2024.12.04
Full article published in No. 46 of the Children’s Hearing Foundation Journal: Embracing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
The usually quiet meeting room was filled with lively conversations and bursts of laughter. Children curiously looked around, while parents greeted one another with warmth. Amid this cheerful atmosphere of mutual understanding and care, the screening event for the film “My Early Intervention Diary: Growing Stronger Together” officially began.
For many parents, accepting the reality of their child’s hearing loss is just the first step. What follows is a long and challenging journey of listening and spoken language intervention. Feelings of isolation and uncertainty often surface, as it takes much more than simply wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants for children with hearing loss to start speaking. In some cases, parents may wait three or four years before hearing their child say “Mama” or “Papa” for the first time.
To encourage families still on the journey and remind them they are not alone, the Children’s Hearing Foundation invited 16 families to participate in this film project. Through their own lens, each family documented their unique early intervention journey—emotional paths marked by perseverance and transformation, with their child at the heart of it all.
In the video, Yen-Hong’s mother shared her heartfelt experience:
“In the beginning… the process was really difficult. Some family members believed that a child with minimal hearing loss didn’t need hearing aids so early. Others thought the hearing loss would just go away as the child grew older.
Hearing these comments left me feeling defeated and afraid that I might delay my child’s development.
But with support from the Children’s Hearing Foundation and the companionship of other parents, Yen-Hong’s mother began to believe that each audio-verbal session was leaving a deep imprint on Yen-Hong’s mind.
The learning progress was clearly evident in Joanne’s case. Beaming with confidence in front of the camera, she proudly declared, “Now I’m really good at talking!” She went on to perform rhymes and recite poems with clarity and enthusiasm. Though each clip lasted only a few minutes, they captured years of commitment and dedication from each family.
After the screening, parents shared not only their child-rearing experiences but also their unique insights into raising children with hearing loss. From notebooks filled with notes after every intervention session to handmade learning toys crafted late at night after work—what remained constant was the deep love each parent holds for their child.
Although the path of early intervention is not easy and setbacks are inevitable, with you, with me, and with our mutual care and support—we can grow stronger together.
