HEARING
UR WAY
The magazine for kids and teens with hearing loss
VERCOMINEGS BSTACL
LILY
SMART COOKIE FALL 2024
S PHIE'S SPOTLIGHT
Liam & Jack: A Friend Like Me Liam, 8, and Jack, 8, are third graders from Orange County, New York who have a lot in common! Their friendship first began when they attended the same preschool, and though they’re in different schools within the same school district now, their friendship never ended. They both play midfield positions on the same soccer team, attend religious school together, and both wear hearing aids and work with the same hearing teacher, Mrs. Novi.
ons s a e R 0 Top 1 Having We Love with a Friend Loss Hearing
Hi, I’m Liam! I have one hearing aid, and
I use a Connect Clip FM system to help me hear in the classroom. I live with my mom and step dad, two stepbrothers, and a dog named Griffin. When I visit my dad and step mom, I see my little sister, a dog named Jakey, and two cats. I love sports, especially playing on our soccer team, Force FC (#25!), as well as sports video games like FIFA and NBA. My favorite football team is the Kansas City Chiefs, and my favorite soccer team is Paris St. Germain.
Hi, I’m Jack! I wear two hearing aids
and use a Roger FM system to help me hear. I live with my mom, dad, older brother and older sister. I don’t have any pets right now, but I am begging my parents for a dog! Like Liam, I love sports, and I am #20 on our soccer team Force FC. My favorite soccer teams are Portugal and Argentina, and my favorite baseball team is the New York Mets.
8
HEARING OUR WAY
1. We have someone we can relate to. 2. We can swap stories about our teachers forgetting to turn off the FM mic. 3. We have someone we can complain to about the annoying parts of wearing hearing aids, like when our earmolds get clogged when we forget to take them out before showering. 4. Other kids see that we both have hearing aids so it’s not as big a deal. 5. We have someone to talk to about our hearing loss who ‘gets it’. 6. We can relate to the annoying high pitch sound of the recorder through our hearing aids. 7. We can remind each other how far we’ve come since we were younger and still getting used to our hearing aids—it gets easier. 8. We can vent when we don’t feel like explaining what’s in our ear AGAIN FOR THE 1,000,000th TIME! 9. We can support each other and remind each other to be patient, keep trying, and work hard to become great self-advocates. 10. We can count down the days until middle school when we can finally go to the same school together. We can’t wait!
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.
EDUCATI N STATION
Hi, I’m Ms. Keenan,
an itinerant teacher for deaf and hard of hearing students in Queens, New York. Did you know that November 9th is Microtia Awareness Day? Microtia is when someone is born with one or both outer ears missing or not fully developed. Two of my students, Leila and Kiara, have microtia, and last year they did presentations for their classes on Microtia Awareness Day.
Here are some questions we answere d in our presentation:
Hi, we are Leila (10) and Kiara (9),
and we were both born with microtia atresia on our right sides! We both wear (bone anchored hearing aids) to help us hear. Last November, our deaf and hard of hearing teacher, Ms. Keenan, helped us present to our classes about microtia for Microtia Awareness Day. At first we were SO nervous to speak in front of our classes, but it turns out our classmates had a lot of great questions and were very curious. They had never seen someone with ears like ours before, but some of them knew people who used hearing aids. After the presentation, we felt relieved and proud that we taught our friends about our unique ears!
• What is the typical hearing proces s and what are the parts of the ear? • What is microtia and what causes it? • What is a BAHA and how does it work? • W hat is HAT (hearing assistive techno logy) and how does it work? • What are some tips to communic ate with people with microtia? • Do you know anyone with hearin g loss? • D o you know any interesting fac ts about hearing? • D o you have any questions for us?
Have you done a presentation at your school? Let us know! info@hearingourway.com HEARING OUR WAY 9
DEAR S PHIE
FUN &S GAME
“For a school assignment, we were asked to write a poem about a challenge. When I was younger, I had many hard days with my hearing loss. As I got older, I learned it is a part of who I am, and it’s no longer the large challenge it once was.” —Addie H., age 13, Verona, WI, unilateral hearing loss
Why do basketball players love cookies with milk? Because they love to dunk them !
Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
Left: Addie’s mom loved the poem so much that she asked a talented artist friend, Anna Krylova, to create a piece of art inspired by the poem as a special surprise for Addie.
He was feeling crumby !
What is a ghost’s favorite snack? Ghoul scout cookies !
What do you call two cookies in love? A batch made in heaven !
10
HEARING OUR WAY
Everyone knows their favorite variety of Girl Scout Cookie. Can you count up each flavor of these cookies? Fill in the circles with your answers.
HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK OF OUR NEW BOOK! Add this new keepsake book to your collection by pre-ordering today: www.hearingourway.com/bigbook or scan the QR code.
1
2 5 THINGS WE L VE
VERCOMING BSTACLES
Fun favorites from over the years
Original stories and new updates!
HEARING MY WAY
3
➜ make your own magazine ➜ listening & audiology
4
➜ speech & language ➜ IEP & self-advocacy ➜ sports & music
FUN & GAMES
Creative writing collection, art gallery, and more
➜ college & career
SPECIAL FEATURES
Our standout articles all in one place
HEARING OUR WAY
11
PO Box 13 Greenlawn, NY 11740 TIME VALUE • Address Service Requested
Here’s your new issue of HEARING
UR WAY
• 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
LEARN THE LINGO
is issue: Search for these words in bold inside th
Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA): ring loss that can A device for people with conductive hea lanted. It sends be worn on a headband or surgically imp the skull straight sound vibrations through the bones of outer ear. to the inner ear, bypassing the middle and
P): Individualized Education Program (IE , support a formal plan with specialized instruction able goals. It services, accommodations, and measur port the student includes an IEP team of providers to sup ls and services. and an annual IEP meeting to set the goa
HEARING
UR WAY
PLEASE OPEN!
Localization: The ability to identify where (the direction and distance) a sound is coming from. Microtia: A congenital (at birth) condition in which someone is born with one or both outer ears missing or not fully developed.
Here’s your new issue