Miss Kat's Deaf journey

An explanation
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I want to clarify some misunderstanding that will arise about my last two posts. If you aren't familiar with CI's you could not understand. First, Miss Kat WANTED her second CI. She has been begging for it for almost a year. She has been excited and looking forward to it for a long time. Second, when a person is newly implanted it sounds weird. As your brain adjusts...
Sun, Aug 29 2010

The next few days
Miss Kat's Deaf journey When I started this blog, I promised myself I would be honest about both the good and the bad times. This blog is about some of the bad times. I would appreciate support rather criticism. So, where we last left off, Miss Kat has had her second CI activated and she HATES it, and doesn't want to have anything to do with it. So, Thursday morning we wake up and start g...
Sun, Aug 29 2010

Activation #2
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I waited awhile to post this because I wasn't sure where we were going to end up. Things didn't go the way we assumed they were, so we didn't know how this post would end, so I waited...but I feel ready now, so here we go! Wednesday morning we picked Miss Kat up from school and took off on the two hour drive to her audiologist. We were all very excited, especially Mi...
Sun, Aug 29 2010

Funny story from last week
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So, we went to a birthday party for one of Miss Kat's friends last night. My husband and I were the only hearing people at the party. There had been some kind of mix up with the reservation (we were at a Chucky Cheese type business) and they were writing back and forth, trying to figure it out. At the same time the employee said "Wait a minute, we have ...
Mon, Aug 23 2010

Post-op #2
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat had her post op yesterday. It is the last step before activation!! The surgeon just wants to take a look at the incision, make sure everything is healing well before he gives the OK for activation. (I was not at the appointment, so the entirety of this post is from the report of Hubby) The first person that came to see Miss Kat was the surgeon's medica...
Mon, Aug 23 2010

A.......meeting
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We had a meeting yesterday. It wasn't an official IEP meeting (because we wrote an IEP in Feb. so it isn't due for a long time) but I wanted to share Miss Kat's test results and meet the staff she will be working with (her school is under going MAJOR changes, including a major overhaul of staff). I met the new director of the oral program as well as Miss Kat's new tea...
Tue, Aug 17 2010

MAPing
Miss Kat's Deaf journey While we were at CID we had their audiologists take a peek at Miss Kat's MAP. They thought that she needed a tune-up, so they got to work. They changed Miss Kat's program from Hi-Res P to Hi-Res S (moving from paired to sequential). When I asked them why they used Hi-Res S instead of P, they said "Because it seems to work for the kids"....that isn't very specific...
Mon, Aug 09 2010

Surgery #2
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat went bilateral today! Everything went very smoothly. We were at the hospital at 7am for a surgery start time of 8:30. They got us back within 10 minutes of our arrival. Miss Kat watched Spongebob and cuddled up with her Hello Kitty pillow, doll, blanket, nightgown and even shoes. By 8am the pre-op area was swarming with doctors and anesthesia came and gave Mi...
Wed, Jul 28 2010

Pre-op #2
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We had Miss Kat's pre-op appointment for her left ear, bilateral, surgery. It was a truly ridiculous appointment. We were at the hospital for two full hours! And for what? We filled out some paperwork and made sure Miss Kat didn't have an active ear infection and......nope, that was everything. Grr, we saw the surgeon for a total of 90 seconds (seriously, not exaggera...
Wed, Jul 28 2010

Things to do in St. Louis!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Well, our time here at CID is coming to a close. We get our car and head home on Thursday. It has been a great experience, and I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to do it. I want to again thank CID for their scholarship, and thank the wonderful donors who make it possible for CID to never turn away a child because they can not pay. I would like to thank Have...
Mon, Jul 19 2010

Approval for Bilaterals!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We got our insurance approval today, Miss Kat goes bilateral the 28th!!It's very exciting because we actually had to change insurance companies because the previous plan flatly denied bilaterals! We've only had the new plan since July 1st! It's an awful big expense for the very first week!We also like that it's only been 19 months since the first so the rehab won't ha...
Thu, Jul 08 2010

Testing....testing....
Miss Kat's Deaf journey CID is really working hard for us! Over the next week or so they are going to be doing comprehensive testing with Miss Kat and write up a big report about her current level, and what kind of program and services she will need for the school year. I am so happy! They will be writing recommendations for the school at home, and helping me to know what appropriate go...
Thu, Jul 01 2010

Another Mom's question...
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I received this comment from another mom and wanted to share it and ask for feedback as well:Dear Miss Kat's Mom,We are in a similar situation, but the opposite. My 7 year old daughter is an ASL user. We have no local services for deaf children, because our area is rural. My daughter is mainstreamed with an interpreter and has never even met another child with hearing...
Thu, Jun 24 2010

