§ ¶Addendum
I forgot to add this to my previous entry, because I put it in the kids' blog, but it applies here too!The opening session involved a performance by the Barrel of Monkeys (http://www.barrelofmonkeys.org/) a theater group that acted out stories that children in AG Bell submitted as part of a writing contest. Suggested topics included deafness and what you want to be when you grow up. Samara wrote a story entitled "My Deaf Mom" that was selected and the second one performed. It was neat to see their take on it. I had prepared her for the possibility that hers might be picked. She didn't want it to be. When it was being performed, she burrowed herself into Aaron but watched it anyway and seemed to enjoy it. She laughed a lot at the other ones. She commented later that people were coming up to her afterwards, even people she didn't know. Now she can say she was published and produced at the age of six. Here's her story (and, by the way, the only one from this perspective):
My Deaf Mom, by Samara Steinfeld
I have a deaf mom. It is hard to get her attention. Sometimes I have to tap her to get her attention. Sometimes I have to tell her when the telephone rings. Sometimes I help her practice her listening. Every Friday she goes to practice her listening. Sometimes when we are on the phone and it has no captioning, I help interpret. She can hear better now because she has a cochlear implant and hearing aid. It is fun having a deaf mom!
§ ¶It's Summertime, and the Rehab's Easy...
I finished rehab at the end of April and decided to take the summer off. I recently returned from the AG Bell convention in Milwaukee. I was very much looking forward to one of the first sessions: Aural Rehabilitation for Adults with Cochlear Implants. Unfortunately, it was very disappointing. The presenter mostly talked about her program and went through her forms in detail. There was a panel of two family members, where one had a CI. They demonstrated how they do CI rehab with each other. The only thing I learned is that the game of Outburst might be a good tool.The other session I wanted to attend was, of course, the last one: Plug and Play iPod and Pod Casting in Auditory Therapy. Even though we have an iPod, I've never used it, but now I'm eager to use it as a rehab tool. I'll even upload my cousin Sam's new single!
I did discover that Advanced Bionics will soon have a free, interactive web site called The Listening Room, with an area devoted to teens and adults. Just what I've been looking for! I managed to complain to the company at its booth about the poor design of its processor dry store case. I no longer put my processor in it at night, which means it's not being protected against heat and humidity. The reason? The case is designed for implants worn on the right side of the head; mine is on the left. Therefore, when I put it in, the cord gets all twisted and doesn't sit on my head properly. Hopefully they'll look into this and make a different version for us lefties!
The big thing these days is bilateral implants - not just in kids, but adults too. At this point, I have no interest in getting another CI. I get enough benefit and balance from my hearing aid. I also like keeping one ear's residual hearing, just in case. If I were to lose that, however, I would probably look into it more.
