Read the full transcript here
For today’s episode, I’m joined by Madeline Cheney, host of The Rare Life Podcast — a show for parents of children with rare disorders.
During our chat, Madeline shares some personal experiences of her own, as well as things to consider when making important decisions for your child’s future.
This week on the All About Audiology podcast:
* 1:13 – When Madeline was 20 weeks pregnant, she was told that her son, Kimball would be born with several birth defects, but hearing loss was never mentioned.
* 4:20 – When your child is diagnosed with a disability or birth defect, you may go through the grieving process. It can be difficult to learn that the vision you had for your child’s life won’t match reality.
* 8:09 – It was during NICU rounds that Kimball failed the newborn hearing screening.
* 10:35 – Madeline’s childhood best friend was passionate about ASL. Although she had heard of it, the idea of learning a whole new language at that point felt very overwhelming.
* 14:09 – Some people are going to take the news of their child’s hearing loss harder than others. Madeline suggests that anyone delivering this kind of news should do so with sensitivity.
* 16:45 – It’s important to remember that every child/family is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Be accepting of differing opinions, and do not attack anyone for making a decision different to yours!
* 22:01 – Any upsetting encounter can cause trauma for an individual, it does not always come from a huge event like an accident or sickness. Speaking with a therapist can help you to work through your feelings regarding the event.
* 24:57 – After dropping ASL for a couple of weeks, Madeline realized that her son would benefit from continuing to sign. They integrated ASL with auditory oral services, which quickly helped Kimball progress in his communication.
* 37:14 – After seeing a hearing loss simulation on YouTube, Madeline began putting Kimball’s hearing aids in from the moment he woke up, and only took them out at bedtime.
* 42:11 – The ages 0-3 are a critical period for language acquisition, and 8-9 is generally the cutoff for language to be of mother-tongue level.
* 43:10 – How kids relate to each other can be affected by their level of hearing loss. There is a huge difference between having some level of hearing and not hearing at all.
* 47:23 – When deciding between Deaf education or a mainstream school for your child, make sure to visit as many programs as possible. It can greatly help your decision making to see how your child interacts with different groups of kids.
* 48:57 – Humor can be an excellent tool to help cope when things get tough. It is ok to see the funny side, even when things are hard.
* 51:24 – However you are feeling, know that it is ok. You are a person that matters, too!
For more resources and research visit:
All About Audiology Website
