Hearing Our Way: Summer 2016 by Hearing Our Way

The magazine for kids and teens with hearing loss

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Contents

Hi from Mel!

4 Things

We Love

6 O vercoming Obstacles

8 Mark it

with an E

10 Fun & Games

Contributors Melanie Paticoff • Editor in Chief Anna Karkovska • Managing Editor N-KCreative.com • Magazine Design Jonathan Hutcherson • Featured H W Tween Evelyn Ethier • Baking Columnist With special thanks to all of our featured H W friends

www.HearingOurWay.com info@hearingourway.com 4818 Washington, St. Louis, MO Volume 3, No.2 ©2016 Sophie’s Tales, LLC. All rights reserved. Hearing Our Way is published quarterly and is a publication of Sophie’s Tales, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. See our affordable subscription options for households, offices, and schools on p. 11 and at www.HearingOurWay.com. For promotional opportunities, change of address, or other customer service, contact info@hearingourway.com. • All comments and suggestions received by Hearing Our Way become the sole property of Hearing Our Way and may be used without compensation or acknowledgement. Hearing Our Way disclaims liability for any losses or damages that may result from using information in this magazine. • Inquire today about sponsorship and advertising opportunities. Contact Info@HearingOurWay.com.

A Sophie’s Tales™ Publication

Dear Readers,

school get a break from everyday we en wh r yea of e tim Happy summer ! This is the se how to spend our time. Maybe you’re headed back choo ernship. responsibilities and get to class, or landed your first int e nc da a for up d ne sig s, er is all about to camp with old friend ing you love because summ eth som ing do e u’r yo pe ho No matter what, I voice. freedom and finding your erson certainly guy Jonathan Hutch ver co r ou , ice vo ur yo g Speaking of findin Overcoming last season’s The Voice. In on nt sta nte co a e cam be found his when he your fire, and differences] be the fuel to ur [yo t “Le s, say he 6 e Obst acles on pag ent, and I’m proud.” ing your dreams… I’m differ rsu pu m fro you p sto ] em never let [th career takes him! Jonathan’s budding music ere wh ing see to rd wa for We look our way, so now and concert tours coming als tiv fes sic mu of nty ple s ? Whether Summer mean get your regular musical fix l u’l yo w ho ed cid de u yo Stefani that The Voice is over, have w (both Maroon 5 and Gwen sho the m fro es ach co the gestions in you’re planning to see , check out some of our sug ist art te ori fav er oth an or will be on tour!) ur friends can protect there, learn how you and yo o Als 4. ge pa on ve Lo tion are key ! Things We tus—awareness and preven sta ng ari he of s les ard reg your hearing at concerts last issue? Now just in r implant cookies from the lea ch co ’s lyn Eve E g kin ma Did you try Cupcakes in Mark it with an n elo rm ate W up ip wh to w time for summer, learn ho interestfails! ur pics... even if they’re #p yo us d sen , en Th 8! ge pa on oking ur dreams like Jonathan, co Whether you’re pursuing yo chen like Evelyn, or trying up your passions in the kit d you were given a voice, an something new, know that find it! summer is a great time to

ief Mel Paticoff, Editor in Ch and maltipoo, Sophie

bols Look for these sym agazine throughout the m for special tips ! Hearing – Info about hearing aids, cochlear implants, and listening devices Talking – Tips for speech and language Self-Advocacy – Ideas for sharing your hearing loss story with others

Sophie

Subscribing = loving! Please subscribe and show your support! Your subscription will help us reach and connect with even more kids with hearing loss who listen and talk.

Enjoy talking on the phone – confident that you’ll catch every word! CapTel® shows you captions of everything they say. It’s like captions on TV – for the phone!

CONNECTING MADE EASY

Apps available for your smartphone!

CapTel 2400i

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1-800-233-9130 l www.CapTel.com S E E

W H A T

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T A L K I N G

A B O U T

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s ore intere m h c u m s “ It’ are ou really y o h w e g embrac pretendin y g r e n e te than was eone else.” m o s e b o t Coach

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ich co t 17% Have you chosen wh ws is all abuzz abou ne e Th t! ai w t bu . While you summer? Great, hearing loss (NIHL) d ce du in eis no ng e at a of teens havi re to loud noise, lik su po ex , ss lo g in hear ringing may already have hearing and cause e or m se lo to u yo ways to protect concert, can cause audiologist about ur yo k As . s) tu ni in the ears (tin aring understand ds with typical he en fri ur yo lp he d out yourself, an k at a volume of ab ea sp we : is th t ou st their risk. Think ab t 105 decibels—ju ou ab is t er nc co a t hearing 60 decibels,* but es may begin to pu ut in m 5 an th e or usician’s listening for m u can do. Bring “m yo ng hi et m so e’s t your at risk. Ther ic store) to protec us m a at or e lin on u know about earplugs” (found ur friends. Now yo yo h it w em th e ic for a lifetime hearing and shar you love enjoy mus le op pe e th lp he NIHL and can ation, s! For more inform by raising awarenes sDecibels.org. visit www.Dangerou d, un measurement for so *Decibels: a unit of weight. like pounds are for