"Should I stay or should I go"
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I had a nice long talk with one of Miss Kat's teachers for the summer. She told me what they would be working on for the 5 weeks and overall how they handle things like language and reading during the year. She threw out the bomb...."Would you ever consider moving to another place for services for Miss Kat?"Argh. I don't know....maybe. I have always promised myself th...
Thu, Jun 24 2010

We are here (and working already!)
Miss Kat's Deaf journey After a three day train ride from hell (broken down train, delays from flooding, a guy who snored loud enough to wake up a child with a profound hearing loss, a missed connection, a broken down bus, and no bathroom in our train car THE ENTIRE TRIP!) we are safe and in St. Louis. We are staying at a lovely "boarding house" for people who are in town for medical treatme...
Tue, Jun 22 2010

Off we go!!!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We are leaving for St. Louis tonight (well, actually tomorrow at 4am). I'm excited but also terrified! I think this is going to be a wonderful opprotunity for Miss Kat to work with some of the premier professionals in the field of deaf education.$90,000 a year my ass.....
Fri, Jun 18 2010

What I learned
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat and I had a good time at our conference. I learned a lot and Miss Kat LOVED camping. I met several new families, it was nice.The first thing I noticed was that Miss Kat was the ONLY CI user that wasn't bilateral! Also, nearly all were implanted between 12 and 18 months, (I'm so jealous...) and only two of the kiddos (out of more than a dozen) that used hearin...
Fri, Jun 18 2010

Our Crazy Summer!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Our summer plans begin this Wednesday! We will be headed up to Sound Beginnings for their summer camp. [link] It will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Miss Kat will be doing kids activities and I will have parent classes. We are camping out those nights (because we couldn't afford a hotel room!) and Miss Kat is so excited (I am less than thrilled, but I will surv...
Mon, Jun 07 2010

What a difference a year makes!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey This first video was made in March 2009, about 4 months after Miss Kat's activation. The second was taped today, 18 months post. She is using the same book. In the first video I am signing the book to her off camera. In the second, she is reading it herself.
Sun, Jun 06 2010

Two language samples
Miss Kat's Deaf journey The first was done during the first few weeks of school.It was this year, when Miss Kat switched to the oral school. The second was in May, Miss Kat was doing her book report. In a language sample all utterences are written exactly as the child says them. You don't "fill in" what they meant. Both samples are oral only.9-2009CatHe go doorHe homeA storeAll go seeAll tal...
Fri, Jun 04 2010

Tidbits
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I have a few things I would like to share with the world, but none of them are pressing or important enough to blog about by themselves, so I'm going to make a jumbled post about all my recent thoughts.First, I want to declare that I support the California bill, AB 2072. I believe that parents need unbiased information. I think they deserve to be given choices and to ...
Thu, May 13 2010

Our Summer Plans
Miss Kat's Deaf journey As I have mention a few times before, this summer Miss Kat and I will be heading to St. Louis to attend Central Institute for the Deaf's summer program. I could not be more excited about it! Last year we attended the John Tracy Clinic and Miss Kat made wonderful progress. I also learned a lot, and was refreshed and ready to use the skills I had learned with Miss Kat a...
Sat, Apr 17 2010

Well, nevermind...
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I spoke to our insurance today, and surgery has been postponed. We won't be covered until July 1st, so we had to push back Miss Kat's surgery. We will at CID summer school until July 23rd, so Miss Kat's new implant date is July 28th and activation will (probably, again scheduling issue, we are hoping to move it a little earlier) be August 30th.I'm pretty disappointed ...
Thu, Apr 08 2010

HUGE News!!!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat headed to the audiologist today. She hasn't been hearing as well as she should for the last couple of weeks, so her school audi put her in the booth, and the results were not great. She was hearing at 40 db in the lows...YIKES! So, Daddy and she took the long drive and got her tweaked. She is now back to hearing 15-25 db across the board! While Miss Kat was i...
Wed, Apr 07 2010

Results of the "big meeting"...
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We had the "important meeting" about USDB a few days ago. They were discussing all the changes they intend to make, starting next year. There were good points, and bad, some effect Miss Kat, some don't, but I have opinions about every single one!The followers of this blog know that USD's program has two paths. There is an "Auditory-Oral" program and an "ASL-English" c...
Wed, Mar 24 2010

***Utah School for the Deaf IMPORTANT Meeting***
Miss Kat's Deaf journey If anyone out there reading this blog cares about USD, it's future, and the future education of ALL deaf children in Utah, I would strongly encourage you to attend this meeting!!When:Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m.Where:USDB-JMS at 1645 e. 3300 s.The associate superintendant, Jennifer Howell will be talking about the upcoming changes to USD, (including the ending of a...
Tue, Mar 16 2010

