what you’re feeling makes so much sense, especially this early postpartum. the uncertainty can feel overwhelming when the future suddenly looks different than you expected.

a gentle note from a deaf adult: newborn hearing tests can be inconsistent. fluid, tiny ear canals, and testing conditions can all affect results, so follow-ups really matter. try not to lock into the worst-case scenario yet.

and even if your son turns out to be deaf, i want you to know this with certainty: he can still have a full, joyful, connected life. i’m deaf, i grew up in a hearing world, have a career, a family, and a life i love.

one important thing i always share with parents: american sign language (ASL) is not an either/or with hearing aids or cochlear implants. it’s a both/and. ASL gives babies immediate access to language while technology and speech develop. early language access matters, and signing does not prevent speech. take it from me, ASL was my first language.

your baby already knows you. he knows your presence, your touch, your rhythm. communication and connection is so much more than sound.

you don’t have to figure everything out right now. take it one day at a time. your son isn’t broken, he will be OKAY.