.: June 2010

Last week we took Traxton to Primary Children's Hospital for tests to check his hearing. The results we were given was the very thing we have prayed and hoped against since he was diagnosed with a progressive hearing loss as a newborn. We knew the odds were against us in hoping that his hearing wouldn't get worse, but for the last two years that is exactly what I have been hoping for. Last week that desire for my child to be able to hear adequately with only the help from hearing aides was crushed. We were told after a series of tests where he was required to be sedated that his hearing has dropped substantially. He is profoundly deaf on his left side and severe to profoundly deaf on the right side. Basically, this means that without his hearing aides he cannot hear a thing. Even with his hearing aides a lot of sounds is being missed. We were told that he can only hear at the level in which we talk if it is loud and within a few feet of him.

Sadly, this information did not come as a shock to Jared or I. We knew it was the most probable likelihood from everything we have read about LVA. I also have been able to tell during the last few weeks and months that his response to sound had gotten worse. There have been times where he had his hearing aides off to swim or play in the water and I would yell at him to get his attention. When I would finally get him to look my way, I could tell that he hadn't heard me call his name even though I had been yelling it multiple times. Even though deep down I already knew this was happening, hearing the audiologist tell me the definitive news made me just sit there and cry. It made all my fears a reality and took me right back to the first few months of his life when everything we had anticipated with a newborn was turned upside down and all I could do was cry to my friends and family.

Thankfully, having my gut warn me of the tests outcome made it so much easier to bounce back from my tears and despair into the role as my child's advocate. I needed to know what all this would mean for Traxton and where we go from here. All of the audiologist with Primary Children's were so amazing and have been so supportive of our family and of the hundreds of questions we have had. We had to get Traxton some new "high powered" hearing aides to use for a trial period so see if he makes any progress with his speech and cognition. They also told us that the most likely and most beneficial response to his profound hearing loss will be a Cochlear Implant. Part of the cochlear implant is surgically placed under the skin embedded into the skull. A device similar to a hearing aide is worn externally to pick up the sound and then filter and digitize it into coded signals which are sent as FM radio signals to the cochlear implant under the skin. The implant then sends the signal through electrodes inserted into the cochlea and up through the auditory system to the brain for interpretation. It's pretty amazing that because of technology, there are still options for individuals and families who are dealing with a profound hearing loss.

There are still tests that Traxton has to have before he is considered a candidate for cochlear implants. We have to go back up to PCMC in a few weeks to have a few more tests and meet with a surgeon, but I am really praying that everything will look okay and he can be considered for the implantation. I feel like this is the best thing for him and our hearing family. He is such a sweet little boy who still loves to snuggle even though he is almost two years old. He has such a fun personality and always has everyone laughing. I can't wait until we get to see even more of his personality as he grows.