Hearing Our Way: Spring 2025

HEARING

UR WAY

The magazine for kids and teens with hearing loss

VERCOMINEGS BSTACL

ZOEY

GALLOPING INTO SPRING 2025

Spring 2025 / Volume 12, No. 1

4 Things We Love

Eva’s Bookshelf: Eva Inspiration Station: Tasha Ghouri Sibling Spot: Raquel

6 Overcoming Obstacles Featuring: Zoey

8 Special Features

Sophie’s Spotlight: Maya and Stella Education Station: Mrs. Berry

10 Fun & Games

Dear Sophie: Serenity

12 Sophie’s Spotlight Featuring: Payton

Did you receive this issue from a friend, school, or office and want to sign up?

SUBSCRIBE NOW! HearingOurWay.com

HI FR M MEL! New Year 2024 was an exciting time for Hearing Our Way!

We celebrated our 10 year anniversary with an updated design and a brand new book. The response to The BIG Book of Hearing Our Way has been great so far, and we want to thank each and every one of you who purchased your own copy of the book. As always, we’d love to hear what you think of it!

Overcoming Obstacles

Our covergirl, Zoey, is someone who knows how to take the reins when it comes to self-advocacy.

She enjoys working with her teacher of the deaf, understands the benefits of her FM system, and knows how to speak up when she needs accommodations.

From horseback riding to competitive dance, Zoey never lets her hearing loss stop her.

And now we gallop ahead into a new year, and embrace a new season. What are you looking forward to this spring?

Things Mel Loves

Mel Paticoff Grossman,

I’ve been following Tasha for years, (we’ve featured her once before in the magazine and even included her in our book), but it’s been especially fun to see her bedazzled cochlear implant each week for the performances. It’s so important for viewers to see her wearing her hearing device with pride and proving to the world that people with hearing loss can learn to dance just like anyone else!

M.S.D.E. Editor in Chief

Founder and Editor-in-Chief Melanie Paticoff Grossman, M.S.D.E. Magazine Design Peggy Nehmen, N-Kcreative.com And special thanks to readers like you!

Our Inspiration Station features Tasha Ghouri, former Love Island contestant with a cochlear implant, who recently competed in a Dancing with the Stars-type competition in the UK.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities, content submissions, change of address, and customer service: contact info@hearingourway.com.

Hearing Our Way PO Box 13 Greenlawn, NY 11740 USA ©2025 Sophie’s Tales, LLC. All rights reserved.

Hearing Our Way is a quarterly publication of Sophie’s Tales, LLC. Reproduction or distribution in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

All comments and suggestions received by Hearing Our Way become the sole property of Hearing Our Way. By submitting writing, artwork, or photos, you grant permission to Hearing Our Way to publish content received in current and future publications without compensation or acknowledgment.

Every issue of Hearing Our Way includes listening, language, and self-advocacy strategies. Just look for the symbols!

Listening strategies and hearing technology Speech, language, and communication Self-advocacy skill building

2

HEARING OUR WAY

SOPHIE

You Are Strong!

Set your mind to it, and you can achieve anything.

Ultratec.com

BOOKS WE L VE: EVA’S BOOKSHELF Eva is a 16-year-old girl from New Jersey who has always loved reading. She has hearing loss in her left ear, but with the help of a crossover hearing aid, she never lets her hearing loss hold her back.

Eva invites you to explore her bookshelf.

Dawn of the Light Dragon, written by Tracey West and illustrated by Matt Loveridge, is the 24th book in the fantasy series, Dragon Masters. The main character, Drake, along with his best friend, Darma, and their two dragons, go on a journey in search of the Light Dragon, who is supposed to help them on their quest. Once they reach him, they meet his master, Rune, who is completely deaf and uses sign language to communicate.

Neither Drake nor Darma know sign language, so at first they communicate with him through their dragons until they learn how to include Rune in their conversations and learn some signs that he teaches them as well. I loved seeing how willing Drake and Darma were to figure out how to best communicate with Rune. It reminded me of my own friends, who have always been thoughtful when it comes to my hearing loss and how best to help me. I would recommend reading the rest of the series before reading this book.

W e s L g ove n i h T TECH WE L VE CID – Central Institute for the Deaf, in St. Louis, Missouri, has launched a new on-site 3D-print earmold lab, where CID audiologists can make precise, custom-fit earmolds in just days.

