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From: cim1@pyuxv.UUCP (G. Bogatko)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: the new handicapped net
Message-ID: <124@pyuxv.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 29-Aug-85 20:23:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxv.124
Posted: Thu Aug 29 20:23:57 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 31-Aug-85 06:24:12 EDT
Organization: AGS Computers
Lines: 43


	I want to put in a couple of cents about a new net group for
handicapped kids.

	My first child has a 50% hearing loss.  It affects him in the
frequency ranges necessary to pick up sounds like "k" and "s".  We did not
start corrective measures until he was 3 because of a few things.  He
taught himself to read our lips. That meant that he understood us when we
said things to him.  There is no history of hearing loss in either my wife's
or my side of the family (that we can trace).  We *do* have a history of
late talkers.  He was able to say things, and we were able to understand
some of it, but things like "mouse" came out as "mou`" and "speak" as "`peak"
Needless to say, as new parents, we were not as expert in picking up the
signs of potential hearing loss as we are now, and our (previous) family
doctor told us (in so many words) to wait.  It was finally an excellent
child pediatrics/psychiatrist who told us that he probably had a hearing loss.
We then had him tested, and lo and behold, there it was.  

	Through hearing aids and speech therapy, he will be mainstreamed in
kindegarten this fall.

	The point of all this, is that new parents are just not as prepared
as experienced parents, and child professionals, to spot this kind of
trouble.  Billy, until about 2 3/4 was exhibiting beheavour that was within
the bounds of children his age.  Other children his age were mumbling their
words.  The doctor wasn`t worried.  He heard noises.  He just didn't hear
certain frequencies.  This is not the kind of hearing loss that new parents
watch out for, but it none-the-less impared his speech. 

	(Incidently, in anticipation of somebody's crackpot flame about what
I *should* have done, etc. etc.,  Folks, things are different when they
become real.  When it happens to you it ain't like when it happens to
somebody else.)

	With this experience behind us, we were able to spot the fluid
buildup in our 2nd child`s ears, and have it corrected, and we are watching
our newest, who could probably sleep through the battle of the marne, 
*much like our first child*. 

	This kind of experience should be shared with other new parents, and
that`s what a net.kids.handicapped would do.

				G. M. Bogatko