Helping a very young child with hearing loss enjoy WDW

[Mason7AK]

We just found out this week (Auditory Brain Response Test) that our youngest DD, 21 months, has severe hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear. She does already have hearing aids, as she was diagnosed at 11 months with mild loss. Can anyone share tips or advice on helping her get the most out of our trip planned for Dec 1 - Dec 9th? We will be doing the land/sea with Disney Cruise Line. It will be her first trip to Disney, though we have been several times with the other kids.
DD does not know many signs yet, and is too young (I think) for the closed captioning devices. We will already have a GAC for our DD6 with Cerebral Palsy, Seizure Disorder and Immunodeficiancy.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Angela

 

[darlak]

My DD (now 29 and a mother of three) has a profound bilateral loss. I know that as a parent of a newly diagnosed child, you want to make sure she gets the most out of her WDW experience, as I was exactly the same way. My DD has been to WDW at least once a year since we adopted her when she was 3. We learned after a few trips that she had her favorite things and her favorites seemed to have little to do with the logic of her hearing loss. WDW has changed a great deal over the years since my daughter was child, but it's still one of the most child-friendly locations you can choose for a vacation. There is so much visual stimulation that she should never be without something new for her to focus on.

I'm sure some other Diser's with children more your child's age will post more helpful suggestions as to the current attractions, but I just wanted to tell you not to worry too much. The things you might think will be her favorites may not be her choices at all. Like your other children, her favorites attractions may well be related to her favorite Disney characters.

WDW is still my DD's "Happy Place". Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[SueM in MN]

There is so much visual stimulation that she should never be without something new for her to focus on.

At 21 months, most of the things she would be going on don't really have much of a 'story' that she would miss because of her hearing loss. So, I would probably ignore the sound aspect of the attractions and go for things with lots motion and color (pretty much treating her the same as you would have treated your other kids at that age).

The rides that small children usually go on are as much about the things you see (like Small World and Winnie the Pooh) or feel (like Aladdin's Magic Carpets or Dumbo) as they are about music. Even attractions that you think of as mostly music (like Beauty and the Beast, Mickey's Philharmagic and the Festival of the Lion King) have so much going on visually that she should enjoy them.

 

[madenon]

Hopefully Talkinghands will drop in (or maybe do a search for TH and pm!) with some great hints.

You've probably allready thought of these things, but use something to communicate her hearingproblem to the rest of the world. Not only in case she would get out of your sight, but also for anyone approaching her. A simple button (perhaps made yourself, nice pink colour, a princess on it, anything she likes so she'll think it's pretty) saying "I've got a hearingloss. Fill in what someone can do to communicate to her the best".

I'm a totall doofus on this subject, so don't hit me if I'm wrong. Reading your posting, I get the impression that she can hear some of it all with her left ear, right? You might want to put that on the button. Also if she might need people to get close to her or use a bit more volume for here to hear it. Caractres wont be a problem on this part, but how great would it be for her to hear (if her hearingloss allows it, ofcourse!) a CM when they're talking to her?

If she can hear enough with her left side to -somewhat- follow a show if she sits on the first row; get a GAC for her also. If she needs to sit on a specific side of the stage for hearing a show, let that be noted on the GAC.

If you go swimming, tell the lifegaurd on duty. Eventhough you would obviously never leave a child at her age unattended, you can't be safe enough. If needed, it's good to have the lifeguard know that shouting at her from across the pool won't be heared by her.

I don't know if you use signlanguage with her? If that would be the case, maybe it would be a great surprise for her if you could arrange to talk to her favorite caractres handler before it's her turn to see the caractre, while Dad distracts her. Teaching one sign to use is pretty easy to do (learned my abc's once) and seeing her favorite caractre sign "hi" or "love you" might be great for her.

 

[Val]

My DD9 has moderate bilateral loss AND has grown up going to WDW. She is now old enough to use the closed captioning, etc. When she was really young we found she enjoyed most of disney, but it was visual, not auditory.

One problem we found was LOUD noises. She doesn't hear the "warm up" noises, so to speak, so the loud noises sneak up and startle her. Rides like Universe of Energy, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, etc., scared her because of the sudden loud noises. Fireworks also really did her in.....pretty lights but lots of sudden booms. Our solution was to take OFF her hearing aids and have her wear earplugs. We also tried to explain what was going to happen, and give her the story line BEFORE we went, so she new what to expect (for example, at Fantasmic the bad guys just arrive- she doesn't get the story line so she doesn't understand why they suddenly appear).

