So his audiologist did more extensive tests. This time with the hearing aids (loaded with brand new batteries). She talked to him and he was his usual fun self. She gave him some toys to keep him busy, then beat a drum just behind his head. Nothing.
"Yea...", she said, "...He's definitely profoundly deaf." Well, we knew this, right?
She quizzed him on pictures, gave him instructions on making sounds like, /b/, /p/, and /sh/. He did very well-which again, we already knew he would. Then she informed me that the whole team has already unanimously approved him for surgery. She told me that Dr. Stewart, his surgeon, is eager to do it asap. When the coordinator asked when he wanted to schedule, his words were something like "How about now?!" I am told that the administrator will be calling me to schedule surgery any day. Woo hoo!
Now, here is what I am told about the cochlear implants:
~it is an outpatient surgery with little risks (whew)
~kids normally bounce back quickly after surgery (whew, whew)
~they will be turned on 1 month after surgery-a little at a time (bummer, I'm excited).
~not to expect a whole lot at first, as it takes babies at LEAST one year of hearing sounds (life) before
they even speak a word. For Jace, maybe the same.
~given Jace's assessments, and the determination from his team, his teachers, and us, he will more than
likely beat the statistic of deaf kids graduating high school with a 4th grade reading level(LOVE THIS-
but I'm getting ahead of myself, as usual.)
~it is NOT a cure to deafness, but rather a tool for learning within the hearing world. But, I have said
before, I embrace his deafness. We will always sign when speaking so that he may have complete
understanding without frustration (hopefully).
