Harmony Processor

Jack is now using the Harmony processor! We are very lucky that when he had a internal device failure (vender b) Advanced Bionics upgraded Jack to the Harmony processor for free, on both ears. We are all loving the new features of longer battery life. Jack can now go about 11 -12 hours without changing his batteries it is so nice to not have to think about that like we used to. Jack can now go to school all day without having to change his batteries and they are the SLIM size batteries too!! Also, having the light to let us know if something is wrong is nice too. Jack is not using the 120 programming yet, but I'm sure we will be upgrading to that when it is available. The new t-mic hook is something you should try also. It is much smaller than it used to be and is available now. It can be used on all processors.

Jack is also making such great progress in his speech, finally! We have found Jack's missing link into why he was so far behind in his expressive language. Getting him help with his apraxia has made a tremendous differnence. Jack is now starting to put 3-4 word sentences together and they are getting clearer by the day. A prayer has been answered!

Picture is from Jack at school last month.

Another Sucessful Surgery

Yea, surgery is over and we are back home. Jack had his re-implantation yesterday and the surgery went great. The surgeon got full insertion again, and said it was "test book". Jack is at home and resting (trying to get him to rest) and doing great. These kids bounce back so fast it is unbelievable. Jack's turn on is scheduled for May 2nd....can't wait to get things back to normal again.

Jack is doing so well with his "newer" ear since his failure. I can't believe that he is caught up without doing much individual work with that ear. He has not missed a beat and has attending speech and school without any problems. I have notice a big difference in hearing with background noise, but other than that he has done great. I recommend bilateral implants to all families out there. I don't know what we would have done if Jack would have been completely off air for the last 3 weeks......

AB Failure after 3 Years

After 3 years of hearing out of his right side my son has now lost that hearing due to a device failure. We just had it confirmed yesterday by his Audiologist. I thought that this might have been happening a little at a time for the last month or so because Jack would complain that it would go in and out.

Jack is scheduled for reimplantion in 2 weeks so I will post on the outcome. They said it will take Jack a couple of weeks to a month to get back to where he was again on that side.

On a positive note Jack will receive that upgraded Harmony processor which I am happy about. I thought we would be fighting insurance again soon for the upgrade, I'm glad I will not have to deal with that now.

Another thing I am thankful for is Jack is BILATERAL!!! What would I be doing now if he wasn't. He does not know sign language and I don't know how to deal with him any other way than though speech. I think about how Jack would be with a device failure and not hearing at all for a month!!! Jack really was upset when it first happened, but now is going about his day and not really missing a beat. He saw his SLP yesterday and actually had a great session and he will be going to school this afternoon. This is another reason why bilaterals are such a benefit....you have a backup!!! That makes it all worth it alone, not to mention the other incredible benefits!!!!!

Jack Turned 5

Here is a picture of Jack blowing out his candles. I can't believe he is 5 already.....where has the time gone.

Jack Making Great Strides in Language!

Wow it has just been a month since we have been seeing a speech pathologist for Jack's apraxia and it is paying off. Jack has really made great strides in his speech and his intelligibility. I feel a prayer has finally been answered!

His teacher even reported that she is really noticing a difference.

Jack has been so responsive to the new therapy that they have now diagnosed his apraxia as a mild case because he is moving along so rapidly.

Here is a cute picture of Jack at school. I will keep updating on Jack's progress.

What about Brian

DISREGARD MY FIRST POST REGARDING THIS SHOW!!

I am so upset by where the What about Brian storyline has gone. Just recently a little 12 month old underwent implant surgery on the show. I really thought this story line was going to educate the public on the miracle we have all had in our lives, the Cochlear Implant. I just wrote a complaint to ABC and I would ask you all to do the same. http://www.abc.com/ I think they should give a service announcement at the end of the next show saying that the information that they gave in the last show was inaccurate.

Thank you!

Jack has Apraxia

We have been in AVT since Jack has been 41/2 months. He received his CI at just under 2 years old and was bilateral implanted this past May. Jack's understanding has always been ahead of his verbal abilities and now we know why.

Jack was recently diagnosed with Verbal Apraxia. He has started seeing an Speech Pathologist that has worked with a lot of kids with Apraxia. She said she is impressed with what a good foundation Jack has and that is due to all the AV Therapy he has had over the years.

Jack has been to the speech pathologist only once and I have already notice a difference in a week. She gave us exercises to work on his "p" and now he is able to say the "p" and is even realizing when he switches it out with a "t" as he did before. I'm very excited that we have finally found the reason for all of Jack's struggles. I just wish we would have known sooner that this is what it actually has been all along.

We had been working with a Oral Motor Specialist since October and I think she has helped, but I really believe that this was not the main factor to him being unable to put things together. The Speech pathologist said that Jack has enough oral motor to make speech. I don't know if it has been all the work we have done since October, or if was never really a factor. He never had a eating issue and he was able to do tasks with his mouth when we asked. I really have felt like a piece of the puzzle has been missing and now it has been found.

I will keep you all up to date on Jack's progress.

What about Brian

This past Monday on "What about Brian" there was an episode about a young couple making a decision on weather to implant their almost 12 month old daughter. This story line should be very interesting, especially for us with implanted kids. I'm so glad there is a show out there that is addressing this issue. The more information brought to the public the less harder it will be for our children to break free from any preconceived stereo types of the past. You can watch the episode from January 21st on http://www.abc.com/ This is definitely a story line to watch!!!

FYI, there is also another implant story on televison on "The Young and the Restless". An older boy who caught menengitis has recently been implanted. I don't watch it but I believe it is Dru's son. Check it out!

Happy New Year - Update on Jack

Jack has now been implanted for almost 3 years with his first implant. He has had his bilateral implant for 7 1/2 months. I have noticed so much improvement on Jack's listening since his bi-lateral. He is so much more in tune with what is being said and picking up incidental speech like crazy. Yesterday, I was in the kitchen and Jack was in our office which is quite a distance away. I called his name and I heard him in the office say "what". It is amazing how well Jack is hearing....it's a miracle.

Jack is doing well with his overall understanding, but is still behind in his ability to use his words well. We had Jack evaluated by a oral motor specialist this past October and we found out that Jack is having some sensory issues with his mouth. We have been working on his oral motor issues since October and I have notice a difference in the last few weeks. He really is adding more words to form more complete sentences. He is still having troubles forming his B's and P's, but his M's are coming around. I know that this is why Jack has not progressed in his verbal abilities and I can't wait to see what this year is going to bring for him as we finally resolve this problem.

Jack is still attending AVT twice a week, oral motor once a week and Montessori Pre-school half day, everyday.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Jack in New Advanced Bionics Calendar

Advanced Bionics has just issued it's 2007 calendar. Jack did make it in this years calendar, his picture is in February. It is a fantastic calendar and I look foward to seeing all the kids pictures and reading there comments. If you would like a copy of the calendar you can log onto Advanced Bionics web page and request one. On the side of this posting you will find a link to Advanced Bionics. Have a Happy New Year!!!!