Upgrading Again
It is that time again. It's been a little over 5 years since her last upgrade and although we were hoping to make it through fall before we began the lengthy process of an upgrade, one of her processors quit. For good kinda quit, like the clinic said she needs a new one. The other one still works part time which is probably worse than not working at all so she is getting by with her backups (Freedoms) which are obsolete. So you see we are kinda in a pickle.We sent in the order forms last week and the ball is rolling but I don't look for her to be in them before school starts back in August. When we get an idea that they ar...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 9, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

Summer Jobs
So this fella has a job! Like, a real, 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week j-o-b...and for all summer long. He is loving it so far! In his third week already, he is at a totally different location than he was his first two weeks. And he has received his first paycheck!We He loves that part!!He applied with many other students his age and was the chosen one! Actually, this year, they approved two more to join the intern team and as for this one here, he is hoping to get hired on right out of high school. But hold on here, he is about to start his Senior year so let's not jump ahead too fast!The first two weeks he worked on heavy...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 19, 2018 Category: Audiology Authors: Val Blakely Source Type: blogs

Cochlear Implants and Sports
So it's been a while,like a year, since I've updated on the Country Kids with Cochlear Implants. That's probably becauseI've gotten distracted and lazy and almost forgot I even liked to write during school "season" Brooklyn keeps us busy with her sports. She does well in school socially, keeps good grades, and is an athlete. She continues to play softball and volleyball each year and now that she's moving up to high school level, being in the 9th grade now, she'll be in the "big leagues" so to speak.She has completed softball for the year and her team had a really good season with less than a handful of losses, and so begi...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 6, 2018 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

Injured by a Spatula
So what happened to Gage? That is now everyone's first question when we walk into a room. Our little Goldenhar Syndrome boy has grown up to be quite handsome at age 17 now. He works hard, he does well in school, he loves to be outdoors working on his old mud Jeep Cherokee he is fixing up.He works a full-time summer job which he started this week and will work all summer right up until he begins his SENIOR YEAR in high school! He has spent his high school years attending the county's Career Tech Center and plans to go right into his trade of choice (automotive or engine/transmission work) as soon as he graduates. But what h...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 6, 2018 Category: Audiology Authors: Val Blakely Source Type: blogs

Sports and Cochlear Implants
Though there are many options these days for kids who hear with cochlear implants AND also play sports, I'm going to show you what works for us. The trick is to know your options, and find what works for you and your child!My daughter is our athlete. She is going on 14 (I know!!) and has had her implants for almost twelve years now. She became an athlete in 7th grade when she made the volleyball team. Her height is perfect for such a sport and after the season was over, she tried out and made the softball team. She is learning but doing well in both sports. Her teammates and coaches couldn't be more supportive and the enco...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 15, 2017 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

Deaf Child Behind The Wheel
Radio off, windows up, minimal talking and we are off. I guess I am as nervous as any other parent giving full control of a massive deadly weapon to their 15 year old child.Truthfully, I thought the fact that he is hearing impaired would multiply that fear ten fold but so far, that isn't really a factor. He does a great job. We have had him drive at various times, even at night and in heavy rain. Next on our list is completely deaf...just down the road and back. He has to learn what it feels like so if batteries die, he don't panic and wreck trying attain his sound back. He needs remain calm, remain in control and get to w...
Source: Cochlear Kids - September 23, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

Metal Mouthes
Well, we have both kids in braces. It all happened so fast with Brooklyn. A couple of months ago we never guessed she needed them but one glance at the X-rays and it became clear. Her baby tooth will be extracted next month and the Orthontist can begin the process of pulling the crooked adult tooth down into the proper position.We visit the surgeon at the end of the month to decide what is on the agenda for both kiddos. Will it be a jaw distraction for Gman? He will also give us details about B's pending surgery. Busy summer, but still Blessed! (Source: Cochlear Kids)
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 19, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

I Want You to Hear
Sensorineural. Conductive. Audiogram. Milestones. What are all these new vocabulary words being thrown at me and my new baby? This became our reality years ago when my first child failed his newborn hearing screening. His tiny little ears were soon adorned with rather large super-powered hearing aids. The best of the best on the market and even those floppy devices couldn ’t bring enough sound to those tiny ears, to hear my voice.Having no history of hearing loss on either side of the family, we didn ’t even know what questions to ask at that point. Months passed by, then years. We introduced him to his new little sist...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 2, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs

I Want You to Hear
Sensorineural. Conductive. Audiogram. Milestones. What are all these new vocabulary words being thrown at me and my new baby? This became our reality years ago when my first child failed his newborn hearing screening. His tiny little ears were soon adorned with rather large super-powered hearing aids. The best of the best on the market and even those floppy devices couldn’t bring enough sound to those tiny ears, to hear my voice.Having no history of hearing loss on either side of the family, we didn’t even know what questions to ask at that point. Months passed by, then years. We introduced him to his new little sister...
Source: Cochlear Kids - June 1, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: Val Blakely Source Type: blogs

Braces for Straight Teeth
Yes, you heard me right. There are braces for straight teeth. Why would someone want to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for braces when the child has great, and straight teeth? It's called impacted #11. That's the canine tooth. My Brooklyn is about to begin the whole process of getting braces, see an Oral Surgeon for a tooth extraction and try to pull down the impacted adult tooth. This was devastating news to not only us, but the Orthodontist who loved how pretty and straight her teeth are, but I looked at the X-rays and there is just no getting around it. It needs to happen, and happen soon.Over the summer we have...
Source: Cochlear Kids - April 30, 2016 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs