Thursday, May 14, 2009

He'll talk your ear off!

I know I've been posting less often in the past couple of days, but I have to tell you...I have been busy helping Seth soak up language! He is so into EVERYTHING now...he is interested in every little thing and just taking it all in. It's so much fun!

Because I know how much you've all been pulling for him, I wanted to let you guys in on some things that I'm really excited about! Seth went to the audiologist for mapping yesterday and they put him in the sound booth.

So that you can all visualize this, here is an illustration of an audigram. An audigram is a person's graphical representation of their sensitivity to sound. On the left you'll see the hearing levels in decibels (loud is at the botton, quiet is at the top, so kind of backwards), or loudness of the sound, and on the top you'll see the frequncy of the sound. 

For instance, leaves rustling is about 10 decibels. (Very quiet). A dog barking clocks in at about 60-70 decibels. The gray banana shape on the audiogram is called the speech banana (no, I did not make that up), and within that shaded area, between 20-50 decibels, depending on frequency, is where all the speech sounds fall. To realistically be able to learn to speak, you must be able to hear sounds that fall within the speech banana. 




So are you ready for this? Before Seth's implantation, he booth tested between 70-110 decibels. (Meaning those are the level of sounds he consistently responded to).  He could hear jets, lawn mowers, etc. With his hearind aids on, he responded to sounds around the 60-70 decibel range...better, but still not in that speech banana he needed to be in to learn to speak. 

Yesterday, after adjusting his CI programs, Seth headed on into the booth (well, I went with him, as well). And he was localizing (correctly finding) sounds at....

30 decibels!

He's right in the speech banana and hearing great! It's so exciting. There's still a lot more work to do, but for one week past activation I am thrilled with his progress. After they adjusted his Map yesterday, he started babbling like crazy! 

So, I'm done with all the technical stuff...if you got this far, here is your reward...video of Seth jabbering at me! I apologize for the iffy quality...he was very wiggly tonight. He takes a minute to get warmed up, so persevere! =)




16 comments:

Joy said...

Love love love the videos (though I think I'm dizzy now. *LOL*)
That's fantastic news!

Analiza said...

I cried tears of absolute JOY!! GO SETH!!!

I've very very familiar with the audiogram.

Sky is the limit El! With your help and by the grace of our good Lord, Seth will talking up a storm before you know it!

Matthew was babbling and doing raspberries by 9 months!

Congratulations this is HUGE!!! Love the video updates!

Michele said...

OMG!!! He made me cry! Listen to him talking!!! YAY!!! I am so so happy for you all! What a great thing! He is going to be saying words before you know it!

~ Lisa @ AbidingThere~ said...

LOVE IT!!! Way to go, Seth!!!

Anonymous said...

Yay Seth!! Awesome videos. Loved hearing him say MaMa!

Kara said...

So, I showed this to our therapists here at work, and they were VERY excited! I thought you'd like to know that.

And it probably goes without saying that I'm a little excited myself! I miss that kid, and I miss you!

Nati @ I will praise Him said...

How wonderful!!!! This is soooo exciting! Thanks for sharing the videos! Awesome!

Aileigh said...

That is awesome! Go Seth!!!!

E @ Scottsville said...

Wow, Praise God & Congratulations!!! =0)

Emily said...

Miraculous and amazing are the only words that come to mind right now!

Melani said...

That is wonderful! Just wait, he will be talking more and more as he gets bigger! I am so happy for you and Seth! :)

Jen said...

Praise the Lord! Wonderful!

Madison Sanders said...

LOVED the videos! It's so great to know he's making progress!!

Sonya said...

YAY!! I can't wait until I get home so I can watch the videos! I don't have speakers on my computer here.

Cathy said...

I have such fun watching Seth and see him learn and hear! It is just amazing what can be done and how God has gifted people with the ability to create this technology. I'll bet you'll never stop Seth now! I LOVE the videos. Priceless memories.

Melanie said...

At first, I was like "Aw no" *sad face* that he couldn't hear the banana (lol on that term) but then I read further and went "Aw, Yay!" *smile & heartfelt* That is so awesome! Way to go Seth! And a way to go God too for getting him to the banana level!

I am on my phone so will have to view the video later, but I am excited for him! That is so great!

Love and Prayer,

Melanie

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