The typical timeline for sending out impressions and waiting for them to come back from the manufacturer was around 27 or more days, almost a month, but CID can now make a quality set of earmolds in as little as 3 days!

For small children whose ears are constantly growing, this is a huge advantage that allows them to get started on their listening journey sooner (about 24 days sooner!) and have the best access to sound.

If you had a 3D printer, what would you print that could help people with hearing loss? Send us your ideas at info@hearingourway.com!

4

HEARING OUR WAY

INSPIRATI N STATI N Tasha Ghouri

“[When my cochlear implant magnet came off mid-performance, it was a difficult moment], but it was also a massive sign: “Don’t ever give up and keep going!” That’s why I didn’t stop, as the show has to go on.”

Tasha Ghouri, Love Island’s first contestant with a cochlear implant, was back on TV recently as a contestant on the BBC’s dance competition, Strictly Come Dancing. She blew audiences away week after week, earning perfect scores in dance, decorating her cochlear implant to match her costumes, and even going ahead with her dance when her magnet fell off in the middle of a song! Tasha often posts videos about her hearing loss and cochlear implants; follow her at @TashaGhouri.

©The Mirror online UK BBC

You may have heard of 3D printing, but did you ever think you could 3D print your own hearing aid earmolds?!

SIBLING SP T S MEET SIBLINliGnois who never let Il from Chicago, e way of fun! th in t e g s s lo hearing

Raquel, 13, has bilateral MED-EL cochlear implants, and her siblings do not have hearing loss. Her oldest brother, Marshall, is 21 and a senior engineering student at UCLA. Her brother, Avery, 19, is an engineering student at the University of Illinois–Urbana/ Champaign. Dominique, 17, is a senior in high school. Together, the family has a passion for supporting not only Raquel but all kids with hearing loss and their families.

Raquel: I enjoy running cross country and track, playing basketball and soccer, and being a team leader for my Raq N’ Roll Walk4Hearing team. After getting my first cochlear implant at age 5, I loved it so much that I decided to go bilateral.

I feel lucky to have older siblings who support and inspire me.

Avery: Raquel is the youngest of four kids in our family. Being six years older, I watched as Raquel went from struggling to hear to being able to follow instructions, communicate easier, and just have more fun once she received her cochlear implant. When I was 12, I was inspired by Raquel to enter MED-EL’s Ideas4Ears Competition. My idea was to create a necklace to hold her cochlear implant battery, making it more fun, fashionable, and natural. I won the contest, and we were invited to MED-EL’s headquarters in Austria, where we met the people who made Raquel’s cochlear implant. It was very exciting, and it encouraged me to keep inventing things to help others and make the world a better place.

Raquel: Even though I was only six at the time, I remember feeling so proud of my brother when he won the contest, and it was a great experience to get to travel to Austria as a family. I have followed in my older siblings’ footsteps, helping other families as a Youth Ambassador for the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources, being a podcast guest on The Smile Files, and using my self-advocacy skills, of course! I like that I can be very involved in my hearing loss community, but also have my own interests, like competing at the National Junior Olympics this year!

W RDS W RDS W RDS

Horsing Around

One Last Word from Mom: I am so proud of my kids and feel so lucky they have each other.

Raquel is a welcoming and compassionate friend to everyone she meets. Dominique has helped edit and produce videos of students with hearing loss sharing their advice. Avery inspired us all with his innovations and the trip of a lifetime to Austria. Marshall did virtual picture book readings for kids with hearing loss during the pandemic, reading aloud and signing in ASL. Like my kids, I have taken pride in helping other families with hearing loss like ours by serving on the board of the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources. We are big fans of Hearing Our Way magazine, which shares our passion for supporting kids with hearing loss.

Language can be tricky, especially idioms, which are groups of words or expressions that mean something different than what they say.

You might hear the idiom horsing around and think it’s about spending time on the farm, but no!

Horsing around means playing physically in a silly, even careless, way.

Like this: We were just having fun in the playroom, horsing around, until my cochlear implant processor got knocked off, and that’s when I decided it might be time to play a board game instead.

Hearing loss is part of the whole family.

Share your story with us: info@hearingourway.com

HEARING OUR WAY

5

VERCOMINEGS BSTACL F

ORIES O INSPIRING ST S LIKE YOU N KIDS AND TEE

H W DOES ZOEY HEAR? With her dance bag in one hand, riding gear in the other, and one hearing aid!

