Stories from families
At WSDCS, we have a great community of local parents and deaf adults who want to share their experiences and offer support should you need it.
Even if you don't need to chat to anyone, sometimes it just helps to know that there are other people experiencing the same things as you.
Kerry’s Story
I’m Kerry, mum to Ellie (10), an active girl who never sits down. I’m also Mum to Rebecca (8) – an energetic Harry Potter fan. Ellie has severe hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids.
Rebecca, John, my husband, and I are all hearing.
We got told at Ellie’s newborn screening that she may be deaf, and my world collapsed. We had many more appointments but always remained positive.
I always thought Ellie could hear something so we took her to Bookbug and sang with her every week. She developed her speech and speaks really well. Her hearing did gradually deteriorate and she is now severe but copes in mainstream school with the help of her Teacher of the Deaf. We try not to treat Ellie any differently and she doesn’t let her hearing stop her doing anything. She is part of a swim team and trains three times a week. She plays netball and goes to Guides. Ellie does have her down days and asks ‘why me?’ but we always try to keep positive with her and remind her of all she has achieved.
If you have a child that you have just found out is deaf, please take your time to process this. I got told by my Mum on a dark day, “She is still Ellie! We will all learn sign language. It will be ok.”
Please take the support from groups, as Ellie likes to know she isn’t the only one in the world with hearing loss. The support our family has received from WSDCS has helped us so much, from finding out about benefits we are entitled to, giving Ellie the confidence to embrace her deafness.
Olivia's Story
Hi! My name is Olivia but my Mummy and Daddy call me their Sunshine girl. I am 2 and a half years old and I am profoundly deaf. I do not have any hearing technology. I use BSL to communicate with my family and friends. My Mummy and Daddy found out I was deaf at my newborn hearing screening when I was 1 month old. They began learning BSL and signing to me when I was 3 months old. I now know over 200 signs!
All of my family are also learning sign language so they can communicate with me, including my Gran and Grandpa who tell me they love me in BSL every day.
I love being at nursery. I have learned so much since starting and I have lots of friends. Being at nursery gives me the opportunity to socialise and learn how to cope in a hearing world. My key worker is the best. She communicates with me in BSL so I can make new connections easily. She even taught me how to sign Incy Wincy Spider! I have a BSL support worker and Teacher of the Deaf who visits me at nursery too.
I love animals, especially my wee dog Milo. I like to give him treats when he does tricks for me. I love swimming with my Mummy and Daddy. I know lots of water safety signs to help me stay safe by the water.
I like to attend my local deaf club and events organised by the WSDCS. They always have lots of fun events or activities planned. It gives me the chance to make connections with people in the deaf community. At deaf club I have lots of deaf role models and deaf friends who help me explore my identity. At the WSDCS, my Mummy and Daddy get to meet other parents who have deaf children so they can support each other.
I love dancing and feeling the vibration of the music when I press my hands against the speakers. Being deaf makes me special and unique. I can't wait to grow up with a strong deaf identity.
Rebecca's story
Hi, I’m Rebecca, I’m an Early Learning and Childcare Keyworker working in a nursery. I’m profoundly deaf in both ears and wear bilateral cochlear implants, without these I have absolutely no hearing. My cochlear implants provide me with access to the hearing world.
I have been deaf since birth. My parents found out when I was around the age of 5. They didn’t think I had anything wrong with my hearing until my primary one teacher brought it to their attention. I was then sent for hearing tests, to find out if I required hearing aids. When I was a baby, there wasn’t the newborn hearing screening that there is now.
Genetic testing showed that my hearing loss is hereditary through many generations of my family. My mum, sister, great-aunties & cousins are all deaf too!
From the age of 5 to 17, my hearing was tested regularly and I wore bilateral hearing aids. In my teenage years, my hearing quickly began to deteriorate. This resulted in my ENT consultant suggesting cochlear implants otherwise I would end up losing all my hearing. At first, I was unsure about cochlear implants. It was a huge decision I had to make. During this time, I was in S6 at High School, getting ready to sit my exams and preparing for my next journey in life. I attended many appointments at Crosshouse Hospital where they did tests to check if I would qualify for cochlear implants. They provided me with answers to the many questions I asked and supported me in making my decision. It was a terrifying decision, with the uncertainty if it would be successful. I took it upon myself to learn BSL and I also attended a Level 1 class, as I wanted to learn BSL as a backup.
I had the bilateral operation when I was 18, in September 2018 and I was switched on in October 2018. A few days later I began my career, doing a modern apprenticeship in a nursery, which I successfully completed, qualified and gained a full time job!
Getting cochlear implants has been the best decision for me, they have changed my life & given me access to hearing new sounds and I find it clearer and easier to follow a conversation. Before the operation, I had to heavily rely on lip-reading to understand what was being said but I don’t find myself using lip-reading as much anymore. My favourite thing about my cochlear implants has got to be the Bluetooth feature! I love that I can stream music from my phone and no one else can hear it.
I am proud to be deaf! I don’t think I would be the person I am today if I wasn’t deaf and wearing my cochlear implants. I am very passionate about raising deaf awareness & sharing my journey with others.
I am now a Board Trustee and a volunteer for WSDCS. I attend many of their events as a deaf role model and I enjoy sharing my experiences with children, young people, parents and professionals.
If you have just been given the news that your child is deaf or has a hearing loss, then I encourage you to reach out and ask questions. Find out what support there is and fill yourself with knowledge. Whatever decisions you make for your child will absolutely be the right ones for them and you’ll watch them thrive as they grow! You are an amazing parent.
Still have questions?
Our team are here to support you.
Next section:
Teacher of the deaf
Learn how a qualified Teacher of the Deaf can support your child at home and at school.