Bilingualism?
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Last week I attended an AV training for our School for the Deaf employees. They was some great discussion and I learned a lot. While we are in no way an "AV family" we do use some AV-style techniques to help Miss Kat learn to use her hearing. We use that approach because I believe it is the most effective way to teach a deaf child to learn to listen and speak.All that...
Tue, Mar 02 2010

Another MAPing and IEP
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat saw the audiologist last week. Her MAP changed very little, so he wants to go to appointments every 6 months instead of 3 months....I remain unconvinced. Her audiogram was very good, she is hearing at 20-25 db across all frequencies. Her speech recognition threshold (not awareness, recognition. He tested her with 5 cards, and she has to point to the right SPO...
Tue, Feb 02 2010

Have you guys seen this year's AB calendar? Look at this...
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Have you guys seen this year's AB calendar? Look at this carefully.....Look in the bottom corner....see anything interesting??Yes, Miss Kat's drawing has been featured in this year's Advanced Bionics calendar.Awesome!!
Mon, Jan 11 2010

Another meeting
Miss Kat's Deaf journey We are having a meeting with Miss Kat's teacher. It is time to write all new goals!!! Miss Kat has already surpassed all the goals and benchmarks we set up for her in September.Woo Hoo!We are now 13 months post activation, and Miss Kat is doing wonderfully! According to the school she is:1. Using 6-7 word sentences2. Follow commands with 2 critical elements3. Discrimi...
Mon, Jan 11 2010

People I don't know, whom I am grateful for
Miss Kat's Deaf journey There are a lot of people in my life that I am thankful for. They are family and friends and professionals who make a difference in Miss Kat's life. (Miss Aimee, she still talks about you every day, do you want to come to her birthday party again?) They know who they are, and I try to go out of my way to thank them every time I see them. Today's post is a little diffe...
Tue, Dec 29 2009

Phrases I never thought my Deaf child would say
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Lately Miss Kat has been picking up some new phrases. These are things that no one has taught her, but that she has nonetheless picked up and now says all the time!1. "Good job!"- She says this CONSTANTLY! She seems to think that everyone around her needs congratulated for doing anything. I think she believes we are all incompetent.2. "You're welcome"- She now demands...
Mon, Dec 28 2009

Back to normal
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So, Miss Kat loves school again. I think our prior freak out was due to two separate issues. First, it's growth spurt time! Miss Kat is growing like a weed, and eating like a pig. Second, the 1st grade had it's Christmas program. It didn't go very well for Miss Kat (or for any of the deaf kids in the class). In the past, at the bi-bi school, the Christmas program has ...
Sat, Dec 19 2009

She doesn't like school?
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Ok, I'm really upset, so I might ramble.Miss Kat goes to an oral school now. It is new this year, she had been in a signing school since she was 3. She has always been very excited about school and been a very good student.This week she has been telling us that she doesn't like school anymore. She says that she doesn't like her teacher, and that she is mean to her. Sh...
Fri, Dec 11 2009

Miss Kat's first report card!!!
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Today was parent-teacher conferences and we got Miss Kat's first official report card.She did amazing!!!Her strongest subject is math, she is grade level appropriate and will pass her goals (which are just the 1st grade curriculum requirements) with no problem. The only problem she is having in math is that she says "three one" for 31 (and so on).Her weakest subject w...
Thu, Nov 19 2009

Town Hall
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So, I don't know how many people who are reading this follow Deaf education politics in Utah, so I will summarize....Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind recently appointed a new superintendent. He worked for USD in the past, but his most recent job was running Tucker Maxon Oral school. He is an oral advocate. The Deaf community, here, is up in arms about it! They thin...
Tue, Nov 17 2009

Conference, part 3
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat's audiologist also gave a lecture. It was called "I'm lost, I need a MAP". Cute, isn't it! He went over exactly what happens when you MAP a cochlear implant, and how each of those things help the child hear better.I didn't go to his lecture. He told me it would be too boring. He said that he tells me what he is doing, when he is doing it, when he MAPs Miss Ka...
Mon, Nov 16 2009

Conference Continued
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Our speaker also discussed the 10 factors that determine success with a cochlear implant. Some of them are under a parent's control, others are completely within the child.1. Age of implantation (the earlier the better)2. Commitment (auditory vigilance)3. Use of the device4. Gap between onset of hearing loss and activation5. Attitude (the child's behavior and feelings...
Wed, Nov 11 2009

