Erin's Evaluation at the school

Erin had so much fun at her evaluation today.

As I was getting her dressed this AM, I told her we were going to "Another School" where she was going to play with some new friends. She was so excited.

We got to the school early, so we hung out in the lobby to wait. She was so thrilled to watch the bigger kids walk up and down the hallway to their classrooms. The schools' Teacher of the Deaf came to sit with us and we talked while we waited. Toes really took to her! Toes generally loves everyone she meets, but I could tell that the TOD was one of those people that Toes put on a whole different level. I love when she meets people that she makes a deeper connection with.

We spent the first hour with the Speech Language Pathologist doing some testing. Toes did great - and did her best to listen. Towards the end, she got feisty and started answering questions I know she has down pat intentionally wrong (calling a car a doggy, etc). So, we ended the session and went to the preschool room so they could evaluate her in the other functional areas in a play based setting.

While she was playing, I met with the school psychologist to go over the written questionnaire I filled out a couple months ago. The questionnaire covered all functional areas. I blogged about it here.

Amazingly (or maybe not), Toes fell within an acceptable level on language based on our answers. She was in the caution area - but not below the level that would qualify for services. But, this parental questionnaire is just a piece of the eval process.

Surprisingly, (or maybe not) the only area Toes fell under acceptable level was in Gross Motor. And, even with that, she was on the border. That didn't surprise me, remember I blogged about it here. We plan to discuss the issue at Erin's 3 year visit with her pediatrician.

As the psychologist and I talked, she told me about the preschool options available at the school. They have a great program. She told me that the school offers itinerant services and that if I was happy with Erin's current program, I could potentially keep her there and have services sent there - if she is eligible for services. YAY!

She then told me that she is fairly certain she will qualify based on her hearing loss alone (as Zoe's mom, who is in the same district, told me) but that she can't promise anything at this point. She asked what services I am thinking of asking for and I told her I really want to wait for the results of the eval before deciding that.

SO, overall I am extremely pleased with how things are going so far. This may be one of those situations where my overzealous research has raised unwarranted concerns. I guess it never hurts to be over prepared... but sometimes a parent really needs to step away from the Google. ;)

The school should have the eval results ready for me in a few weeks. We'll schedule a meeting for the eval, and the school hopes we can settle the IEP (if warranted) at that time. I will more than likely request another meeting, because I really want to review the eval results before signing the IEP and moving forward.

From Erin's point of view, it was a fun day. She got to go to a new school, watch the big kids go to class, listen with a new therapist, and play with new friends. She makes us so happy!

I stopped and talked to the Director and Assistant Director of Erin's current school/daycare when I dropped her off after the eval. They were so happy to hear that it looks like Erin can stay with them. The Assistant Director was an Infant Room teacher when I went back to work after my maternity leave. She has been with us through the entire journey. We didn't tell the daycare about Erin's failed newborn screenings when she enrolled, because she had passed the ABRs at 2 months old. But, they, like me, saw the signs that Erin was not hearing. They were there when Dad to Toes finally saw the same thing we were all seeing. When he called "Toes!" right behind her and she didn't turn around. They were there for the hearing aids and for both cochlear implants. They learned right along with us how to help Erin "Learn to Listen". This place is special to us and it means a lot to us to keep Erin there for Preschool.

They have done so much for her so far... I know it is the right place for the next step in her educational journey. :D

An Invitation to an Online Panel Discussion with Cochlear Americas

I received an e-mail today from an outside representative of Cochlear Americas inviting me to attend an Online Panel Discussion. She encouraged me to share the invitation with those who have an interest. The information is below... just click on the link to register.

Any questions can be directed directly to Gina Spatafore at gina.spatafore@webershandwick.com. I'm looking forward to logging in and seeing what it is all about. Please join me!



Cochlear Americas will be hosting its first-ever online panel discussion around the subject of hearing loss on May 1st. This event coincides with the kick-off of Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) - May 2008. The month provides a great opportunity to educate and inform the general public about the importance of good hearing, the social and emotional implications of hearing loss, and the available solutions. Hearing loss affects people of all ages - from toddlers to seniors - and can greatly impact the lives of families and caregivers. Cochlear will be bringing together patients, healthcare providers, and experts in the field to share personal stories and discuss the latest developments in treating hearing loss. They'll also be available to answer your questions via live chat during the session. The panelists include:

- Amy Popp, Audiologist and Clinical Educator, Cochlear Americas
- Linda Day, Cochlear recipient and Awareness Manager, Cochlear Awareness Network
- Brenda Batatt, Executive Director, Hearing Loss Association of America

Additionally, Emmy award nominee and actress-singer, Kassie DePaiva of “One Life to Live” whose son, J.Q. DePaiva, was born deaf but can now hear with the help of a cochlear implant, will also share her inspirational story. Cochlear will also be announcing the results of a national survey that focuses on the social and emotional implications of advanced hearing loss. It has been administered to adults who have a relationship with someone who is profoundly deaf, as a friend, family member or colleague, as well as those who are themselves profoundly deaf. The online panel discussion on May 1st will be a unique opportunity to discuss the findings of this survey with the leading minds on hearing loss, and we would be very happy to have you attend this event.

The event logistics are as follows:
May 1st, 10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET
Registration: https://meetings.webex.com/meetings/j.php?ED=5287797&RG=1&UID=483330092
Dial-in: 866-469-3239 or 650-429-3300, closed caption will be available

I'm not usually one for cheesy made-for-TV movies...

But, I'm watching Sweet Nothing in My Ear tonight.

It stars Marlee Matlin and Jeff Daniels. It is a story about a couple struggling to decide whether to provide a cochlear implant for their 8 year old child who was deafened post-lingually. One parent is Deaf - one is not.

Some of the scenes are in a courtroom setting. A very easy way for the writers to show the very conflicting sides of this argument.

I wouldn't call the program a documentary by any stretch... and anyone who watches should not view it as such. But from what I have seen so far, it seems to be giving a fairly accurate depiction of the CI Conflict and why it is such a volatile subject.

I respect the Deaf Culture and at some level can understand why they feel as they do about CIs. I hope this movie helps others see that as well. As a hearing person, I always found it so difficult to understand why anyone would not want their child to hear. But after having Toes, I took the time to learn more. And I am glad I did.

Watch the movie.