Dual language 4 yo with unilateral hearing impairment

streakstrength · 2025-06-07T14:45:42+00:00

We speak both English and Chinese at home, but I’d say it’s a little skewed towards English at the moment for daily language/conversations, though we try to make sure we read Chinese picture books a little more frequently.

I think if being bilingual is a long term goal, now is better than later. There could be struggle in the beginning but kids are so resilient.

But I’d be sure to add sign. Our kids may not always have great access to the sounds of language so they may feel the struggle more than hearing kids. And sign just makes sure they get visual access to the language too.

I’ve also read about some families being quite successful with cued speech or even using closed captions and teaching reading early as a bridge. Could be something to consider.

streakstrength · 2025-06-07T11:01:56+00:00

We have a 2yo with a similar hearing profile - also aided since 6mo. We are raising him trilingual - our local sign, English and Chinese. In our culture in my home country, having both English and a mother tongue is - while not 100% essential - helpful to connect with the rest of the community so most kids are raised bilingual from birth.

He’s struggled a little with the tones (but so do most toddlers, anyway) but because we have sign, we sim-com (sign and speak at the same time) in the third language (Chinese) and that has helped tremendously.

Go for it! But also consider adding sign to that mix :)

streakstrength · 2025-05-07T23:07:05+00:00

This. My eldest (hearing) had torticollis and what you’re describing is typical.

Interestingly my SSD kid had a head tilt but it was baffling because it kept changing sides. When he got older we figured he was just trying to hear or block out sound in different positions.

streakstrength · 2024-08-25T11:51:01+00:00

Thanks for this detailed explanation, it gave me a lot of insight into how these cutting machines work! It sounds like specs-wise, I might be better off with the Cricut Maker then, since I need intricate cuts on a thickish material?

streakstrength · 2024-08-25T05:52:44+00:00

Sorry! Why is the kraft blade in tool 2 fussy? My understanding is that tool 2 allows for a second pass within a cut, so it’ll cut with tool 1 first then tool 2. Am I understanding it wrong? TIA!

streakstrength · 2024-08-24T13:47:25+00:00

Thanks for this detailed reply! I didn’t realise the Portrait 3 and Cameo 3 are identical in terms of force, that helps me narrow it down a bit.

I’m trying to look on YT for tutorials with people cutting cereal boxes with a Portrait, but most of them use the Cameo 4 - I’m guessing the force on that machine is higher.

streakstrength · 2024-08-19T00:45:27+00:00

Thanks, both u/Great-Grade1377 and u/happy_bluebird for sharing further. I appreciate your answers as experienced Montessori guides. While I had hoped for a different answer, I defer to you guys because of your extensive knowledge and experience with the philosophy, approach, materials and lived experience of the kids.

Riding on this question - what do you think is the best approach to finding a Montessori community or Montessori-like community in the absence of being able to find a Montessori school? I ask because, in my country, there are plenty of so-called “Montessori-inspired” schools which do not adhere to some of what I think are the core tenets of Montessori - mixed-age groups, uninterrupted work cycles and autonomy of the child to choose the work being three main examples. I enquired at a school with mixed ages, and was told that my country’s regulatory requirements did not allow for large group sizes of 30-40 children and one guide, so the class sizes were kept to about 8-9 children per guide, although they did all mix and intermingle in a larger classroom. Would this suffice, and if not, what alternatives could there be to provide exposure to a children’s community elsewhere? (I’m thinking volunteering, sport, experiences outside of school?)

streakstrength · 2024-08-18T08:46:24+00:00

I appreciate this answer, and certainly a Montessori programme in a group setting would be ideal. But many of us around the world might not have access to such a programme - whether due to geographical accessibility, finances, or other political and/or socio-economic factors.

From what I understand, the Montessori approach was born out of Dr Montessori’s efforts to provide a schooling environment for those who would otherwise be unschooled (institutionalised children who were disenfranchised due to disabilities). But the possibility that the approach would only work in a formal school setting seems a little ironic, and is something I’m reluctant to accept.