We use a small business card and write on it "please speak up and look directly at _________. She has hearing loss". When we met a face character or CM I would just show them the card quickly to let them know about my DD. Really, really helped- the CMs typically get down to her level, talk directly to her, and often give her just a little more TLC! Made and makes all the difference in the world. Using a small card prevents embarrassment for kid and gently tips off the CM without making you look like an overbearing parent! Costumed characters are no problem- they don't talk anyway!

We did get a GAC and use it to sit close at shows so our DD can better see faces and facial expressions. We NEVER used it to avoid waiting (and I don't think the stamp would allow you to do so), but it helped us get seating that made it easier for her to enjoy the show. Most rides don't need any special accommodations.

One more thing- be sure and let lifeguards at the pool know about the hearing loss. If the lifeguard hollers at the HOH kid, the kid may not respond appropriately and may "get in trouble".....letting the lifeguard know helps both the lifeguard keep an extra eye on your child, and avoids the embarrassment of getting hollered at when you can't hear!

That's all I can think of immediately, will add more if I can think of anything. Talking Hands is the resident expert- her help has saved me more than once!

Maybe we send out a call to Talking Hands! Where are you!?!?!?

 

[Mason7AK]

Thanks so much for the replies! Darlak, my DD is adopted too, as are my other darlings. The tip about the card is a great one - I think I will do that! Also, thanks for the heads up about letting the lifegaurds know at the pools. That is something I might not have thought of. DD is just starting to learn signs, but does know "I Love You" and I think if Mickey signed that to her, she would be thrilled! She loves Mickey and the Princesses (like most little girls). She isn't walking just yet, and we will be using her stroller as a wheelchair if she is still not walking in December (fingers crossed that she will be), so maybe I can put the card explaining her hearing loss in a visible area on the stroller!
Thanks again for the tips!
Angela

 

[SueM in MN]

DD is just starting to learn signs, but does know "I Love You" and I think if Mickey signed that to her, she would be thrilled! She loves Mickey and the Princesses (like most little girls). She isn't walking just yet, and we will be using her stroller as a wheelchair if she is still not walking in December (fingers crossed that she will be), so maybe I can put the card explaining her hearing loss in a visible area on the stroller!
Thanks again for the tips!
Angela

Even if she has started walking in December, I'd still suggest getting a GAC that would allow using the stroller as a wheelchair. The only thing I would make you aware of with that is that for most of the shows and movies, the wheelchair seating is in the back row. There are some that have some wheelchair seating in the front - Like Beauty and the Beast - or have all the wheelchair seeating in the front - Like Festival of the Lion King. Just be aware that sometimes the wheelchair seating will be the opposite of what you want for the hearing loss.
Many of the characters do know basic signs and will use them with your child if you clue in the CM handlng the characters. My DD doesn't talk, but does sign. When she was little, we just said that to the character handler and most of the characters did sign at least something to her.

For the 'face' characters, like the Princesses, you can just tell them whatever you need to let them know (I would just say "My DD can hear and understand, but can't speak. She does sign." In the case of a face character like Belle who was with the Beast - Belle would tell him "Beast, we have a special guest herre. She does sign language." The 'non-face' characters like Mickey and Beast often can't sign well because their fingers are too bulky. They do a lot of real broad pantomiming though (sort of like 'natural signs')- things like hands up to the side of the face for 'surprise'

 

[patchchild]

I'm so happy to run across this thread. Until tonight I didn't even know there was a community board under the DISabilities board.

My son also has bilateral moderate hearing loss. He's only two months old now, but we're already dreaming of his first trip to the world. I love seeing all the little visual details myself, so I can't wait to see the face of my little "looker" when he gets the chance.

 

[Talking Hands]

Sorry guys I was on vacation in NC with no computer access for a week. Even if she doesn't know much sign I would get a schedule of the interpreted shows and see them if you have time. All the shows are very visual and the interpreters are spectacular and it gets her used to seeing shows with interpreters. While the wheelcahir seats are mainly in the rear they can place her in front with the proper stamp. Just explain she needs to be near the stage. I have a hearing loss and use a wheelchair and while CMs are confused at first, they quickly accommodate both needs when it is explained to them. They see wc first and don't realize there is a hidden issue unless specifically told, especially since my speech is good (late hearing loss). And I rarely use my hearing aids except for work and even then they are hidden under my curly hair.

 

[Mason7AK]

Thanks so much everyone for all the replies. The tips and suggestions were great and I am feeling much more confident about incorporating DD's needs into our family's already complicated touring needs. I think we won't have to do too much different than what we already do with the other kid's needs, with the exception of adding in the signing and letting CM's know about her hearing loss! Again, thanks so much - I enjoy these boards!
Angela