Where to start or even begin…
Silentwhisper is me as a ‘parent’ of a child who is half’ Deaf.
I began this blog because I am sure I am not the only parent in New Zealand who has child with a hearing losing loss…more to the point a child who is not what others may consider as ‘Deaf’.
My daughter Autumn has a unilateral hearing loss on her left side, she has a high sensorial loss at a moderate level.
I wanted to write this blog because I felt as a parent so much of our child’s needs seem to based on criteria…is ‘your child Deaf enough?’ to receive support or in some cases even acknowledgment?
Autumn was diagnosed late at about 3 years and 8 months with a hearing loss. This really hit me hard…yes she wasn’t profoundly Deaf but for me the news could have hit me with the same impact.
For years I had listened to family and friends tell me “she is just a quite girl” or “there is nothing wrong with her…look see she just heard me”, I wanted to believe and did believe that my girl was shy.
I am almost ashamed to admit that its wasn’t until a family friends, friend offered to do a speech assessment on Autumn that things started moving in a direction to having a diagnosis.
Having that assessment made my ‘niggle’ feelings more real…the referral was made to the ENT department at the Dunedin Hospital. Yet I never thought anything could be wrong with my girls hearing.
3Months later we finally get our appointment. I was assessed by ‘the best’ ENT surgeon who told me he could see nothing wrong, that compared to my daughters ‘twin’ she seemed to be meeting every milestones expected of child at the age of 3 years. But to be sure he would refer us onto audiology (this meant nothing to me considering she was tested at 3mths and a follow up appointment never came through to us).
Ignorance is bliss…yes I was happy staying within this bubble. The bubble which makes you feel you can protect your child from the world.
The day, audiology appointment finally arrived. I remember answering all the questions including “Do you think your child has trouble hearing you?” ….NO I said I think there is nothing wrong with her hearing, we are just covering basis”….I was not prepared for the news that followed.
Autumn has a hearing loss…………yes she would benefit from a hearing aid…we will refer you to the Advisor for the Deaf
(may I add audiologist have no requirement what’s so ever to refer unilateral children to the Advisor for the Deaf)
So my child is not ‘Deaf’ but has a hearing loss…this is why her language development is delayed and why she can’t seem to make social connections at day care???? My mind was swamped more by questions wanting more answers….
But most profoundly was the pain from the grief…