ALL ABOUT ME

ZOEY’S FAVES APPS Roblox Toca Boca World™ BOOKS Babysitter’s Club El Deafo MUSIC Taylor Swift TV Izzy’s Koala World Alexa & Katie MOVIES Percy Jackson Annie FOODS Hamburgers Ice cream PLACES Great Wolf Lodge Wisconsin Dells

Hi, I’m Zoey! I am a 12-year-old seventh grader from Palatine, Illinois. I live with my mom, dad, 7-year-old sister, a cat named Lucy, and our puppy, Maple.

I love competing in dance, attending horseback riding camp over the summer, and learning about animals, especially koalas, any chance I get.

HEARING MY WAY I was born with mild conductive hearing loss in my left ear due to a malformation in the bones of my ear. This was only discovered when I had to get tubes in my ear at 9-months-old due to ear infections. It wasn’t until I was two that I started going to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, where we were able to learn more about my hearing loss and watch it closely. At the end of first grade, my doctor discovered cholesteatoma growing in my left ear, and at the beginning of the year in second grade, I had surgery to remove it. It was a very long surgery. The cholesteotoma had been eating at the bone, so the doctor had to remove some of the ear bone. I had to have a second surgery to fix the bone.

I had lost so much hearing that my hearing loss was now moderate-to-severe, so I began using a hearing

QUOTE

Try your best and forget the rest!

6

HEARING OUR WAY

Zoey dances 4-5 times a week!

Zoey loves to train and play with her puppy, Maple. aid in my left ear that spring. Things were going okay until fourth grade, when the cholesteotoma came back and required another surgery. I go back to the doctor often to monitor and clean out the tissue in my mastoid cavity, and I wear my hearing aid all the time.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES The amount of surgeries I’ve had has been stressful for me, because each time I had to stop doing the things I love to do, like dance and horseback riding. After my last surgery, I had to stay home from school for a week and couldn’t dance for another month. There was also a time that I felt

self-conscious of my hearing aid, and I didn’t want people to ask me about it. With the help of my DHH (deaf and hard of hearing) teacher, Emily Taylor, I have become more confident. At first, I didn’t want to wear my hearing aid to dance because I thought people would make fun of me, but then I decided one night to text all my dance friends to tell them about my hearing loss and hearing aid. To my relief, they were all so supportive! In school, sometimes I feel like I don’t catch everything the teacher says, and it makes it hard to learn new things. I’ve had difficulty with reading, spelling, and math.

Now, I get help from my DHH teacher to work on those subjects, and I am getting better.

SCHOOL COOL Since kindergarten, I have had accommodations that help me at school, first through a 504 plan and now with an IEP. Sometimes it’s really hard to hear everything at school, especially when there is a lot of noise around, and I use a Roger FM system which really helps with that. Starting middle school this year was an adjustment for sure. I have a new DHH teacher to work with, and I have learned to navigate taking my FM microphone with me from room to room. I continue to advocate for myself by emailing my teachers when needed.

FRIENDS LIKE ME Last summer, I spent a week at Camp Lions sleepaway camp for children with hearing loss for the first time.

I had an amazing time and met lots of new friends I still keep in contact with.

My own DHH teacher was even one of my camp counselors, because she has hearing loss, too, and she has been a great role model to me! One interesting part was meeting kids who use sign language, and I learned some signs so that I could communicate with them.

Back at school, I’m fortunate that there are other students with hearing loss, and we have DHH nights, when all of the students with hearing loss in the school district can get together for a night of fun activities. I really enjoy being around others who have experienced the same things as me, and that’s also why I love reading Hearing Our Way!

DANCING QUEEN, HORSING AROUND! I am part of a competitive dance team, and we perform group dances and solos at competitions as well as a special year end showcase. I dance 4-5 days a week between competition rehearsals and classes, where I learn ballet, jazz, lyrical, aerial, and acro dance. But I still find time for horseback riding, something I love to do. I have gained confidence through my riding lessons, and I love connecting with the horses.

SELF-ADVOCACY STAR My hearing loss is a part of me. It makes me who I am. I used to feel uncomfortable about my hearing aid, but now it’s no big deal. I just say, “It’s a hearing aid to help me hear.” I even decorate my hearing aid with beads or Phonak stickers for every holiday, letting it stand out, not hide. If my teachers forget to seat me in the front of the room, I send them an email reminding them to move me up.

