Written by Susan Munday, Communications Coordinator, Delaware County Bd. of D.D.

Sept. 2005

Eric is a handsome 3 1/2-year-old boy. His smile in infectious and his manner is "all boy." His mom Elaine shared Eric’s story and his early choclear implant. One wouldn’t know that Eric was born profoundly deaf as he played with his sister and new puppy. He laughed and talked as any three-year-old, even squabbling at times with his older sister.

When Eric was nine months old, his parents discovered he had a profound hearing loss. They experienced sorrow like other parents in the same situation and said the biggest heartache was " how we would never be able to teach our child to read if he could not hear sound." Once the news was digested, they sought out research on the Cochlear Implant Device.

At 18 months, Eric was surgically fitted for an implant and one month later the device was activated. This was day one of his hearing age. Currently, Eric’s brain has a hearing age of 18 months. His brain is not yet "wired" like most children who are 3 years old. It is a physical process to stimulate and grow auditory neural connections that will become the foundation for spoken language, reading academics.

What makes this story especially unique is the new swimming adaptation purchased for Eric this summer. He can now go swimming with his family and enjoy the sounds of excitement that comes with being at the pool. He can hear his mother’s voice too, when he is in danger or needs to be careful. That was not the case last summer.

Whenever Eric would go to the pool in the past, he would in effect have to leave his "ears" at home. The external equipment is not waterproof and couldn’t be risked. Without the equipment he is deaf. This may not have been a big deal if Eric was an only child. However, he is the youngest in a family of 4 kids and they are all swimmers. The family had a dilemma.

That was until they discovered the "aqua pack". The solution came to them as a result of a discussion with other parents that have children with the same Cochlear Implant. The ability to use his implant in and around water is truly life altering. Although a little cumbersome and perhaps a strange addition to his swimsuit, the plastic pack is an awesome answer to this family’s need. Eric’s mother sewed a pocket on a tank top to hold the plastic gear, he wears a waterproof lapel microphone and Eric is in the water.

The first time Eric went to the pool, of course it was probably a little more loud for him and it took a little getting used to. But that hurdle didn’t talk long for Eric to cross. His mother was so excited to think she could go to the pool with her family and that she could talk to her son as well. She could warn him to come back when he toddled to far away or call his name so she could get his attention. A gift for this mother.

The Adaptive Modification Grant funded the "aqua pack" that enables Eric to go to the pool. They also gave Eric’s parents the opportunity to go to a conference in Toronto to learn more about his diagnosis and ways to help him gain more independence. Eric is a candidate for the bi-cohlear implant, which in turn would allow Eric to hear with both ears.