Questions for son who is HI.

[WoodysRoundup]

DS has a bilateral mild to moderately severe (sloping) hearing loss. He's been going to Disneyworld since he was 6 mo. old. We didn't discover his hearing loss until 3yrs. We had no reason to suspect and basically no clue. DD3 has a mild bilateral hearing loss. Up until now we've never used any of the devices Disney offers. We just requested up close seating when possible. Mostly b/c DS couldn't read yet. DS is now 6+ yrs. old and is mainstreamed in school for the first time this year. He now uses an FM system in the class. I am quite unfamiliar with the technology out there. Does WDW offer FM systems? If not, which devices do you think might be best for him? He is now reading pretty well but obviously not like you or me. I want to have all the info. we need for him (and her) before we go this Spring. Thanks in advance for ANY info. you might be able to offer. I would be so grateful!

 

[SueM in MN]

For basic information about services at WDW for people with hearing impairment, there is a link in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. The link takes you to the WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities specific information about hearing.

There are some frequent posters on this board who have experience with the services for people with hearing impairment who will probably post and give more specific answers for you.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Thanks so much for the FAQ link. It's helpful to have that info.!

I am curioius to find out which methods would be most useful for him, given his degree of hearing loss, as well as given what he's used to (the FM system). In addition, being a newer reader, I wonder if he'd find the hand -helds useful?

 

[Talking Hands]

Thanks so much for the FAQ link. It's helpful to have that info.!

I am curioius to find out which methods would be most useful for him, given his degree of hearing loss, as well as given what he's used to (the FM system). In addition, being a newer reader, I wonder if he'd find the hand -helds useful?

Handhelds will be too advanced for a new reader. Also they aren't always synced properly to the ride and this can be bothersome to someone with a moderate loss.

 

[Talking Hands]

A question: Does his hearing aids have a t-coil? If so you may be able to set the hearing aids to that setting and be able to use the hearing aids themselves. Just ask Mark.

 

[lilladelilla]

I think he might be fine on his own. I have a hearing loss and have had it all my life. I've been to Disney 4 times, this May will be my first time using the services. As a child I had a blast, didn't notice what I was missing, didn't feel like I was missing anything.

Can you have an FM system to bring with you and then any speaker orientated events you can ask the speaker to use the system??

 

[Val]

My DD10 also has moderate bilateral loss and wears bilateral aids. Her hearing loss wasn't detected until KINDERGARTEN! She has been going to WDW since she was 9 mos old (we have 4 kids, 10-20 years old, if we waited for her to be "old enough" the oldest would have been "too old"!)....

....in kindergarten we tried the t-coil head phone thingies (okay, not exact verbage). The problem was that it made EVERYTHING too loud- including the loud scary sounds (think about the dinosaurs on Ellen!). We selectively used them once we realized it scared the holy bejabbers out of her....quiet rides/shows- yes. Louder rides- no way.

Last summer we tried the handhelds, as she is a good reader now. She didn't like the disconnect between the screen words and the sound. She LOVES the reflective captioning- in fact, at Mickey's Philharmagic she discovered that Donald SAYS WORDS! (she never realized either he or Mickey said real words before- thought it was just "animal noise")!

My best advice is 1) listen and consult Talking Hands- she is the resident expert; and 2) try different things and see what works for you. Be sure and ask for front row seating, if that helps (you can get a GAC for that- no avoiding the lines, of course, but it really can help).

We also make small "business cards" that say "L is hard of hearing, please look at her when speaking. Thank you so very much!"....we show them to the face (talking) characters quietly and slyly- no embarrassing DD and the characters have been SO nice about crouching down and talking to her face to face. We haven't run into a bad character yet when doing this! (well, Captain Hook is still "bad" and Tigger is still trouble!).

It will get easier as your DS gets older and reads more fluently. Good luck....and I don't know if you know about the ListenUp! website for parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Has lots of great ideas and information. http://members.tripod.com/listenup/toc.htm. Second best site next to the DIS!

 

[WoodysRoundup]

I think he might be fine on his own. I have a hearing loss and have had it all my life. I've been to Disney 4 times, this May will be my first time using the services. As a child I had a blast, didn't notice what I was missing, didn't feel like I was missing anything.

Can you have an FM system to bring with you and then any speaker orientated events you can ask the speaker to use the system??