Zoey gains confidence through horseback riding lessons.

I also will ask one of my friends in the front to switch with me. If I mishear something, I will raise my hand or ask a friend. This is something I am working on with my DHH teacher. Don’t be scared to advocate for yourself or to tell others about your hearing device, and don’t forget that hearing loss is a superpower!

#GOALS My struggles with my surgeries and hearing loss have made me stronger.

I think they have also made me more empathetic to other people with disabilities. When I get older, I hope to become a DHH teacher or an audiologist, so I can help kids with hearing loss like me.

Want to be on our next cover? Email your story to info@hearingourway.com

HEARING OUR WAY

7

S PHIE'S SPOTLIGHT

Like Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked, Maya and Stella are friends at school who have their differences but are always there for each other, so we created our own remake of the Elphaba, Glinda rap just for them!

Two Good Friends There’s nothing about Maya and Stella’s friendship: they’re in the same grade at the same school, they work with the same teacher of the deaf (Mrs. Berry), they have the same favorite subjects (art and gym), and they read the same magazine they both love, (Hearing Our Way)!

Of course, they also have their differences: Maya likes to play Pokémon cards and Minecraft. Stella is part of a family of people with hearing loss, including her dad and, recently, her sister, too. Maya wears silver hearing aids, but Stella’s are pink with colorful earmolds and stickers.

Maya and Stella want other kids to know that they don’t need to be afraid or embarrassed to wear their hearing devices. In fact, Maya and Stella think wearing hearing aids is pretty cool!

Maya… Stella…

Maya… Stella…

I have hearing loss… and I have hearing loss!

But who’s the boss? Well, it’s a toss.

We love being friends at school, Maya’s funny, Stella’s cool. We were strangers, that’s no lie, but now we’re besties, ridin’ high. ridin’ high.

It’s nice to have a friend like We both wear hearing aids with While working with Mrs. No longer alone, now

me, glee, Berry,

It’s WE.

Silver, silver, silver, STOP! Both are great, Art, art, art, Wait! Favorite subjects, Our advice, please, life’s not meant to be It’s tough, feel afraid, Stella, With each other,

pink, pink, pink, they really pop! gym, gym, gym, so don’t be late! remember, a breeze. you might but we love our hearing aids. Maya, what have we shown? we don’t feel alone!

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ....

8

HEARING OUR WAY

Watch the original rap at HearingOurWay.com/resources and sing along with our new lyrics... or make your own!

EDUCATI N STATION

Hi, I’m Mrs. Berry,

an itinerant teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing in central Pennsylvania.

I was inspired to become a teacher of the deaf (TOD) after watching my mom develop hearing loss as an adult. She was diagnosed with bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss and began wearing two hearing aids. Seeing her navigate her hearing loss inspired me to get involved in the deaf and hard of hearing community. At first when I went to college, I started studying to be an ASL interpreter.

Over time, I realized I wanted to work more with kids, and I switched gears to become a teacher of the deaf. I earned my master’s degree in deaf education and became a certified teacher. I’ve been a TOD for nine years now!

As an itinerant teacher, I teach preschool all the way up to seniors in high school! I enjoy finding fun ways to teach my students, such as playing games that don’t feel like “work” but actually are! For example, we do Listening Bingo or Self-Advocacy Jeopardy! I find that these are the best ways to practice listening and language skills and teach my students about their hearing loss and technology.

Plus, it’s fun for me, too!

I most want my students to learn that having hearing loss makes them unique, but they are not alone. That’s why I love to share Hearing Our Way magazines with them! I also try to connect my students with each other, even if they aren’t at the same schools. Each year, we try to plan an event outside of school for all the students and their families to get together.

If you are thinking of becoming a teacher of the deaf, my advice would be to connect with others as much as you can, whether that be other TODs, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, or teachers. The wisdom and different resources these people have will help you tremendously while you are studying to become a TOD—and later on, too!

....... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ......

HEARING OUR WAY

9

DEAR S PHIE ing, Lakeside, California, and I like swimm the time with my family. In fact, we are playing with my dog, and spending with riding, going on walks, and hanging “Adams” family! I also like horseback my friends. and wear hearing aids in both ears.

