Make your own Cochlear Implant for a doll!

A few weeks ago, Alison was talking to a woman who had brought her parents in for their appointments.  She was telling Alison about her 6 year old granddaughter who uses a cochlear implant.

Alison remembered seeing something on the internet about a woman having a hard time finding a doll with a hearing aid or cochlear implant for her daughter, so she decided to make one herself.  (Since then, the American Girl company has come out with hearing aids for their dolls, see our past post HERE.)

But, what this woman did for her little girl is adorable!  And easy!  She used puffy paint to draw a cochlear implant on her daughter's doll.

Here is a link to her blog: Pattyanny: Made

Resource for Parents

Having a child diagnosed with hearing loss is difficult for any parents.  Where do you turn? What do you do next? Hopefully, you and your child feel comfortable the hands of the team of physicians and Audiologsts who will work together to treat your child's hearing loss.

We found a few websites that are designed to share with those parents who are just starting or even those that are well in to this journey.


Parent to Parent - Resources for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss 
The goal of this site is to empower parents of hard of hearing and/or deaf children by providing the resources necessary for them to make informed decisions about their children’s hearing loss. 


Early Hearing Detection and Intervention
Use this site to look into your states laws for Newborn Hearing Screenings and Early Intervention, as well as learning average developmental milestones for hearing.


IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Federal legislation requiring free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment to children from birth to age 21. 


Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
The mission of RSA is "to provide leadership and resources to assist state and other agencies in providing vocational rehabilitation(VR), independent living (IL) and other services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and integration into the community and the competitive labor market.”