Check it out:

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After NIHL

—Adam

Levine,

concerts we l ve

School’s out, bu t the school of rock is in session! Yo ur favorite arti sts are hitting the road this summ er and coming to a city near you. Which concerts will you be tuni ng into? • Selena Gomez: Re vival Tour

• Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour • Weezer and Pani c! At The Disco Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness •2 016 Honda Civic To ur Featuring Demi Lovato & Nic k Jonas: Future No w • Beyoncé: T he Form ation Wo

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Meet Francisco and Nicolas, siblings from University of Miami Ear Institute who never let hearing loss get in the way of fun !

Heard It Through the Grapevine

Francisco is 8 years old, has single-sided hearing loss, and wears a hearing aid. His older brother Nico is 10 years old and does not have hearing loss. Together they love to play field hockey, listen and talk, and draw pictures together, like this self-portrait of Francisco!

Francisco: My brother Nico is very talented, strong, and fast, and he is always there to help me. Nico always makes sure I’m safe and protects me from bullying. He makes sure I hear all of the directions in big noisy places like birthday parties. I love him so much! kname n ic

Nico: Our relationship is very good. I always try to cheer Franchu up when he is sad or frustrated because of his hearing loss. I help him when we meet new people by telling them to make sure that he is listening and explain that he is not ignoring them. I try to be patient and not get mad because I know he has hearing loss and is trying his best.

Francisco: I like playing field hockey with Nico, but sometimes my hearing loss affects me when I don’t hear my coach. My brother is always there to help me. Sometimes when I don’t hear him I get frustrated, or he believes that I’m ignoring him. Then, Nico remembers that it’s because of my hearing loss, and he gets closer and looks at me when he is talking so I can hear him better. One Last Word: We want a safe world where everyone is kind and understanding to each other. We hope that hearing aids keep getting better to help Francisco and all of the children with hearing loss who need help to hear, too.

Hearing loss is part of the whole family. Share your story with info@hearingourway.com

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 heard it through the grapevine, and think it has to do with fruit or wine... nope! I heard it through the grapevine means you heard a rumor indirectly. An example is: “I don’t remember how I found out DNCE is opening for Selena Gomez this summer. I just heard it through the grapevine.” Did you know lots of songs feature idioms? Check out the “oldie but goodie” Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye.

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JHUTCH’S Faves! H MUSIC

Rascal Flatts Ed Sheeran Dolly Parton H TV

The Blacklist The Office H FOOD

Sushi Steak Spaghetti H ACTIVITIES

Running Playing music Ping pong Listening to music H PLACES

Los Angeles Georgia H FIND JHUTCH AT:

@JonCHutch @JonathanCHutcherson

H W does Jonathan hear? With Kentucky charm, a stellar and two hearing aids!

All About Me

Hi, I’m Jonathan. I’m a 16-year-old sophomore in high school from Wilmore, Kentucky. I like to sing, play guitar and piano, and… eat! This year I had the amazing opportunity to be a contestant on NBC’s The Voice.

My Hearing Loss Story

I was diagnosed with a moderate to severe hearing loss after I didn’t pass my newborn hearing screening. At first it was hard for my mom to accept the news about my hearing loss, but I kept failing my hearing tests and didn’t respond when she called my name, so eventually I got my first pair of hearing aids at age 2½. With a few speech classes, a great mainstream school, and my mom’s help along the way, I was able to develop strong speech and listening skills.

Finding My Voice

With time, I started showing a lot of music appreciation watching the choir sing at church. My mom noticed that I had good pitch and rhythm. She is usually not the type of mom to push, but by second grade she encouraged me to face my fears and sing. It really set me free, leading me to singing competitions, playing piano, and writing my own music by middle school. By high school I decided to audition for The Voice in Chicago. I auditioned for Season 9, which was a fun, positive experience, but the producers didn’t think I was quite ready. Just a month later I was asked to come to a private audition for Season 10, which led to an audition in Los Angeles and the blind audition. It has been a phenomenal experience, with amazing

staff and contestants who have become my friends. Of course I’ve had a few challenges on the show, such as asking people to repeat themselves or trying to hear the musical director while the loud music is playing, but overall my hearing loss has not been a big challenge while being on The Voice.