I have a sensorineural hearing loss younger, I survived cancer. I had to I also use an FM system. When I was me get better, but it also caused my be on strong medicine that helped hearing loss. pate in plays every year, and this My favorite class is theater. I partici t year it was Schoolhouse Rock. year it’s the musical, Matilda ! Las to so excited waiting for the cast list I audition for a part, and then I get d nee ma class I find that I don’t always come out. It’s a big surprise! In dra uses a big microphone. to use my FM because the teacher

Hi, I’m Ella! I am a sixth grader from

FUN &S GAME What did the horse say when it fell?

I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyup!

I really love reading Hearing Our Way

!

Love, Ella

What do you call a horse that lives next door?

A neigh-bor!

What’s black and white and eats like a horse?

A zebra!

What did the mare say to her foal?

“Hay, it’s pasture bedtime!”

10

HEARING OUR WAY

Can you help the horse find its way through the maze?

Draw a path from the horse to the grass.

Books Make the Best Gifts!

There’s so much to love from over 40+ issues of Hearing Our Way—and now some of the best content is found all in one place! Packed with inspiring stories, educational resources, and engaging content new and old, this fun and easy-to-use book is the perfect addition for any kid or teen with hearing loss, parent, teacher, or hearing health professional.

You’ll love this essential resource!

The BIG Book of Hearing Our Way is a must-have book that delivers a powerful message:

hearing loss is a part of you, but it does not define you!

Inside you’ll find: ▪ Personal stories from young role models and celebrities with hearing loss ▪ Engaging activities designed to build self-advocacy and communication skills ▪ Exclusive new features, like an interactive journal, glossary, and board game ▪ Inspiring original artwork and poetry from kids and teens with hearing loss

Add this new keepsake book to your collection by ordering today: hearingourway.com/bigbook n S t a t io n Photography

Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin the In 2022, Troy Kotsur became Oscar for first deaf man to win an the film Best Actor for his role in Matlin CODA. His co-star Marlee to win was the first deaf woman in 1987. an Oscar for Best Actress

/AP

Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision

From celebrities to influential trailblazers to everyday heroes, these are just some of the role models with hearing loss who have inspired us through the years.

people A pioneer and advocate for first deafwith disabilities, and the of blind person to earn a Bachelor Miracle Arts degree. The film The Worker tells her story.

42

Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning Alex composer and musical director Evan Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Hansen, The Greatest Showman) has worn hearing aids since if he childhood. He often wonders the would be able to write music sound way he does if he didn’t hear in such a unique way. listen “My hearing loss makes me focus a little harder… I can really the world in on music and tune out overcoming around me… It’s about you a disability to the point where anymore.” don’t feel it’s a disability

Heather Artinian

practicing A Harvard Law grad and lawyer with a cochlear implant. in the She was featured as a child groundbreaking documentary Sound and Fury in 2000.

motivational speaker icon, fitness expert, and Lou Ferrigno, superhero the life-changing as The Incredible Hulk, made best known for his role implant at the age of 69. decision to receive a cochlear What made you Hearing Our Way (H W): from wearing decide to take the leap to getting hearing aids since childhood a cochlear implant?

It took me a LOU FERRIGNO (LF):

“Bodybuilding helped me feel strong and powerful and taught me discipline.”

Graeme Clark

who An ear, nose, and throat surgeon cochlear pioneered the multi-channel the founding implant in 1978. This inspired manufacturer of of Cochlear Ltd., the first and Clark commercial cochlear implants, today. continues to lead research

HEARING OUR WAY

in elementary “When I was ashamed school, I was g loss, and of my hearin anyone I didn’t want it.” to know about

AM 10/17/24 11:32

>> HOW 10th Sept

2024.indb 42

When my child brought Hearin was younger, she classroom so g Our Way to the everyone could Now that she is a teen, it enjoy it. house, and comes to the I simply say, “Look you got today! !!!” Then I read what after she’s finishe it myself d.

Alex Lacamoire

Pione ers Helen Keller

H W Do HEARING You Use UR WAY?

Photo by Tea for Two

In s p ir a t io

46

ever be able to wondered if I would words on the list. As hear the different mappings every I went back for more session, my scores two weeks, at every hearing the words improved, and I was I am hearing certain better and better. that I had never consonants like ‘s’ that I can hear heard before. Now improving my own those sounds, I’m more clearly. speech and articulating implant, With just one cochlear can hear ten times I already feel like I before. better than I ever heard ten years ago.

