Hearing Our Way: Winter 2022

The magazine for kids and teens with hearing loss

Winter 2022 ing m o verc acles bst

Meet

L ea h

!

fun & s e m ga

Contents 4 Things

Hi from Mel!

We Love

6 O vercoming Obstacles

10 Fun & Games 12 Sophie’s

Spotlight

Contributors Melanie Paticoff Grossman • Editor in Chief Magazine Design • N-KCreative.com Overcoming Obstacles • Leah Eva’s Bookshelf • Eva ith special thanks to all of our W featured H W friends

www.HearingOurWay.com info@hearingourway.com PO Box 13, Greenlawn, New York 11740 Volume 9, No. 4 ©2022 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 p.11 for more information about subscriptions for homes, schools, and offices or visit www.HearingOurWay.com. For promotional © or other customer opportunities, change of address, 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 acknowledgment. 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.

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Dear Readers,

atitude. the holiday season than gr for rd wo r tte be a of nk It’s hard to thi r lives the wonderful things in ou for ul tef gra ing be t ou ab This issue is all need. and giving back to those in s and hearing loss, is an rvivor with both vision los su er nc ca a , ah Le rl ges. rgi Our cove de in the face of big challen titu gra d an , ce ran ve rse pe ivity, inspiring example of posit hlight a special of you, our readers, and hig all for de titu gra ss pre ex In Things We Love, we zines to provided over 6000 maga s ha ity ros ne ge e os wh subscriber, Grover, students with hearing loss. who turned their all about two fifth graders o Du s vil De g rin Da e tur Don’t miss the fea azing friendship. to be grateful for— an am ng thi me so o int s los ng challenges with heari nking ‘why me?’ easy to get caught up in thi be n ca it d an s, gle ug str We all have ver linings, the rtunity every day to find sil but we also have the oppo m the the rainbows that come fro es, tiv ga ne the m fro me positives that co y it forward, head press your gratitude and pa ex to dy rea e u’r yo If s. rm sto n hot cocoa stand ctions to host your very ow tru ins for s me Ga & n Fu to fundraiser.

y holiday season Wishing you all a very happ grateful for your and new year. We are so ve Hearing Our Way support and would not ha without all of you!

an, M.S.D.E. Mel Paticoff Grossm Editor in Chief and maltipoo, Sophie

Look for these symbols throughout the magazine 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

Did you receive this issue from a friend, school, or office? Sign up for your own subscription to continue receiving Hearing Our Way ! www.HearingOurWay.com

You Are Inspiring

You can do anything you set your mind to.

ve: L e W s book ookshelf Eva’s B Eva is a 14-year-old girl from New Jersey who has always loved reading. She has hearing loss in her left ear, but with the help of her Roger Focus® receiver and wireless system, she never lets hearing loss hold her back! Ready to discover your next favorite book? Eva invites you to explore her bookshelf.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a beautiful but saddening story about two teens, Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, who have been touched by the darkness of cancer. The book wasn’t all sad though; Augustus and Hazel share many fun and memorable moments together. Reading Hazel’s deep thoughts about life and love made me think as well. I enjoyed watching the movie version after reading the book. I would recommend this book to kids ages 13+ if you like reading heartfelt stories.

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i n InspiratioN Stat All of our Hearing Our Way subscribers are VIP (Very Important People! ), but we wanted to highlight a very special customer of many years, Grover Brillhart, as we celebrate the theme of gratitude this holiday season.

Since 2017, Grover has ordered subscriptions of up to 400 magazines each year… but he doesn’t even receive Hearing Our Way! He gifts them to his daughter Brenna, a former deaf education teacher and current educational diagnostician who shares the magazines with her students across 12 school districts. Over the years, over 6000 magazines have been given out to her students, all thanks to Grover.

Brenna fell in love with Hearing Our Way while working at a school that provided them for her to use. But when she moved to another school district, they did not have a subscription to the magazine. Brenna told her parents how much of an impact Hearing Our Way had on her students and how much she missed it. Grover and his wife Karen discussed the problem and decided that this resource was so important that they would personally pay for the subscription for the entire school district! Brenna was very thankful for her parents’ generosity and uses Hearing Our Way with all of her students. Sadly, in 2019, Karen passed away. Now each year when Grover renews his subscription to Hearing Our Way for Brenna, he honors his wife’s legacy and their promise to support their daughter and all of her students.

Grover also has a hearing loss story of his own now. A few years ago, he realized he wasn’t hearing as well as he used to, so he made an appointment with an audiologist who fit him with hearing aids. Grover’s hearing aids have made a huge difference in his life by reconnecting him with his friends, family, and business clients. During the holiday season, we celebrate and give thanks to Grover, Karen & Brenna, and all of our wonderful readers who help spread the love by subscribing to Hearing Our Way!

