CI. We used signs when we were in the pool, but it was clear that for us - and Lotte - that it mattered that she couldn't hear..

We planned a nice vacation to Gran Canaria, and we were not looking forward to running around the pool - looking for eye-contact in order to sign...

Some time ago we came across an excellent suggestion for swimming with the CI... (via CiCircle, pointing to a YouTube video.... see below.) You do need to have the rechargeable batteries for this (as the others need O2 to operate), and since November we are using them. (To our delight.. another success story...)

The solution is to seal the processor and coil in a plastic bag. (Video on YouTube..)
However... we don't own one of those "seal & vacuum" machines for the kitchen like shown in the video, and getting one in Norway is not easy - nor cheap. Especially for an experiment like this.
Dutch as we are, or just creative, ( :-o) we found those plastic bags that can be closed with an air ( and water-) tight seal/strip. (Zip-lock bags I am told..)

So... we put the CI processor and coil in the bag.... closed the seal, put it all in a second bag (just to be sure) and all this went under a swimming cap....
And ... it worked!!
The coil has enough magnetic force to go through 2 plastic bags, and the processor will pick up sound through 2 bags AND a swimming-cap.!

Lotte loved it, and for us, being able to talk to her when she is in the pool reduces a lot of stress....
In the pool she is very happy on her own, but we do see the will to understand her siblings and the other children. And let's face it, the sounds around the swimming-pool are part of the experience. Same for experiencing sound under water....
And it seems as if she experimented with it... she would lie in the water, head (processor) under water and just lying there.... very "Zen"....

------------------ Below the video that gave us the inspiration ------------------

Swimming...

Last monday it was a big day for Lotte.
She would have her first swimming-lesson... and for us the opportunity to see how communication would be between Lotte and us and Lotte and the instructors.
We would be using sign-language when needed, but the instructors don't know sign.... Would Lotte focus on them to read their lips.??

She was exited. Swimming is very popular, and she loves to jump in the water from the starting blocks and dip under the surface.... the flotation devices on her arms keeping her head above water.....
But.. that's with daddy and her brother and sister around.....
She noticed we would not join her in the water.... Now the situation was completely new, and Lotte backed out slowly.


Then, one of the instructors actually did know a little sign, and when Lotte noticed, she allowed him to take her in the water. But not much more.... She kept climbing out and coming back to us.

It was funny when we wanted to put the coil on her head to explain to her what was going to happen. Lotte refused to have the CI on. She probably got it in her head that CI and swimming do not go together. Perhaps because she notices that no other children are using it..... She is becoming more and more aware of how she looks. (e.g. She doesn't like her hair a certain way because then" children will laugh")

Anyway....
As with other unknown situations, Lotte withdrew from the action. The same happens at birthday parties. Unknown situation, lots of action, and then she insists that one of us is close to her..)
She did not participate much in the educational part of the swimming session, but did participate the last 5 minutes of playing.... again.. only with the man that new some sign....

For us, it shows that no matter how much Lotte is prepared for a new situation, no matter how much she wants to do it, when the moment comes she needs time to adjust and get familiar with the situation.
With her new speech-therapist (when she started in the "hearing"-kindergarten in august 2006) it took 3 months... but that was 2 years ago....
Who knows how long it will take when she goes to school.
Because no matter how much she looks forward to that..... the insecurity that comes with being in an unknown situation will override that feeling!!!