My youngest DD7 was diagnosed two years ago (also at age 5) with mild/moderate hearing loss from a combination of ear infections and early onset otosclerosis. She was finally put in hearing aids last November. She wears the Phonak Aeros bilaterally. Her loss is currently at about 20 db for high sounds, 40 dB for middle and low.
DD has been in speech therapy since age 2, failed her first attempt at kindergarten (she was a little young- deadline was 9/1, bday is 9/15, so they let her in). She repeated, but was doing no better.....did lots and lots of evaluations and found the hearing loss- the little twerp can lip read which was making us miss it. Last year in first grade, with her aids and an FM unit (teacher wears a microphone that goes to classroom speakers) she was at the top of her class. The school psychologist took data on her attending- without aids, she was getting 25% of information; with aids, 85%, with aids + FM- 98%. What a difference the aids have made (and the neighbors no longer listen to the TV with us).
Bad part is that our insurance plan does NOT cover the aids. Ours were about $5000 for both from the university audi clinic. Be sure and check around for pricing, as it varies GREATLY. Also, most places will let you "try out" a loaner pair- what works for one kid doesn't necessarily work for another.
A great website for help:
Listen Up Website, and their list serve:
Listen Up listserve . This is a parents' list serve and site- lots of supportive and nonjudgemental parents. Kinda like the Dis (with no debates!).....the parents in this group have been supportive, helped me with guilt feelings, and given me more info than I could find anywhere.
One more thing....once your daughter has aids, contact your school system. She is eligible for special services such as a teacher of the deaf (TOD)- not that she is deaf, but hard of hearing kids need some special support in the classroom (front seat, teacher remembering to face your daughter, etc.), more speech therapy, an FM unit, etc.. She may be eligible for an IEP or 504 plan. Get that paper work started now! Remember- its not about the label, but making sure your daughter gets the best help so she can be all she is able to be!!!!
Good luck on your new journey. Don't worry about your daughter- she will be fine. My DD can now put her "ears" in and out, takes care of them by herself, and can give a great lesson on why and how her ears don't work too well- she says she wears "glasses for her ears". She went to overnight camp for deaf/hard of hearing kids through the Lions club (THANK YOU Lions!) and had a blast. She is learning some sign (helps at the pool or other loud places and is great for "gossipping" at church!!). She is getting so independent and confident since she got her aids. She is not "handicapped", she is not "different", she just needs a little help with her ears (and this is coming from a mom in trifocals!). All in all, she is still my dear "baby" DD.
PM me if you want....and join the listen up listserve. Been along this journey-and its not so bad. We will be keeping your family in our prayers.
