I have so many things to say, but because I haven't been consistent with blogging, its just too overwhelming to play catch up and then get into the habit again of blogging like I used to.
But I did have to post about this. We don't sign in our house anymore. Initially when we started this hearing loss process, we were a total communication family and Abby had probably 200 signs in her vocabulary. And I was at the point where I could sign in complete sentences, although I was pretty slow about it. But that was over two years ago. Since she started at Pearson in the Aural class, we haven't done a lot of signing, except to reinforce very basic daily tasks, like "done" and "stop" and "more" and usually only when my children aren't wearing their equipment.
So the other night Abby was taking a bath and reading my lips (which she is VERY good at), and I signed something to her as I was talking. And that got me thinking about the summer and how much we swim and how important it is for Abby and Carter to be able to communicate in some form when they aren't wearing their hearing aids. So for fun, as I was putting Abby to bed, I quizzed her on the signs she used to know. I was amazed that she remembered probably 75% of the signs I quizzed her on. For her to remember something that she hasn't used in two years? I thought that was pretty cool.
And then I thought about how ironic it was that I was teaching my DEAF child how to sign using verbal language. I would say, "Abby this is the sign for ___" and show her and if she didn't get it right I would be like, "no, you need to put your pinky finger up to your chin, like this." It's totally backwards, but totally awesome at the same time. My almost completely deaf child can HEAR. She can communicate verbally on a extremely high level, almost equivalent to her hearing peers. And I am teaching her sign language for "fun" and for an added form of communication. Do you know how incredible that is?!
Its in those little moments that I am brought to my knees in overwhelming gratitude. I am completely indebted to the Lord for my children, for technology, their teachers, and the many miracles, big or small, in our life.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
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5 comments:
Today Mary and I saw a little girl with hearing aids and Mary asked what they were for. It old her they were for hearing and Mary then asked if she did not have them if she would not be able to hear. We talked about Abby for a minute and it helped Mary to understand that having something in your hears does not make you any different. It really has been amazing to watch Abby grow and we are so happy for you all and the choice that you made to go with the CI. It is truly miraculous!
Sorry! The above comment is me... I forgot I was signed into our ward relief society email!
A little tear.
This is wonderful! I can only imagine the sense of elation and accomplishment that you both feel to know that Abby and Carter have come so far.
That is astounding, when you think about it! Teaching her sign by using verbal methods, and then for her to remember signs from 2 years ago - she has a very quick mind!
We stopped signing with Nolan once he was using his voice most of the time. Now we use them in very specific situations (when we're at the lake, mostly). We do use fingerspelled letters to help with his articulation: he can't hear the difference between M and N, so we'll sign the proper letter to help him remember the sound...
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