Download Early Intervention--Two Stories from One Family

What Early Diagnosis and
Intervention has meant to one
family
Tate 11-18-94
 Unremarkable Birth
 Except to Mom & Dad!!
Typical Development
History of Ear Infections
Response to Sound
So why isn’t he talking?
And why doesn’t he understand me?
July 1, 1997
 Mild to Moderate Loss
What happens now?
Will he talk?
Who can help us?
Can he hear me say “I love you”?
Will he participate in sports?

His Dad asked this one!
A New World – for all of us!
Tate’s New Hearing Aids
Tate Hears!!
It’s too late for “Early”
Intervention
 2 yr 8 mo - Tate immediately began intensive
speech therapy – 2 times per week for 6
months
MLR .12
It’s too late for “Early”
Intervention
 3 yr 3 mo – Tate begins
developmental pre-school
through our public school
system
MLR- 2.3
Hope kept us going
 November 22, 1997
Hope kept us going
 November 24, 1997 – Diagnosed with Mild
to Profound Hearing Loss
January 16, 1998
 Hope gets her hearing aids
 Early Intervention home visits begin when Hope is 6
months old
A Set Back
 January 19, 1998 Tate suffers progression
15db in most frequencies
Discovered during routine testing at school no other indicators.
Hearing Loss now very similar to Hope
Even with the progression, Tate’s MLR was
over 15 when he “graduated” from preschool
Hope finds her voice!
Hope Starts Preschool
November 2000
 Hope’s Language and
Speech development
were above age
appropriate
when she started
preschool. She almost
didn’t qualify!
The Difference Today
 Communication
Similar Audiogram/Different Speech
Thresholds and Recognition
The Difference Today
 Communication
Similar Audiogram/Different Speech
Thresholds and Recognition
Tate
Hope
Aided Speech
Recognition @ 25db
Aided Speech
Recognition @ 20db
Aided Speech
Discrimination 84%
@45db
Aided Speech
Discrimination 88% @
45db
The Difference Today
 Academically
Tate
Hope
10 years old – 4th grade
7 years old – 1st grade
Age Appropriate Reading and
Math levels
Above Age Appropriate Reading
and Math levels
Severe Deficits in Vocabulary
Age Appropriate Vocabulary
Speech Therapy-2x/week
No longer eligible for Speech
Therapy (10/04)
Deaf Ed Instruction – 4
hours/week
Utilizes Interpreter in the
classroom along with personal FM
system
Deaf Ed Instruction – 2
hours/week
Utilizes portable FM system in
the classroom
The Difference Today
 Socially
Both are very active in sports
Both enjoy school and are well-liked
Both have friends and active social lives
BUT……….
The Difference Today
 Socially
Both are very active in sports
Athletics are “easier” for Tate. He is on several
competitive teams. Hope enjoys the social aspect
far more than the competition.
The Difference Today
 Socially
Both are very active in sports
Both enjoy school and are well-liked
 Tate requires a great deal of
intervention and extra services both in
and out of the classroom. Hope is
considered a “peer model” for others in
her class.
The Difference Today
 Socially
Both are very active in sports
Both enjoy school and are well-liked
Both have friends and active social lives
Hope has many friends and enjoys
group activities. Tate has a few close
friends and prefers small group activities.
A “minor” drawback to getting
hearing aids when you’re just a
kid!
Many Happy Endings
Many Happy Endings
What Early Diagnosis and
Intervention has meant to one
family
The World!