Silver lin in g

Dear Sophie,

m State College,

I am a 5th grader fro n, vi Ga is e m na rs. y m , Hi aring loss in both ea

mild to moderate he en I had Pennsylvania. I have I wonder if it was wh g. in ar he y m st lo I I’m not sure how y. surgery as a little bo ll. My baseball team baseball and footba e lik ts or sp g in ay pl e to draw, I like s! In my free time, I lik on pi am ch e gu lea e and I were th the creek by my and go swimming in s, eo vid e ub uT Yo and dad. watch fishing with my mom d an g in nt hu y jo en house. I also and shimmery. ing aids. They are teal ar he y m t go I o, ag s Two year aids because I didn’t out getting hearing ab ed ar sc t fel I st fir At r I got them, I made think of me. But afte d ul wo le op pe at know wh ring the pandemic. lots of new friends du

I want to tell other kids with

hearing loss: Always be your

self!

d, From your dear frien

Gavin

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 silver lining and think of a silver pen, but no! A silver lining is something positive that comes out of a negative situation. Like this: “Feeling sick and staying overnight in the hospital was a scary experience, but the silver lining was meeting my roommate and making a great new friend.”

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ng vercomi

bstacls oefs

H W does Leah hear?

With her swim cap on, crafts at hand, and two hearing aids!

Storie Inspiring e You Teens Lik Kids and

Hi, I’m Leah! I’m a freshman at Texas State University from New Braunfels, Texas.

I love swimming, crafting, journaling, and baking. I am a genuine, positive, and kind person who loves spending time with friends and family.

felt alone. About 5 years ago, I met an older girl with hearing loss, and talking to her made me feel less alone, like someone else ‘got it.’ As I’ve matured and grown, I’ve realized that hearing loss does not define me, it’s just one part of me.

Hearing My Way

I am a Survivor

When I was a baby, I had cancer. As part of my treatment, I was given chemotherapy that can cause many side effects, one of which is hearing loss. The summer before third grade, I went to my annual checkup and was diagnosed with a bilateral sensorineural cookie-bite hearing loss.

Ever since, I’ve worn hearing aids in both ears and used an FM system at school.

I lost my left eye to retinoblastoma when I was a baby, so I am completely blind on my left side. Having vision loss in addition to hearing loss is a big added challenge, but I am proud to be a cancer survivor and know I am strong.

All About Me

Leah's Faves H ACTIVITIES Swimming Baking H BOOKS review on page 4 Wonder The Fault in Our Stars H TV The Office Jeapordy Alexa & Katie H MOVIES Cinderella (live-action) Soul Surfer H CONCERTS Taylor Swift Luke Bryan H FOOD Mac & cheese Ice cream

Overcoming Obstacles I have struggled with my hearing loss, especially when listening in noise. One particularly noisy place is the school cafeteria. The background noise makes it really hard to participate in conversation, and it is so frustrating to feel like you are missing out. For a long time, I was really upset that I was dealt these cards, and I

H ANIMAL Dolphin H QUOTE

“Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.”

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Leah with her friends from Deaf Young Life group.

Sibling Love As the youngest sibling in my family, I feel very understood and protected by my older brother and sister. They always look out for me and make sure that I understand and am included. It has made our bond very strong.

School Cool In school, I advocate for myself by using all of my accommodations such as my FM system, captioning, preferential seating, and asking clarifying questions when

her! sparkles, just like Leah’s hearing aid

Leah and her family en joy a favorite holiday tradition, a holiday lig ht stroll.

I don’t understand. My teachers have been very supportive and helpful in the classroom. My FM system really helps me hear the teachers more clearly. Sometimes they do forget they’re wearing the microphone… so that can get interesting.

Inspiration Station

Friend Groups

#Goals

I have met friends with hearing loss by going to various events over the years.

Recently I attended LEAP, a 2-day online event sponsored by AG Bell. I met people my age with hearing loss from all over the country. I also have a friend with hearing loss at school. We attend a Deaf Young Life church group weekly. Having these friends is nice because they know what it’s like navigating the world with hearing loss and share similar struggles. I also love my friends with typical hearing, who know all about my hearing loss and help make sure I am included. I’ve made friends through my church’s youth group, National Honor Society, varsity swim team, and HOSA (a club for students interested in pursuing careers in the medical field).

Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm after a shark attack, inspires me. Despite her obstacles, she is still so positive and does not let any challenge stop her.

