Magic Ears.

I know, I know, it’s been too long.. but I don’t want to bore you with an update of where on earth I have been and why I have been neglecting my blog so much, so let’s just leave it at that and I’ll say hello!

It feels like Harry was given his magic ears SO long ago now but it’s actually only been 6 months since he was implanted and just 5 months since they were switched on!  I can’t remember life before he had hearing, it’s so strange thinking about it and all the sounds he was missing out on.

If you follow us on Instagram you will know that Harry wears his CI’s all the waking hours of the day,  just like normal ears!  A few people have been quite surprised he wears them to things like soft play as they might fall off, get tangled or broken.  But these things are built to withstand “the toddler” and as long as I'm near him to pop them back on when they fall off there is no issue.  That’s the great thing about his magic ears, so far we haven’t really found any boundaries which is one of the most important things about Harry having them, I don’t want him to be unable to do something and I want him to have every opportunity there in front of him ready for him to grasp.  This includes going swimming.. we do get some bizarre looks sometimes when Harry launches himself head first into the water wearing his equipment as the first thing you think of is that they are electrical and surely can’t be submersed in water!  Yet his CI’s are fully waterproof meaning he can splash away till his heart’s content.

I still get so many comments and questions from passers-by, mainly all very positive and nice, wanting to know what on earth his Magic Ears are and how amazing technology is these days!  I have had one incident where I was ready to be rather rude to a fellow parent (male) at a local soft play who decided to sit and stare at Harry’s head with a look of horror!!  I understand that it isn't the “norm” but jeez do you have to make the staring that obvious!!

Hearing wise we couldn't ask for more from H.  He is surpassing all expectations and his audiologists and teachers are over the moon with his progress.  We are noticing more and more everyday how many low volume/frequency sounds he can hear, his favourite sounds are of course music and he really loves his Daddy’s whistling!  Our hearts are warmed every single day with every new noise he hears or sound he makes, however minor or silly it is.  Hearing the word "Mama" never fails to make me beam with pride

We still use Sign language on a daily basis with Harry and it has been one of the most useful things as he can tell me when he is hungry, thirsty, tired, wants more of something or pointing and signing what something is.  He loves to sign rabbit, duck and sea!  I will most definitely be teaching any future children basic signs as I think it’s a huge help in learning to communicate long before the use of speech.  We aren’t expecting any solid words from Harry just yet, hes obviously going to be a little behind at this stage but he’s really trying to copy sounds and mouths the way we say things.  Mama and Dada is enough for now!

Sometimes I completely forget that Harry is deaf which I can only see as a good thing.  He has taught me so much already about the world and how we shouldn't take things such as our senses for granted.  I think he is so beautiful even with his special magic ears, they are just part of who he is now.  I'm so excited for his future and I'm so proud of where we are as a family today

** If anyone is interested Harry is going to be featured in the NDCS (National Deaf Childrens Society) Winter Edition of their magazine – which we are SO excited about!  There will be a whole spread in the mag on his story from the moment we found out he was deaf to this very day.  I think it will also be available online so I will make sure to link it via my social media!