Friday, June 8, 2012

Another Audiologist Check-Up

On Wednesday, we visited our audiologist Dr. Deb Hildebrand at UVa Audiology. With our recent hearing aid break (and lost & found aid) we had concerns about all the "whistling" we were hearing from the aids Katelyn was currently using.

The Virginia Department of Health has a loaner bank which we were borrowing from initially to see how the hearing aid process would work for Katelyn before making the investment ourselves. Borrowing from the loaner bank is an amazing option for us, but left us with no choices on the make or model of the aids Kate wears.

I had no idea that there could be a huge difference. Until now...

Seeing the broken aid, Dr. Hildebrand wanted to exchange them due to the extra feedback Kate was getting. Luckily, she already had a pair in house. The loaner bank hearing aids were from Oticon, but the new hearing aids are Phonak brand. Like I said before, I didn't expect much of a change.

When Katelyn put them on, there was a clear difference. Her toddler phase of constant movement was creating whistling sounds all the time. The aids had been jostled and would become loose. The new aids have a stronger feedback control. We hear very little feedback. The profile is also slimmer which keeps them attached to her ear better.

We have only had the new pair a couple of days, but so far she has only taken them off once. And that was to show displeasure to me, not due to an annoyance from the aids themselves. I am hopeful that this new pair will be even better for her.

The more she wears them, the more she learns. The more she learns, the more she will understand. Hopefully this understanding will lead to more speech and happier days for little K and I. Keep the prayers coming...

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