Williams story

Andy Palmer tells the story of how his son was fitted with cochlear implants.
Our familys deafness story began in 1944. Amid doodlebugs and blackouts, my Dad, Godfrey, was born, profoundly deaf. Things were different then for deaf children. They didnt get one-to-one support in the classroom, or digital classroom listening devices. They got nothing, and if that wasnt good enough, they got sent to a boarding school for deaf children. Not that Dad complains. He talks fondly of his education at the now-closed School for the Deaf in Gorleston, Norfolk. Dad met Mum at the Peterborough deaf club, got married and had a family. Both my parents had deaf brothers and sisters, who married other deaf people. At home, we communicated in sign language. After that, deafness left us alone. My 10 brothers, sisters and cousins were hearing, as were nine grandchildren. It never occurred to me that my son, William, would be deaf. But at a routine hearing test in December 2001, when he was three months old, I sat and watched a green line on the audiologists monitor represent the activity in Williams hearing nerve as he slept in his carry-cot. I could see it for myself. That green line wasnt moving as it should. The sleeping baby, positioned between us, was blissfully unaware of the emotional chaos developing around him. The audiologist span round in her chair, looked at me, and said, Im so sorry. By the time William was 18 months old, he was learning sign language. The benefit of being born into a deaf family was that row-row-row your boat was as natural to me in sign language as it was with my voice. Communication with William went well. One day we were at a caf discussing (in sign) the food left on his plate, and were spotted by a little deaf girl and her mother. The girl, who was seven, had a cochlear implant. Like William, she too was profoundly deaf, but spoke with a delightful Irish lilt when she said hello. She also seemed to

That green line

wasnt moving
as it should

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understand me. This was our first encounter with cochlear implants. My enquiry to the cochlear implant centre at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge was followed by assessments and scans. All the appointments we attended led up to the big one the cochlear implant operation. This was followed a few weeks later by the switch-on. The time between then and now has been so full of ups and occasional downs that Action on Hearing Loss would have to print a separate magazine to get it all across. Williams work with the implant was full of fun and games, which led to his first words and songs. After years of work, and watching

Williams language develop, the evening came three years later when he said Daddy for the first time. Hed been able to say many things before then and had tried to say daddy many times, but when he actually said it well, nothing compares to that moment. William, now 10, goes to a mainstream school and is supported by a full-time assistant to help him get the most from lessons. He decided to have an implant for his left ear in May. The second implant will help William locate the source of sound, provide insurance against breakdowns, and help in noisy situations. This summer, Williams teacher said he was doing as well as or better than his

peers. His participation in class was so good he was awarded a certificate. I firmly believe that all this would have been true with or without the implants. Its only his ears that dont work. That doesnt change the enormous impact the implants have had. And his progress shouldnt fool anyone into thinking implants are an easy option. Theyre not it takes hard work and concentration to get the best results. The rehabilitation work with the new implant continues, as do the speech therapy and appointments. The future, while it wont be easy, should hold as much promise for William as any of the other boys hes kicking a ball around with this lunchtime.

Andy and William having some family time together.

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PHOTO: PHILIP MEECH