Deafed.net

Click here to check out the Deafed.net website. It's a very useful tool for DHH/general education teachers, people with hearing loss, or people who have questions about hearing loss.

Frogs

I found this story online. If you know who wrote it, shoot me an email. This story is also posted to my website. 


Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs...who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the very top of a high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began...
 
          Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as: "Oh, that is way too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top" or "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high". The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one...Except for those, who were in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher...The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!! No one will make it!" More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...But ONE continued higher and higher and higher...This one wouldn't give up!
 
          At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top. THEN all of the tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal? It turned out...That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of the story is:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill

your dreams!

Dangerous Decibel Levels

I've attached a picture of a chart from a website that you can check out by clicking here. Anything above 85 dB is dangerous. Not only does the decibel level warrant your attention, so does the exposure time. As you can see below, 8 hours at 85 dB is okay. If you'll also notice, the exposure time decreases drastically. For example, 15 minutes is permissible at 100dB. Running a chain saw for more than 2 minutes without proper hearing protection is very dangerous. Check out this link for an animated noise level meter. If you only have the time to check out one link, the latter is the best!

Tough, but Not Impossible

I participated in an IEP meeting today in which the mother got visibly upset when I spoke of her child's hearing loss. She was most upset because she wanted to help her child and just didn't feel as if she knew exactly what to do. I'm certain my mother went through the same thing, too. It's tough when you don't know exactly what to do.

Sometimes the only thing you can do is continue to love your child be supportive in education, like this mother is and my mother was. I have many question to ask God, and one day, when I get to Heaven, I may ask Him why He made me deaf. Not sure what I'll do-I'll see God! I may be speechless-I may ask Him to give me the answers to all of the mysteries of the world...Where's the Ark of the Covenant? Where's the Garden of Eden? What happened to Amelia Earhart?

Until I get to Heaven, I can only accept my hearing loss and use that to glorify God. He made me perfect in His eyes. He knew what He was doing when He created me. He had a reason for me to be deaf. I wish I could have stepped away from an education setting right into a ministerial setting, and comforted this mother at the meeting. Being deaf is tough, but not impossible!

Full attention!

It's very important when teaching children with hearing loss to make sure you have their full, undivided attention before delivering instruction. It doesn't matter the degree of hearing loss, if they have a personal or portable FM provided, or if they just plain won't look at you...Always have their full attention! It is my personal and professional experience many children with hearing loss just simply aren't in the habit of full attention to speakers. For one, they get tired more easily than hearing peers (it's true, I know), and, secondly, they aren't used to listening...key word there. Listening and hearing are two completely different things. Develop a habit of having your student give you full attention during instruction. In time, it will become habit and better learning will take place. 

Hearing Our Way

I've had a chance to read the magazine and I recommend folks checking the website out by clicking here. There is a lot of good information pertinent to our young students with hearing loss. Check out the website and a digital copy of the magazine. Connect with them on social media, too!

Clarity, The Speech, Hearing, and Learning Center

You can access their website by clicking here. Here is a little blurb from their home page:

        "Clarity is a not-for-profit agency, serving children and adults for more than 65 years. We provide speech & language, learning & psychology, hearing & audiology assessment and treatment. All professional services are provided by our staff of university trained, licensed and/or certified professionals. Formerly known as The Speech, Hearing and Learning center, the mission of Clarity is to help individuals with speech, hearing, learning and developmental challenges realize their potential and improve their quality of life. Clarity has been helping people in our community since 1948. We provide diagnostic and treatment services directly to individuals with speech, language, learning and hearing disorders and challenges."

They can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Get connected with Clarity NOW!!

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

Better Hearing and Speech Month is here! For some resources, click here.

Listening to Learn in a Sea of Noise

Take 5 minutes to read this great article on the implications of poor classroom acoustics by clicking here. The title is Listening to Learn in a Sea of Noise...Appropriate title and a great read! I particularly like the flashlight analogy.