Things I Have Learned From
Having a Deaf Son

By Taunya Paxton, Utah Hands & Voices

• I now know more about hearing aids than any of my peers and figure I’ll be in high demand as the years go by for all my knowledge.
• I no longer take for granted all of the things that I learn through just being able to hear.  I do not even have to think about hearing. It just happens.
• Having any device on a three year old that is not supposed to get wet is just asking for trouble.
• Squealing hearing aids can be heard by all of the people around you at any given time but not by your deaf child.
• My son has an uncanny ability to hear the garbage truck before anyone else in the neighborhood does. I guess when the low frequencies are all that you can hear with out aids, you can hone in on those with more gusto.
• Hearing aids can survive being dunked into a cooler if you get them out in time.
• The pink putty that is used to make ear molds should never be put up your nose.  It hardens and makes things difficult later in the day.
• Even though your child is deaf, he or she will somehow “hear” you put the candy away in the cupboard above the fridge and eat it when you are not looking.
• Deaf children can sleep through the singing in the next campsite past midnight while everyone else suffers.
• I have learned never to judge any one else’s kids in the store.  Just as they may not realize that my son is deaf, I may not know what is going on over in their cart.
• Other kids just want to know why your child has hearing aids or an implant.  Once you tell them, they are good to go.
• The implant headpiece really does stick to metal door frames under the right circumstances.
• If your deaf child is swimming, they may purposely avoid your gaze so they don’t have to see that it is time to get out of the pool.
• While swimming, deaf children will not hear the lifeguard blowing his whistle and will continue to run when returning from the bathroom.
• Telling your youngest child that he broke the hearing aid when he pulled the earmold off of the hearing aid may cause your deaf child angst.
• A resourceful deaf child may run up the hallway signing “I love you” when they know they have done something wrong.
• When your deaf child slams your bedroom door after entering in the middle of the night, you may initially fear a gun has gone off somewhere in the house.
• Above all though, I have learned that my deaf son is a blessing. His deafness is an adventure and I cannot imagine my life without him.