Many of you have just learned about Amichai's hearing loss. We are VERY happy that you are here on his blog, both to keep up with what is going on (SO helpful to us right now) and to check out everything else going on in our boy's life over the last few months!
There are a number of new terms that we have learned over these weeks that we thought we would share with you all (with how they relate to Amichai), if you are interested in learning more!
Here they are....
Deaf
A term used to describe persons who have a hearing loss greater than 90 dB HL. Amichai cannot hear anything less than 120dB, which is about the noise level of a jet engine.
Profound Bilateral Sensorineural Deafness
Bilateral means that both ears have a hearing loss.
Profound means that the hearing loss is 90dB or greater. This means that the child may not be able to hear anything softer than 90dB.
Sensorineural means that the cochlea or auditory nerve isn't working correctly.
A term used to describe persons who have a hearing loss greater than 90 dB HL. Amichai cannot hear anything less than 120dB, which is about the noise level of a jet engine.
Profound Bilateral Sensorineural Deafness
Bilateral means that both ears have a hearing loss.
Profound means that the hearing loss is 90dB or greater. This means that the child may not be able to hear anything softer than 90dB.
Sensorineural means that the cochlea or auditory nerve isn't working correctly.
This is Amichai's technical diagnosis.
Oral Language Approach
An approach to deaf education that emphasizes auditory training, articulation ability and lip-reading. Amichai will be learning this approach to language at the Clarke School for Hearing and Speech in Manhattan.
Total Language Approach
A method of communication using a combination of spoken language and signs, which includes sign language, voice, finger-spelling, lip-reading, amplification, writing, gesture and visual imagery. Amichai will likely be learning this approach (with an emphasis on American Sign Language) at the St. Francis School for the Deaf in Brooklyn. At this school, sign language is used while speaking aurally in English. We will be learning ASL at the Sign Language Center in Manhattan, starting in January!
Cochlear Implants
A cochlear implant (CI) is a surgically implanted electronic device that bypasses damaged inner ear structures and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, helping individuals who have severe to profound hearing loss to interpret sounds and speech. Amichai will have this surgery at nine months of age.
Auditory Nerve
The cranial nerve (VIII) that carries nerve impulses from the inner ear to the brain. This is the nerve that did not develop to allow Amichai to hear. Cochlear implants will bypass this damaged nerve to allow Amichai to hear sound.
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