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What started as a labor of love took a sharp and unexpected turn. Funny, though, in the beginning, our baby failing one of the routine infant screening seemed the least of our worries…
As I wrapped my arms around my almost nine-year-old son, I was overcome and flooded with memories. This boy. Folded in my love had hijacked my heart from the day he was born…
It turned out that there would be more to this Battle Call…affectionately known as The Bean. And she was born perfectly petite. My mom says I shouldn’t be surprised. Like the apple that doesn’t fall from the tree…
It was always non-negotiable for me. I felt responsible for making sure my son’s pathways for language got wired. Since he was born with a severe hearing loss, that meant wearing his hearing devices…
I’m awkward. He’s does better in small groups with people he trusts. But, that’s how he sees himself. I can’t hear what they are saying. I don’t know if they are talking about me or not. I’m guessing most kids aren’t talking about him (mostly). But some kids are cruel. And A-holes…
Raising kids is hard. Add a diagnosis of hearing loss and you might find yourself thinking parenting is not for the faint of heart. My children were born with needs categorized as “special.” They look like typical kids (with the exception of their devices) but they don’t hear like…
They may look normal, but they don’t hear normal. If you speak in a quiet voice, they can not hear you. When they are in a place with background noise, it is tough to hear (outdoors, a gym, a restaurant, on the playground, near the ocean)…
Here’s the thing about writing a blog from my heart. I feel like have to share certain things. Even if I am not always proud of them, but because it’s the truth. When my son got his first set of hearing aids, at 3-months-old, I hated them…
When did this happen? I swear it was literally yesterday. They were in diapers and cribs and highchairs and nursing and eating rice cereal. I carried a super cute diaper bag, and my shirt was never free of spit-up or worse. We were beginning our walk…
Today started unusually chaotic and rushed. The kids slept in since they’d been up late all week trying to catch up on middle school stuff. As we all buzzed around the house, looking for this, packing up that—my daughter shouted from the top of the stairs: Mom, can you make me…
To the new parents of a child diagnosed with hearing loss, I know how you are feeling. I have been there. And I am here to tell you— It is going to be OK. Yes, it is going to be challenging and you might find yourself thinking you aren’t made for this kind of stuff. But, you’ve got this…
Truth talk. Despite all the amazing videos we see across social media and the news…Most children with hearing loss do not experience a “magical” reaction the day they receive their hearing devices. The truth is, the REAL MAGICAL MOMENTS for a child…
You never know where you’re going to find it. Or how it’s going to change. Take this view of the ocean, on my morning run. I’ve been down this path hundreds of times but it never looked quite like this. It stopped me in my tracks. Looking out on the horizon, I couldn’t tell where…
One single word—made up of nine letters—said to someone who is DEAF or HARD OF HEARING can have a profound effect. Although generally uttered with no ill intent from the person using it, for the person on the receiving end, it can feel deeply hurtful…
Children with hearing loss often have to work harder to listen than their hearing peers. It is not surprising this causes fatigue and even exhaustion. It can lead to a child to becoming irritated and moody. They may also experience a difficult time concentrating…
They pop up “On This Day” and often include pictures of my kids. I usually happily gush over how little and adorable they were (and shutter at how young but exhausted I look). But, every December this one of my then, 6-year-old, appears. Year-after-year, almost shockingly…
My 12-year-old daughter was invited by her audiologist to speak to a college class who was studying hearing loss. When asked what the most difficult part of hearing with a cochlear implant was, she responded with this quote. “It’s not about hearing. It’s about understanding.”…
I wrote this when reflecting back on the early days after my child was diagnosed with hearing loss. At the time it seemed like so many people let me down and disappointed me. The truth is, most people just don’t know what to do or say. I wrote this on behalf of all the parents…
I wrote this when reflecting back on the early days after my child was diagnosed with hearing loss. At the time it seemed like so many people let me down and disappointed me. The truth is, most people just don’t know what to do or say.
I wrote this when reflecting back on the early days after my child was diagnosed with hearing loss. At the time it seemed like so many people let me down and disappointed me. The truth is, most people just don’t know what to do or say.
I wrote this when reflecting back on the early days after my child was diagnosed with hearing loss. At the time it seemed like so many people let me down and disappointed me. The truth is, most people just don’t know what to do or say.
Understanding and Acceptance are key. What it is like for some people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Friends of My Battle Call celebrate! Kids who are deaf and hard of hearing are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all way. But, what these kids have in common is that they all are amazing!
To the parents of a child with special needs… A message from a mom who has been there. It will be OK.
What a journey through hearing loss feels like, in the words of 12-year-old Harper. A collaboration with TV Swift.
