Children, parents, and professionals in partnership |
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Family Stories: Alice's Story Alice
At the age of 16 months, Alice 's hearing test confirmed that she was profoundly deaf in both ears, as a result of the meningitis. We were assured that Alice would lead a normal life with technology called cochlear implants (which we had never heard about) albeit that she would still be “deaf”. After the shock and worry of the meningitis, there was a further mountain to climb. Luckily, Alice was implanted with bilateral cochlear implants (Nucleus Freedom) only 3 weeks later, from the date of diagnosis, and “switched on” at 18 months. In the meantime, we had heard about auditory verbal therapy (AVT) through a friend's former work colleague, whose son had attended AVUK and was now one of the highest achievers in their class in a mainstream school. We let ourselves hope and believe that one day our beautiful daughter could too lead a normal life, along with her hearing peers. Having now researched AVT, we knew that Alice could, through the wonder of cochlear implants and AVT, learn to listen, hear and talk just like her elder brother (who was 4 and a half at the time). We also found out that funding for the AVT sessions was available to us from the Meningitus trust (www.meningitis-trust.org), and our thanks go out to them. So, began the most amazing journey. We started the long fortnightly drive up to Oxford to AVUK (circa 3 hours each way from our home on the South Coast ). And wow – we cannot explain how grateful we are for everything AVUK has given us! Aside from the emotional support we have received, within 20 minutes of Alice 's first visit, she was holding an aeroplane in the air, and making “aaah” noises. This was from a child who had lost all her sounds and words, and had not spoken in over 5 months! During the fortnightly sessions at AVUK, we learnt not only to have great expectations for Alice but also how to achieve them. Catherine is a wonderful teacher, whom Alice has always been extremely excited to go and “play with”. Alice loved the sessions pouring water, playing with toy people, penguins, water, crayons and of course, that essential ingredient, lots and lots of laughter! As we approached Bignell Barns, she would get very excited, even at a young age, and wait with anticipation for the next wonderful game from Catherine.
The results? Speak for themselves! Alice is age equivalent in terms of her expressive and receptive language. Her clarity is improving and her confidence and self esteem are astounding. If we think of AVUK and Catherine, we think of fun, laughter and wonderful people who have given our daughter the gift of speech and hearing, so that she can lead a mainstream life and achieve her potential. Alice has now graduated from the AV programme at the tender age of 2 and ¾. In her spare time she dances ballet, goes to music class, swims and plays with her friends. She attends a mainstream nursery two days per week in term-time and, I am told, is very bossy and the first to answer flashcards! Her brother says “thank goodness there are no more trips to Oxford , Alice is too much of a chatterbox as it is!”. We smile – funny how things turn out!Nick and Andrea Videos of Alice
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At the age of 12 months our daughter, Alice, suffered from pneumococcal meningitis. After her discharge, we had concerns regarding her hearing. These were however dismissed as “glue ear” and we tried to carry on as normal, helping Alice to regain her skills to walk (which she did at 19 months).
All the time, Catherine and AVUK have challenged and pushed us in terms of moving Alice forward in terms of her receptive and expressive language to ensure that she leads a normal life. We have spent many hours playing AV games, and using AV principles at home with us, and her wonderful grandparents, Sally and Mike, to ensure that Alice achieves her potential. At times, the actual journeys up to Oxford were tiring and the traffic dreadful, but the results meant that we would travel to the end of the world for our AV sessions.