Band of Brothers

My brothers have grown up with me, and they understand my hearing loss better than anyone else. They know I can’t hear in certain situations so they repeat for me. My brothers are super patient, and it never bothers them when I ask what they said. If I miss something in conversation, they’ll lean over and fill me in by whispering into my hearing aid microphone.

Overcoming Obstacles

Growing up I didn’t always want people to know I had hearing loss, so sometimes I acted like I understood when I actually hadn’t heard them. I would say generic answers like “sure” or “okay,” but many times these responses didn’t make any sense. People would look at me funny or say, “What? That’s not what I asked.” If I did ask them to repeat themselves, sometimes two or three times, they would repeat it the same way as before, when I needed them to speak louder or clearer or say it in a different way. Now, I feel much more comfortable with the way I am and ask people to repeat for me every time I don’t understand something. I don’t think I’d want to change my hearing loss even if I could because this is who I am.

Hearing Loss Gear

Over the years, I’ve used different hearing accessories. In school I used an FM System that my teachers wore around their neck.

It really helped me hear everything they said. It sometimes led to some joking around, such as when they would walk out of the room and keep talking while wearing it… until I said, “I can still hear you!” For sports, sweat guards from EarGear were huge for me when I played track, cross country running, and basketball. I also like using Bluetooth hearing aids that connect to the phone and TV. My mom can listen to the TV at a softer volume, but I can turn the volume up on my hearing aids. I also use a dry-aid at night to keep my hearing aids clean and dry.

That’s Just the Way I Hear

When I was younger, kids would ask, “What’s that in your ear?” or even come up and try to touch my hearing aids! It can get tiring to keep explaining my hearing loss over and over again, but it is worth it to spread awareness and help people understand. I just tell them that they are hearing aids, and they help me hear. I want to be treated normally, and explaining my hearing loss helps that happen!

Inspire

I would love to continue songwriting, have my own album, and tour the world singing and performing. My goal is to continue doing what I love and be an inspiration to anyone who feels different. I want them to know that yes, we are different… and what a cool thing that is! We’re not like everyone else, and I think about that in a good way. My advice is to take that and run with it—let it be the fuel to your fire, and never let it stop you from pursuing your dreams. I never let my hearing loss stop me from doing what I love; I’m different, and I’m proud. I have nothing to hide.

Share your story of Overcoming Obstacles!

Pharrell shumi from Team ! ou M d an an th ice Jona e Vo tle Round on Th during their Bat

E-mail: info@hearingourway.com

I WANT YOU TO HEAR. Every day, I want you to hear the love in my voice. The music box singing to you. The lullabies as you fall asleep. I want you to hear your name called at graduation. The words “You’re hired.” The words “I do.” The first words from your own child. I want you to hear the world today, tomorrow, forever.

Call 1 866 922 9211, or visit www.IWantYoutoHear.com for more information.

Hi bakers! My name is Evelyn, and

welcome to my kitchen. I’m 12 years old, I have one cochlear implant and one hearing aid, and I live in Canada. I’m here to share my love of baking with you, so whip out your spatula, and let’s get cooking!

Wacky Watermelon Cupcakes Vanilla Cake: 1 ½ cups unsalted butter 3 cups granulated sugar 1 ½ tsp vanilla 6 eggs

1 ½ cups milk 3 ¾ cups flour 1 tablespoon + 1 tsp baking powder

¾ tsp salt Red food coloring Chocolate chips (for the seeds)

Preheat oven: 350 degrees.

Look out for boLd text to know what supplies you will need!

1. Line cupcake tray with cupcake liners. 2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and mix together. 3. I n a different bowl, cream your butter, sugar, and vanilla with your mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (approx. 8 to 10 minutes). 4. Add two eggs at a time to the sugar mixture and mix until blended.

— TIPS — As an alternative, you can buy cake mix, add chocolate chips, and dye it red. You can buy frosting and/or fondant from your local grocery store. If using an electric mixer, use the paddle attachment for both the buttercream and cake batter. If you don’t have decorating bags and/or tips, you can use a zip lock bag and cut a hole in it. I used tip #1A from Wilton. To prevent your hands from getting sticky when using the fondant, powder your hands with icing sugar. Wear disposable gloves to prevent food coloring from staining your hands.

5. Now add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk. 6. Slowly add red food coloring to the batter until you get a watermelon color. 7. Mix in the chocolate chips. 8. Fill your cupcake liners about halfway and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. 9. Cool completely.