I am currently studying to become a Child Life Specialist. Child Life Specialists work in hospitals helping children understand and process what they are experiencing through play. I know that the empathy and understanding I have developed through my life experiences with cancer and hearing loss will help me to help other children.

met amazing people I would not have met otherwise. My advice is not to let hearing loss define you. You are in charge of your life. Also, be kind to others because you never know what they are going through… and everyone is going through something. Even when you feel like why me?, have gratitude for what you do have—I like to say I’m half-deaf and half-blind but fully blessed!

One Last Word Hearing loss has really shaped me into the person I am today. I see my hearing aids as a badge of honor, and I love embracing this beautiful part of who I am. Because of my hearing loss, I have learned to be my own biggest advocate, and I’m not afraid to ask for help. I am a more patient person, a great lip reader, and I’ve

Want to be on our next cover?

Email your story to info@hearingourway.com!

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Aria’s Story

A Journey of Health, Hearing, and Holiday Spirit

Even though I have hearing loss and have been in cancer treatment for quite some time, I really am just like every other 10-year-old you know! I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but ‘officially’ became a New Yorker in 2018 when we moved to begin treatment. I’m now in the 4th grade in New York City, and my favorite things to do are drawing, playing Roblox, and reading graphic novels. I have a 13-year-old sister named Gabriella, and together we share a cat named Cookies and Cream (CC for short) and a dog named Chicky.

It’s hard to exactly remember the day I learned that I was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, but I remember no longer feeling like myself. Life as I knew it (as a 5-year-old that is) felt scary especially when I learned that I had to pack up all my things and head to the Big Apple for treatment. I felt so many different emotions. One minute I’d be happy looking outside at the new city I was living in and the next, I’d find myself feeling really scared. My family and doctors helped me learn to never let fear get in the way of fighting. I knew I had to keep fighting even if it felt really scary.

I began to slowly lose my hearing from treatment. That’s when I found my team at Weill Cornell, Dr. Kraskin and ‘Sammie Jammie,’ who helped me start hearing like I used to. After many months of research and teamwork, my wish of hearing came true, and my cochlear implant was activated on November 9, 2021, just in time for the holidays. Ever since then, I am a proud hearing aid and cochlear implant user.

I’m super excited to share that my scans are all clear. At the moment, I am no longer in active treatment. I’ll continue to be monitored, but for now, I’m just so excited to do all the things I’ve been waiting to do—like gymnastics and bucket drumming. During the holiday season and one-year anniversary of my cochlear implant, I want to express gratitude. Even on the hardest days in the hospital, I felt lucky because I had my family by my side. I also am grateful to so many awesome people who helped me fight my fight, which is why I want to become a doctor when I grow up and pay it forward to help other kids.

Top: Aria’s team celebrates her cochlear implant activation day.

Middle: Aria with her audiology team while undergoing cancer treatment.

Bottom: Aria is now a proud cochlear implant user.

While all of our patients are so special to us, Aria exudes magic. She received a cochlear implant after losing her hearing from chemotherapy and inspires our entire team with her resiliency and larger-than-life personality. Despite her challenging health journey, she always has a smile on her face. We are huge Hearing Our Way fans with a waiting room full of copies filled with inspiring stories, and now Aria’s will be one of them !

—Sammie Levy, Weill Cornell Audiology

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d

o u d s l i v e d aring

Yo r k , w e N , d n a l Is f r o m Lo n g s d l o r a e b r av e a n d y o 0 w 1 t e — r o a u D u l ia r in g D e v il s Abby and J Da orld ! e h w t e s h e t v l n e o s m g e g a id s ta k in w h o ca l l t h in r a e h h it w f e is t y g ir l s

Hi, it’s Abby and Julia here!

We both have hearing loss and are in the same grade at the same school. We love sports like soccer, basketball, softball, and swimming. This is how we became daring kids

who face hearing loss head on, and you can, too.

Make Friends Having another friend with hearing loss is very special. You can talk to each other and relate to similar challenges.

You can compare hearing aids and different colored ear molds. We even help younger kids with hearing loss together. We are always there to support each other.

Find Support Mrs. Eskridge, our TODHH,* is cool and fun to work with.

We each have individual goals to work on with her, but we also like to learn together. She helps us both problem solve and learn self-advocacy skills. We talk about where our FM/DM systems and hearing aid batteries should be and how to advocate for ourselves in and out of school.

Be Brave Being daring means taking on and embracing new challenges. We think it’s pretty daring to write an article about ourselves for Hearing Our Way. Being vulnerable, like sharing our hearing loss stories, is being brave.