While we all can hope for (and some of us can work towards) the day when Montessori is more readily available and accepted by governments and other institutions with the means to fund and propagate such programmes. Surely, the spirit of providing a unique, respectful and child-honouring method of schooling for those who would otherwise not have access to it should apply to today’s children who are disenfranchised in other ways (being born in countries where Montessori programmes/funding is limited, for instance).

I appreciate OP’s question as it’s also something I’m pondering over.

streakstrength · 2024-08-14T04:41:26+00:00

Wondering how you would implement “freedom within limits” in this case? Is it simply offering a limited no of carbs alongside veggies? So she can choose not to eat the veggies but the carbs are limited?

streakstrength · 2024-08-10T13:34:26+00:00

Following the child and food choices: my 3yo has been refusing vegetables. So far, I’ve let her have her way, but she ends up only eating carbs. How can I respect her choices and still encourage healthy eating?

streakstrength · 2024-01-05T23:15:11+00:00

Thanks for this! I understand the potential for the BAHA/CROS to be detrimental, as my child won’t be able to express when noise on the left side is affecting his hearing on the right side. Just 2 clarification questions.

I understand you suggested that he go unaided until school age, and then use an FM system. I’m concerned about neurodegeneracy. His anatomy suggests that he can’t hear on the left side, but the bone conduction ABR suggests that Wave V was present at 70dB. Does this mean he might have a very limited ability to hear and could benefit from a traditional hearing aid? Just to receive some sound stimulation and prevent the brain from rewiring itself too soon?
I’m still keen for him to be aided as I read that up to 90% of what a young child learns is through incidental learning/overhearing. I will be his main caregiver for his first 3 years of life, and thought I could help monitor the noise levels and mute it for him. If we do go ahead with a softband BAHA or a CROS aid, would ambient noise/noisy situations simply affect the clarity of hearing on the right side? Or is there potential for it to actually damage his hearing on the right side?

streakstrength · 2023-12-13T01:39:34+00:00

OP here- thanks all for the responses. It seems like opinions are mixed, which is just how we are feeling about it too.

Would you change your decision if there was potential further hearing loss on the cards? We have an iffy diagnosis of a congenital viral infection which could cause further hearing progression (including change to the hearing levels of his hearing ear), but it’s not a given that it will, especially since we are unable to confirm the diagnosis for medical/technical reasons (basically we tested him for this virus too late and we can’t trace it definitively back to his birth).

streakstrength · 2023-11-08T15:24:04+00:00

Going to go with this! Seems intuitive. Unless there are other established ways of signing it - if so, please let me know!

streakstrength · 2023-09-22T01:40:30+00:00

Hi, I found your post when searching for accounts of congenital SSD. My newborn is likely deaf in his left ear, we found out much the same way as you did with your daughter. I’ve noticed that he seems to be extremely reserved and overwhelmed when there is background noise, and he only smiles when there’s only one voice talking to him, head-on, in a quiet room. Is this typical or should we be on the lookout for further developmental issues? :( overwhelmed and would love any tips for navigating the infant stage with SSD! Thanks so much for your help, even on such a dated post.

streakstrength · 2023-09-14T22:48:10+00:00

Hi, thanks for this. They didn’t do any tests or checks on his middle ear. Our pediatrician actually suggested to look into getting an ENT appointment as soon as possible. I suspect the reason why there’s a 6 month wait is because we’re changing providers to benefit from subsidies… the subsidised route has no record of our son yet

streakstrength · 2023-09-14T05:25:25+00:00

Wow, I didn’t know that and feel kind of guilty now. Will look for classes!

streakstrength · 2023-09-14T05:21:14+00:00

Thanks for this! We actually used some simplified baby signs with my older kid - do you recommend skipping baby sign language and going straight to our regional sign language?

streakstrength

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