Thanks for your input, although all hearing losses are not created equal. One of my daughters has a mild loss. My son, however, has a moderately severe loss and does miss nearly everything w/o his aids. Even with his hearing aids, he hears best within 6 feet of a sound source and oftentimes still misses alot of sounds. I'm happy to hear that you feel you never missed anything, but I know my son is. He has verbalized that to me when he hears the things his "normal" hearing sister describes. His FM system is property of the public schools and therefore we cannot bring it with us on vacation. Thanks for the thought though!

 

[WoodysRoundup]

My DD10 also has moderate bilateral loss and wears bilateral aids. Her hearing loss wasn't detected until KINDERGARTEN! She has been going to WDW since she was 9 mos old (we have 4 kids, 10-20 years old, if we waited for her to be "old enough" the oldest would have been "too old"!)....

....in kindergarten we tried the t-coil head phone thingies (okay, not exact verbage). The problem was that it made EVERYTHING too loud- including the loud scary sounds (think about the dinosaurs on Ellen!). We selectively used them once we realized it scared the holy bejabbers out of her....quiet rides/shows- yes. Louder rides- no way.

Last summer we tried the handhelds, as she is a good reader now. She didn't like the disconnect between the screen words and the sound. She LOVES the reflective captioning- in fact, at Mickey's Philharmagic she discovered that Donald SAYS WORDS! (she never realized either he or Mickey said real words before- thought it was just "animal noise")!

My best advice is 1) listen and consult Talking Hands- she is the resident expert; and 2) try different things and see what works for you. Be sure and ask for front row seating, if that helps (you can get a GAC for that- no avoiding the lines, of course, but it really can help).

We also make small "business cards" that say "L is hard of hearing, please look at her when speaking. Thank you so very much!"....we show them to the face (talking) characters quietly and slyly- no embarrassing DD and the characters have been SO nice about crouching down and talking to her face to face. We haven't run into a bad character yet when doing this! (well, Captain Hook is still "bad" and Tigger is still trouble!).

It will get easier as your DS gets older and reads more fluently. Good luck....and I don't know if you know about the ListenUp! website for parents of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Has lots of great ideas and information. http://members.tripod.com/listenup/toc.htm. Second best site next to the DIS!

Thanks so much for your post. It's great to hear other stories and I'm glad you shared your experiences. I put a call into our audiologist to get her take on what might work best for him. I love the business card idea. Two years ago he was called on at "Turtle Talk w/Crush". He really couldn't understand what Crush was saying and Crush sort of made "fun" of him b/c he wasn't responding. The audience laughed but he was very upset b/c he didn't know why people were "laughing at him". It just brought it to my attention that I really want to do what I can to help him adjust. Of course the business cards wouldn't have helped then, but they would be helpful with the characters, etc. Thanks also for the website tip! Many more happy trips to you and your family!

 

[Talking Hands]

Thanks so much for your post. It's great to hear other stories and I'm glad you shared your experiences. I put a call into our audiologist to get her take on what might work best for him. I love the business card idea. Two years ago he was called on at "Turtle Talk w/Crush". He really couldn't understand what Crush was saying and Crush sort of made "fun" of him b/c he wasn't responding. The audience laughed but he was very upset b/c he didn't know why people were "laughing at him". It just brought it to my attention that I really want to do what I can to help him adjust. Of course the business cards wouldn't have helped then, but they would be helpful with the characters, etc. Thanks also for the website tip! Many more happy trips to you and your family!

I suggest you take him to Turtle Talk when the interpreter is present and let the interpreter know he doesn't sign but will need to lip read him/her to understand Crush. The interpreter will do as much as she/he can depending on the number of other deaf and hard of hearing present. The interpreters can and do adjust to the consumer when their is only one person to deal with. When there are multiple persons they have to adjust to the needs of the group and cannot always focus on one person.
Also give the CMs a heads up about his hearing loss so they can let Crush know. That should avoid any hurtful situations.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Thank you, Talking Hands. I would have never thought of doing that. Sorry if this has been asked before, are the interpreter times posted now or do I have to wait until closer to our May trip?
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

Thank you, Talking Hands. I would have never thought of doing that. Sorry if this has been asked before, are the interpreter times posted now or do I have to wait until closer to our May trip?
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the exact times you will need to get a schedule sent to you. Ask Mark to send it to you. Interpeting is done at Epcot on Tuesday and Friday, Magic Kingdom on Monday and Thursday, Disney's Hollywood Studios on Wednesday and Sunday, and Animal Kingdom on Saturday. In the past Turtle Talk has been the first interpreted show of the day and the time is the show after the 10am show. Forget the exact time. 10:15 or 10:20