The Cutest Little Ears

Hello Everyone. Many of our blog's visitors already know that Aaron was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss a little over a week ago. When he was born he didn't pass the newborn screening tests they conduct in the hospital on every baby. We returned week after week to repeat the tests and soon it was apparent that the reason for his failure wasn't fluid or any other obstruction in his ears. We took him to Primary Children's Hospital last week and did an Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) test and discovered that he can hear lower frequencies in the 80 decimal range in his left ear (about the volume of a vacuum cleaner when you are up next to it) and has profound hearing loss in his right ear. Severe to profound hearing loss is legally classified as deaf.

Learning that Aaron has profound hearing loss was a lot like coming home from the hospital all over again. I remember both hour long drives home from Salt Lake so clearly. I felt so helpless, yet so hopeful; overwhelmed by my own ignorance and overjoyed by the precious little life entrusted to me; surprised by flashes of unexpected tears followed by floods of laughter. You see, after the audiologist finished Aaron's tests and told us the degree of his hearing loss Aaron suddenly woke up and filled his diaper past its brim. It was such a big mess, and of course I neglected to bring him a change of clothes. It was a mistake I won't make again, but I'm glad that I made it that day. We stripped him down, cleaned him up and created make-shift clothing for him out of his fuzzy green blanket (yes, I did have an extra diaper). Every time we looked at him we laughed. He looked like a little cucumber. He brought a lot of comic relief to the moment and reminded us that he's one amazing kid to manage a mess like that at such a conspicuous moment in time.

We have been digesting all sorts of information lately about early intervention for children with hearing loss. There are so many wonderful resources and technologies available to help us help Aaron develop his auditory language skills. If the nerves in Aaron's ears don't begin picking up sound soon, they being to atrophy, so over the past week we have been working to get Aaron his first set of hearing aids. Hopefully he will receive them by the end of the week. Here are his first set of ear molds. How cute.Candi, the audiologist at Nebo School district, was the one who did the impression of Aaron's ears. She said that she has never done ear molds on an infant who didn't cry during the process. She was amazed that we were able to get such great impressions made the first time. Aaron really is a special little boy.The biggest comfort through the whole process has been spending time with Aaron. He is such a good baby. He smiles and talks up a storm when you talk to him, loves sleeping close to us and isn't afraid to let you know when he doesn't like something (having his feet touch his head is his latest greatest dislike discovered by Grandpa Frandsen). It's easy when you are not around him a lot to feel bad about his condition, but when you are with him you can't help but feel that he is a strong person . We feel lucky to be his parents.

My good friend Whitnee took these beautiful shots about a month ago. I just love them and thought you would too. What a sweet kiddo.