* TODHH: Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

See the World Travel opens our eyes to new places and makes us more daring. We have been to interesting places like Alaska, Aruba, New York City, and more. We also learn about new places even when we’re at home, through books and videos.

Be Unique Even though we love spending time together, we also have our own interests as well. Abby does band and chorus at school and did a magic act in the school talent show. Julia loves traveling with her family, including her sister, dad, and grandma who all have hearing loss like her.

Super Advocates We never let hearing loss stop us from doing anything we want to do. We don’t hide or act ashamed of our hearing aids; we embrace them and use them as a form of selfexpression. We advocate for ourselves in the classroom when we need something. When someone asks us about our hearing loss, we tell the truth and raise awareness.

Dare to be Different Remember that everyone has something different about them.

Some might stand out more than others, but we all have a difference.

We have taken our difference, hearing loss, and made it our superpower and bond.

dare How can you ? nt to be differe

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& n u f es gam show you o d How as your n bana ude? it t a gr g, ayin bunch!” s y B a nks “T ha

Fighting childhood cancer, one cup at a time.

u d yo woul ck t a h W si to a give n? lemo ! n aid o m e L

frog the pital? d i d s Why the ho o t go d eede ion! n e t H pera a ho

bots do ro t a h W ng duri r a e ? w inter the w ots!

Robo

You may have heard of kids hosting lemonade stands to raise money to fight childhood cancer. But what do you do in the winter time? Host a hot cocoa stand, of course!

What you will need: ▪ A table ▪ A sign ▪ Cups

▪ Napkins ▪ Hot chocolate mix ▪ Hot water (ask a parent for help)

▪ Marshmallows ▪ A container for donations

1.

2.

3.

4.

Ask a parent for help registering at alexslemonade.org.

Collect your materials.

Tell friends, family, and neighbors about your stand.

Set up your stand and open for business. Serve hot chocolate and collect donations to help find cures for childhood cancer.

5. Send your donations to Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

6. Thank everyone for coming to your cocoa stand.

This is also a great way to raise money for other charities close to your heart, such as hearing loss organizations. The holidays are the perfect time to express gratitude and give back!

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Did you host a fundraiser this winter? We want to know! info@hearingourway.com

We all love our birthdays, but kids with hearing loss sometimes have a bonus celebration – their hearing birthdays – the anniversary of the day they got their hearing devices.

Mike, 14, celebrates his 12th hearing birthday on January 31st. Mike says, “I didn’t know about hearing

birthdays until reading Hearing Our Way. I want to share my appreciation and gratitude for 12 years of my cochlear implant enabling me to hear so many sounds and people!”

Mike loves listening to music, playing soccer and hockey, and participating in Boy Scouts. He recently upgraded to the Cochlear N7 and is excited to stream music to both his implant and his ReSound Enzo hearing aid simultaneously. Happy hearing birthday, Mike!

We want to see photos of your hearing birthday celebration.

Email us at info@hearingourway.com and you may be featured in a Hearing Our Way birthday shoutout.

Aza le a lo ve s re ading He ar ing O ur Way an d yo u w ill , to o. ing loss Every child wit h hear ine ! az shou ld have this mag

aring Our Way is the An annual subscription to He cher, or audiologist. tea perfect gift for any student, , are available for households Single and group packages rs offices. schools, hospitals, and docto

le worldwide.

Hearing Our Way is availab y.com Subscribe NOW : hearingOurWa

Bring Sophie Home for the Holidays The Award Winning Series about Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implants The perfect gift for holidays, birthdays, cochlear implant surgery, friends, students, and younger siblings!

order now: SophiesTales.com

For free shipping, use code: hearingourway

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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.

Sammy is a spunky 8-year-old girl with bilateral hearing aids from Colorado who has been skiing since she was three! She lives in a unique place, Telluride, CO, a mountain tourist town that people visit all winter long to ski. Sammy is on a team called the Telluride Ski Girls and skis almost every day from November through March.

Wearing ski masks and helmets, going really fast in windy conditions, riding the ski lift, and listening for high-pitched whistle blows can make skiing a challenging sport for someone with hearing loss, but Sammy never lets her hearing loss hold her back. Sammy’s mom says, “Sometimes Sammy gets frustrated having to wear hearing aids with her bulky helmet, but she understands the importance of hearing well on the mountain. Sammy is a rock star on the slopes and an amazing little girl. Hearing loss doesn’t stop her and nothing can!”

Sometimes Sammy wins, and sometimes she loses, but she always loves participating in ski competitions and riding the mountains of her hometown. She already skis double black diamond slopes and wants to be a ski coach when she grows u. Sammy wants other kids to know that it’s okay to be different and encourages everyone to follow their dreams!

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