hearing impaired child

[sunflower]

My 5 yo is moderately hearing impaired. She wears hearing aids and high levels of background noise make it difficult for her to hear. She doesn't sign and can't read yet. Does anyone have suggestions for her?

 

[lisapooh]

First I hope you have her learn sign and you learn it as well. The attituded that if a child signs he will not learn speech is totally false. Right now you probably will have to look to assitive listening devices whic are available for some shows. Also take her to the interpreted shows as much of the interpreting is very dramatic and can be undedrstood without actually knowing sign. You will probably need to explain some to her with the shows but they are beautiful even without being able to hear clearly. Very visual. In fact, most of WDW is a visual fest. That is one of the things I enjoy about it now I and hard of hearing.
While I am late hard of hearing I find that sign is the easier method of communication in large noisy enviroments although I use speech when communicating one to one. I actually prefer interpreted performances now. I am in no way fluent in ASL yet. Working on it.

 

[sunflower]

Thanks for the input Lisapooh. I am planning to have her learn to sign and to try to get an interpreter for her in school. If we attend interpreted shows can I arrange for seating where she can easily see the interpreter?

 

[welovedis]

Hello & welcome sunflower!

My DH is hearing impaired (profoundly deaf) since birth & we enjoyed WDW last year to the fullest. Here is a link to a recent thread regarding intrepreters, etc...
http://www.disboards.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78066

While I realize your daughter cannot read or sign at this point, she would definitely benefit from the intrepreters to help understand the performance with your assistance as well. The shows are terrific! Please LMK if you have if any other ?? & I would be happy to answer them!

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm glad you got such good answers already. I have to agree that the shows are so visually rich that she will still get a lot out of most of them. Some especially good ones are:
MK: Legend of the Lion King
Buzz Lighyear
Winnie the Pooh
Small World

Epcot: Food Rocks in the Land (it's loud even without an assistive listening device).
Living Seas (you might want to skip the movie. It's dark and has sudden bursts of lightening that might scare her since you can't explain them to her).

AK: Festival of the Lion King (high energy tumbling, dancing and moving around going on all the time)
Pocohontas and her forest friends (cute with animals)
Tarzan Rocks! (people either like or absolutely hate this. There are roller bladers, gynastics and loud music. That's what a lot of people complain about, but it might be an advantage to you).
Flights of Wonder (there is a pert in the middle that's kind of slow where the hosts are interacting together doing a lot of talking. The rest is neat with a lot of birds that fly right over you)

Studio:Beauty and the Beast (there's a lot happening on the stage)
Hunchback (ditto)
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Fantasmic (parts are scary where the villians are out, but a lot to see).

Here's a link to the DIS inforamtion about services for guests with hearing disabilities.

 

[lisapooh]

There are specific areas reserved for the deaf and hard of hearing who prefer to use the interpreter. Usually they are on the right side as you face the stage but there is an exception to this. A castmember will seat you in that area. Be sure to get the schedule from Guest Services. You can have it faxed to you about a week or 2 prior to your arrival so you can plan. Don't let them get away with "oh , you can pick up a schedule from Guests Services when you arrive". Since I was on concierge level at AKL they got it for me and faxed it plus had a copy for me on arrival.
Also as she gets older and wants to do things like the children's tours you can reserve that and request an interpreter be provided for her. You may get some resistance as they are not used to this but contact sign language services coordinator and insist on one.
Btw I was told by the interpreter that they will interpret the scheduled shows even if deaf are not there because they never know if there will be someone who takes it back to deaf friends and family that interpreters are available. Plus sometimes there are deaf in the audience that they are not aware of and that do not know about the interpreters. They usually identify themselves to the interpreter after the show and are given the schedule for the rest of the day.
Finally special events are alos interpreted, such as Night of Joy, Candlelight Processional, etc. If deaf attend Grad Night they can probably provide interpreters for that too.