Amber's Story

I remember walking out of the Ear Nose & Throat specialist rooms and thinking it was all just a bad dream. How could this man tell me Amber wasn't perfect? How could she be deaf?

All my hopes and expectations for her were suddenly shattered as the realisation of what I had been told set in. How could she learn anything if she couldn't talk and how could she talk if she couldn't hear?

Amber had a severe to profound hearing loss and it was suggested we learn to sign immediately. Because we were not aware of any other options at the time, we spent the next six months trying to learn to sign.

It soon became evident that Amber was going to be isolated and would never be able to communicate with anyone outside the family if we continued to use sign.

I knew we could do better and Amber deserved better. It was the desire to hear Amber speak and communicate with her hearing peers that led us to St. Gabriel's.

With the fantastic support, programmes and therapists provided at St. Gabriel's, Amber learnt to listen and to speak. When Amber was 5½ years old she received a Cochlear Implant and now nearly two years later she is developing into a self motivated, independent girl in a main-stream school.

Amber's younger brother Tom received a Cochlear Implant a year ago and with the continued help and support at St Gabriel's I feel confident he will develop into a bright independent boy who can communicate through spoken English.

Anna
Amber's Mum

 

Declan's story

11th January 2002

Dear all at St. Gabriels Sydney,

As a very proud mother, I would like to update you on one of your former pupils!

Declan has just completed his final year at primary school in New Zealand, and this year will be starting at St Kentigem College, an independent school about 10 minutes away from home.

Declan had a great time at primary school, and I am enclosing his report card for year 6. I think that any parent would be proud if their child brought home a report card like this one, not to mention a child who has extra issues to deal with!

To cap off the end of his primary schooling, Declan was presented with one of the major awards at the end of year Assembly. There are a number of special awards presented to the year 6 students, ranging from sporting to citizenship, and academic, and the final award is the Principal's Award. This is the award that Declan received, and I have also enclosed the citation which was read out as Declan received his award.

The principal also said to me later that Declan was not given the award because he has a hearing loss, but because he does not allow his hearing loss to be an impediment. He also said that he had no trouble at all in deciding who should receive this award - that Declan was always his choice!

I wanted to share this with you all at St. Gabriel's as you have been such a major influence with enabling Declan to cope with his hearing impairment.

When Declan was first diagnosed with his hearing loss,* Jan assured me that with the correct intervention, he would learn to adapt and cope. At that time, I really couldn't imagine just how he would cope, but she was so right!

As a family, we will always be eternally grateful for all that your organisation has done for Declan, Special thanks to Jan, not only for all of her practical help with Declan, but also for her empathy as we came to grips with Declan's diagnosis.

If I could take away Declan's hearing loss, I would - but if that meant it changed him in any other way, then I wouldn't. He really is a special child, and everyone likes him.

I hope I don't sound TOO boastful about Declan, but I am sure that you can understand my feelings, and I wanted to share this news with others who have helped him so far.

Denise
Declan's Mum
* Jan Tuohy was Declan's Therapist

 

Jacelyn and Madeline's Story

When our two girls were first diagnosed as being hearing impaired, we thought that the hearing aids would 'fix' everything, as glasses do for the sight impaired. To find out this was not the case was devastating. Where were we to turn for help? The Australian Hearing Service gave us a booklet called Choices. It contained options of centres for hearing impaired children that help with their educational development using various teaching methods. After visiting three centres, St Gabriel's, using Auditory-Verbal Therapy, was our choice.

Jackie Brown, the teacher/therapist, has been most co-operative, supportive and helpful in our journey with the development of both Jacelyn's and Madeline's listening, speaking and cognitive skills. The lessons are fun, easy to follow and productive. Jacelyn spent 2 years with Jackie Brown at St Gabriel's and entered a mainstream school in Year 1 at her appropriate age. Not bad for a child who had been hearing only since she was 3 years and 2 months, when she was first fitted with hearing aids!

Madeline has been attending St Gabriel's since she received her hearing aids at age 11 months. Luckily, Madeline was diagnosed earlier, as she is a different person to Jacelyn. She has more difficulty in concentrating and staying on task for extended periods of time. Madeline is her own person, who likes her own way of doing things, with her own agenda, but she is learning and enjoys her time at St Gabriel's and Jackie Brown is most patient.

We have learnt a great deal about the natural process of auditory-verbal therapy. We have been pleased with our decision to go to St Gabriel's. Our girls have developed good listening skills, they are socially capable of joining in with any group, they enjoy life and are very happy. As parents we know we are learning and are not experts in the hearing impaired, but we have the support of St Gabriel's and feel confident in what we teach our children.

Sandy and Wayne
Parents of Jacelyn and Madeline