Pros And Cons…

We have had such a great success with little M’s hearing aid, it seems like there should be no cons. It has opened up a whole new world to little M, and there are no words for how relieved we are. I wish she could have one in both ears, but since she can hear, I won’t be a whiner.
Little M is still reacting strongly to new sounds, and she still wants to know what all the sounds are, and I am still confused and trying to figure out what sound she is talking about. But that is starting to subside, and in it’s place is language! I didn’t realize how much little M used one word sentences and acted things out…until she started using regular, correct word order, sentences. I didn’t realize that something as simple as a four year old saying “Mommy, when we watch the movie Incredibles, Dash ran really, really fast,” could move me to tears. Because I have never heard a sentence like that before.

On the downside, when we take out her aid, we realize just how profoundly our girl can’t hear. And the downside is that we do have to take the aid out. During her bath, she can’t hear us, and we are back to tapping her so she can read our lips, and acting things out.

Another downside is that even though it helps so much, it makes me worry constantly. It’s one more thing to stress about. Maybe it won’t be bad in the Fall and Winter…but right now it is HOT out. And little M is a big time sweater. Her heart makes her body work a little harder, and that makes her sweat. Add to that the hundred degree weather we’ve been having, and little M is pretty much drenched, all the time. The hearing aid can’t get wet, so I am constantly checking it, and wiping little M down. We haven’t tried to master the pool yet, but I am sure that will bring it’s own challenges.

Please don’t think I am complaining… I LOVE that my little girl can hear. I love it that this little piece of technology can help her. But I know there will always be a part of me that would love for her not to have to deal with this for the rest of her life. There is a part of me that mourns that loss for her. That being said, I still love the hearing aid.