Buttercream: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 Tablespoon vanilla 3 to 4 cups icing sugar, sifted

¼ tsp salt Up to 4 Tablespoons milk or heavy cream Lime green food coloring

1. In an electric or hand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. 2. Turn your mixer to low speed and add 3 cups of icing sugar until mixed well. 3. N ow turn your mixer up to medium speed and add the vanilla, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk or cream and mix for about 3 minutes. 4.

If you don’t like the consistency of your icing, add more icing sugar to make it thicker or more milk/cream to make it thinner.

5. Add lime green food coloring and mix.

Marshmallow Fondant: 2 cups mini marshmallows 2 cups icing sugar, plus extra for kneading

1 tablespoon water Food coloring: Green, black, and red

1. Dust your work space with some icing sugar. 2. In a large microwaveable bowl, add the marshmallows and water.

My Dream Career

3. Microwave on high for 1 minute until the marshmallows are puffy and expanded. 4. Stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. 5. Add the icing sugar and stir with your spatula until it becomes impossible to stir anymore.

Knead: to press

6. Take the mixture out of the bowl and knead it on the surface and shape dough covered with icing sugar until it reaches play-doh-like consistency. with your hands 7. Split into four balls: the red one will be the largest, the green will be the second largest, the white (no food coloring needed) will be the third largest, and the black will be the smallest. 8. Make the balls into disk-like shapes & add food coloring. 9. Wrap each ball in cling wrap and store in fridge until ready to use.

Decorating: 1. Take the buttercream and put it in a decorating bag with a large circle tip and pipe a swirl going upwards on your cupcakes. 2. Take the red fondant, knead it until soft. 3. On the icing sugar surface, roll out fondant about half of an implant battery thick.

Growing up with hearing loss, I spent a lot of time at the audiologist, and more often than not, it wasn’t my favorite place to be. It wasn’t until I was older that I met an audiologist who wore hearing aids… just like me! I was intrigued, asked a million questions during our appointment, and was inspired to enroll in an intro to audiology class, which I LOVED! Now I am an audiology student at Washington University School of Medicine doing my first practicum in an audiology clinic.

Finding my v ice

When I was younger, I used to be shy, and it took a lot of courage to speak up for myself when I couldn’t hear. I learned that instead of hiding my hearing loss I needed to tell people about it. I was surprised to find out how accommodating and supportive everyone was once they understood. Now, I always advocate for myself when I can’t hear.

My Summer Concert Fave: Local bluegrass bands!

4. With a circle cutter about 3" wide, cut out a few circles. 5. Take a sharp knife and cut 4 triangles (kind of like cutting a cake). 6. Roll out the green fondant a bit thinner and take the circle cutter and cut out a few circles. 7. With a a smaller circle cookie cutter, cut out the middle of the circle so you are left with an outer ring. 8. Make a cut in that outer ring to make it one long line. 9. Do the same thing with the white fondant, but start with the smaller cookie cutter and then take an even smaller circle cutter to cut the middle circle. 10. Take a tiny bit of the black fondant, roll it up with your fingers, then pinch it making a tiny circle. Make a lot of the small black dots. 11. Now we can assemble the watermelon using water as “glue.” 12. Take the red triangle on the curved side. Take the green strip and lay it on the curved side of the red triangle as the outside. Take the white strip and put it on the inside. Place about 3 to 6 black dots anywhere on the red part. 13. Put the watermelon on your iced cupcakes and you’re done!

Tips & Tricks Did you know…our

ves listening with two ears impro us localize hearing in noise and helps ing from. (find) where sounds are com those We wouldn’t have either of ! benefits with just one ear

Interested in learning more about Margo's graduate program in audiology and deaf education?

Visit pacs.wustl.edu

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Dear Sophie,

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Hearing Our Way is reaching over 10,000 kids and teens in 35 countries!

My name is Analia, and I am four-years-old. I love to paint, color, play outside, ride my bike, and have fun. I have bilateral cochlear implants and moved from Miami to Atlanta to go to a special school to learn to listen and talk. How can I use my passion for art to inspire other kids with hearing loss to love their ears, too?

—Analia

Dear Analia , Wow! It sounds like you have a special family that really wants to help you learn. I’m so glad you love your cochlear implants—I love mine, too! Did you know that you can share your artwork with lots of kids and teens with hearing loss through Hearing Our Way? Just send in your painting, coloring, or drawings, and we’d love to feature your hearing loss artwork in the magazine. I think you’ll inspire lots of other kids to find creative ways to show off their ears, too!

—Love, Sophie

never miss a moment

Across: 2. snail 3. ball 5. float 6. sun 8.crab 9. starfish

puzzle answers: Down: 1. sailboat 4. anchor 6. flipflop 7.hat

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