A (AG Bell) Conference Week-end
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So, last Saturday, I went to the Utah AG Bell conference. I will say now that, as anyone who has ever spoken to me knows, I am not a big fan of Bell himself (though, in his defense, many great minds of that time were interested in eugenics, but he targeted deaf people, and that affects me!) or of the organization (why is a organization for deaf people nearly completel...
Tue, Nov 10 2009

Halloween (better late than never!)
Miss Kat's Deaf journey This year's halloween was a world away from last year.Last year, we were two days pre-surgery. We were worried about Miss Kat, worried about complications and recovery, just, really, worried about everything.Last year Miss Kat was wearing hearing aids that weren't very effective anymore. She couldn't hear us call her from very far away, so we made sure to stick very c...
Sun, Nov 08 2009

One year ago
Miss Kat's Deaf journey One year ago, we had to wake up very early.One year ago, my mom took the day off work to be with us.One year ago, we sat in a waiting room.One year ago, we put her hearing aid on, for the last time.One year ago, we changed her into a hospital robe.One year ago, we took her hearing aid out, for the last time.One year ago, they wheeled her away, drowsy but happy.One yea...
Wed, Nov 04 2009

Uh-oh....
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I yelled at Miss Kat's teacher today...We have been working very hard at home, on reading and on language in general. We have been doing Miss Kat's sight words every night, plus her homework, plus we read twenty minutes every night and we are working on phonics through Miss Kat reading a series of books called "Reading For All Learners". Miss Kat reads 3 of those ever...
Mon, Nov 02 2009

Yikes! (and then some great news)
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So, you are now well informed about our FM issues, but as soon as we got home from the audi, there was more trouble. We walked in the door, after a smooth two hour drive home, and turned on the lights, and headed downstairs to the family room. I flipped on the TV and sat down on the couch and Miss Kat started looking around. She told me "It's loud." I asked her what w...
Thu, Oct 15 2009

More Happenings
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Problem, after problem, after problem.So, we headed up to the audiologist (again) to get Miss Kat's T-coil turned on. She needs the t-coil so she can use the neckloop FM system at school.Well, actually, let me back up a little.Miss Kat's classroom has a soundfield, but we didn't feel that was the appropriate accomadation for her. We thought that she needs a personal F...
Tue, Oct 13 2009

Audiology
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Miss Kat had a trip to the audiologist today (4th day of school). While her classroom already has a soundfield, we believe Miss Kat needs a personal FM. The spend time in a classroom of hearing kids (so 25+ students total) and they do a lot of small group work, so I think she would really benefit. So, to demonstrate a need for a personal FM, we needed to do the "Heari...
Mon, Sep 14 2009

First Day of (Oral!) School
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Today was Miss Kat’s first day at the oral deaf class. I had to work, so I sent Daddy to take notes and report back to me. I also went there straight after work and checked up on Miss Kat. I hung around for about an hour and then came back to pick her up. There are nine students in the class, including Miss Kat, seven girls and two boys. Miss Kat’s spoken language is...
Thu, Sep 10 2009

Our final IEP....for now
Miss Kat's Deaf journey Today was the big IEP meeting. With only 6 days remaining before school begins, we had to finally choose a placement for Miss Kat.(A reminder for the folks at home), our choices are:1. ASL bilingual bicultural, voice off program. She can receive up to 40 minutes a week (though in the past it has been limited to 20) of SPEECH therapy. It is not spoken language or aural...
Tue, Aug 18 2009

I hate....and choices
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I hate that "philosophy" is more important than educating my child.I hate that while it is supposed to be an INDIVIDUAL education plan, the only thing that is individual is her goals.I hate that no one WANTS to think outside the box.I hate that if your child is beyond 0-4, you can't get good services for spoken language.I hate that I feel like I will be disappointing ...
Fri, Jul 24 2009

Bye-Bye Bilateral
Miss Kat's Deaf journey I want to start by sharing a comment I left on someone elses blog about JTC. It was left in response to someone asking how JTC can possibly NOT be anti-ASL:My experience was that they were not ANTI- anything, as long as it was working for your child. We are seriously the best signing hearing family you will ever meet, and they accepted Miss Kat, and had no problem wit...
Thu, Jul 23 2009

Home, and on....
Miss Kat's Deaf journey So after we got back from JTC, I couldn't face another month living in a dorm without Hubby (and therefore Daddy), so we changed the plans for the rest of the summer. Miss Kat is now going to Sound Beginnings only twice a week. We are driving the two hours each way and living happily at home. The drive is doable (Thanks Veda, if you could do it everyday, I can do it t...
Tue, Jul 21 2009