I wish I had done this up for lost time.

Now I am making

to get a cochlear long time to decide suggested it implant. A lot of people I wasn’t sure that I over the years, but out of it. When could really get much people with I would go to ComicCon, would come up cochlear implants I noticed that they to me to talk, and well! I was always seemed to hear very from my hearing looking for power more power! But aids—more power, hearing aids and even when I got new way up, it the all turned the volume What I was really still didn’t sound clear.

Then I had a looking for was clarity. hearing. He did a lot friend who lost his a cochlear of research and received discrimination went implant. His word was what clarity —that back up to 98% for. It convinced me I had been looking to pursue the surgery.

Influ encer s

activation H W: How soon after benefits from the did you start to see the cochlear implant? is different LF: Everyone’s activation to hear was able of course. At first, I I could start to bell tones chiming. when she spoke, hear my audiologist me using a but when she tested it was hard list of different words, the words. I to distinguish between

any auditory H W: Are you doing to hear with the training to help learn cochlear implant? app and LF: Yes, I use the Cochlear my

I display the magazine in my office, take to schools to it with me show both my 504 and IEP students, leave extra copies in offices, give local physician extra school libraria copies to at our school ns, provide it advocacy group meetings, and events throug bring copies to hout the year.

We keep copie in our clinic s patients to for read and take.

to help train listen to TED Talks training brain. I think of auditory it’s just like working as an ear workout; The more exercises out with your body. off you will be, and you do, the better get. When you get the stronger you will 104 HEARIN you can’t just snap G OUR WAY a cochlear implant, It takes perfectly. hear and your fingers tion homework from you—dedica hear. learn to >> HOW 10th Sept and commitment—to 2024.ind

your H W: How did you develop learn to be self-advocacy skills and loss? so open about your hearing I was ashamed of my

We put copies school lobby in our so can browse families while

they’re waiting. The copies are often dog-e ared much loved! and

I share it with students at current our the deaf and school for graduates who are now in the setting. We mainstream also in our audiolo keep copies gical center.

Use code hearingourway for free shipping!

I use it with elementary my students. I school also send the link to the digita for parents l copies to read at home.

b 104

hearing

10/17/24

HEARING OUR WAY

2024.indb 46

I create lesson articles. My s around the students and read it togeth I er, auditory compr and I ask vocabulary, ehension, and advocacy questioselfns.

I share Hearin g Our Way with profes sionals and parents throu gh a hearin g support group .

school,

LF: When I was in elementary loss,

AM 10/17/24 11:32

>> HOW 10th Sept

I adapt the magazine for aged studen differentts. students to I give it to older read I read it with independently, and young all ages, I discuss er students. With the stories comparisons and contra and do sts my students and the kids between featured.

11:33 AM

11

PO Box 13 Greenlawn, NY 11740 TIME VALUE • Address Service Requested

Here’s your new issue of HEARING

UR WAY magazine.

• Visit our website to learn more and subscribe: HearingOurWay.com • Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for fun content: @HearingOurWay • Mention us in your posts & stories: @HearingOurWay • Write to us at Info@HearingOurWay.com

HT S PHIE'S SPOTLIG

Payton is a sixth grader from Ohio who enjoys camping, soccer, TikTok dances, and making vlogs for fun.

Payton was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss at birth due to microtia with atresia. She received a Ponto softband when she was 3-years-old. Last year, she had surgery to receive a BAHA implant. She no longer needs to wear a softband, and she loves the Bluetooth features of her new device!

Payton’s itinerant teacher of the deaf, Sara Legarth, says, “Payton has been an inspiration to me. She has overcome so many obstacles and maintains such a positive attitude. She has a huge heart and is one of the kindest students I have ever met.

Payton is not afraid to advocate for her hearing needs. I am extremely proud of the young lady she has become.”

Payton is a longtime Hearing Our Way reader, and she has advice for kids reading this:

“Remember that it’s okay to be different because that is what makes you unique. Your hearing loss makes you beautiful. Don’t let anyone stop you from following your dreams.”

When Payton grows up, she would like to be an actress, model, or social influencer.

Sophie loves shining a spotlight on amazing kids with hearing loss around the world.

To shine a spotlight on someone you know, write to us at info@hearingourway.com.

HEARING

UR WAY

PLEASE OPEN!

Here’s your new magazine!