Blog Posts

 It's been a little while since my last post. Adjusting to my new normal as a college freshman has been pretty time-consuming, but that subject is for another post. Today as I was starting my day at school walking to my morning dance class I had a moment to reflect on the role of music and movement in my life.

Bridging the gap between expressive and receptive language will always be a struggle for children with hearing loss acquiring spoken language, and I was no exception. We don't often associate music with language acquisition. However,, it was an integral tool during my experience growing up. Some of my earliest memories are tied to music and the playful songs that helped me expand my vocabulary and communication skills.  Events or activities of daily living were made effortless and fun through the power of music. Silly original compositions about anything and everything, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, doing your homework, or cleaning up toys. We can learn so many lessons and enrich language through a simple rhythm. 

The Underwear Song

One of my first memories is what I call "the underwear song," a spoken language tool my mother used to help me learn new words. At a young age, my mother noticed I enjoyed rhythm so she had an endless list of original compositions narrating all my activities of daily living. Catering to my strengths and what my parents believed at the time would tie happiness and joy to mundane tasks like brushing our teeth or putting on shoes as part of my getting ready morning and night routine. Every morning, as I got ready for the day, we sang: 

“Put on your ROOOOObe” You have to put on your robe 

After bath time to get dressed during my period of transition from the shackles of pullups to the chains of underwear, we'd recite:

“Put on your un-der- WEARR”, you have to put on your underwearrrrrrrrrr

Odd songs to the unfamiliar ear but at the time it was all connected,  those sounds or vowel consonant combinations or multisyllabic words the repetition and routine, the rhythm and the rhyme; these were all steps to language acquisition. 

The Peanut Butter Jelly Song

After graduating from the birth to three listening and spoken language program, I attended a preschool that utilized listening and spoken language with normal-hearing peers where music continued to play a role in my language development. I vividly remember standing in a circle with my classmates, singing the peanut butter jelly song:

“Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.

Then you take the peanuts and you mash 'em

You mash 'em, mash 'em, mash 'em.

Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.

Peanut, peanut butter. And jelly.”

We'd mimic the actions described in the song, from mashing peanuts to spreading peanut butter and grape jelly. It was a fun, engaging way to learn about food and language; to this day, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches remain one of my favorite snacks.

These songs were more than just fun activities; they laid the foundation for my love of language and rhythm. Through music and dance, I improved my pronunciation, expanded my vocabulary, and developed a sense of rhythm that has remained a constant in my life. These are some examples that worked for me as a child but the message here isn't just about music and fun. The underlying message is to take a moment and observe what your child enjoys. That will be the most successful therapeutic tool, coupled with the gift of your time. This process will change over time. One moment it may be the characters of Sesame Street, the next is everything that is the color blue. It has often been thought that play is the best way to engage young learners. My earliest memories with those who have been integral parts of my success employed this: Diane, Kristen, Sue, and Tia. I've always been taught that learning should be fun, and my early experiences with music demonstrated the advantage of doing so. Volunteering with preschool children today, I see the cycle repeat. To this day, I find joy in learning new languages and discovering new ways to express myself. Music was my path to language and I hope my experience helps someone else walk along theirs. That is my two cents for today.

My Go-To Tips for Traveling with Cochlear Implants

Over the years, I’ve had my fair share of travel mishaps—from someone frantically waving their hands in my face, asking if I can sign, to international pat-downs, and, last but not least, an elderly, confused traveler walking away with my cochlear travel case containing my backups and all my equipment. Whether it’s dealing with airport security, packing the right supplies, or ensuring your hearing devices stay on throughout the trip, preparation is key.

Traveling with cochlear implants can be a nerve-racking experience. Before starting my college journey, I had never navigated an airport solo. Fast forward to the second semester of my freshman year, and I was suddenly thrown into the world of travel as a cochlear implant recipient. I wanted to share a few tips I've picked up along the way—from traveling as a child with family to my current status of navigating trips on my own.

Here’s some pearls of wisdom from a seasoned CI traveler(cue snarky laugh) :

1. Carry Your Cochlear Implant ID Card Everywhere

It may seem like common sense, but just as we carry our government-issued identification, this little card is a lifesaver. It is the only documented, acceptable proof of your or your child’s hearing loss. Some might think that flashing your receivers would be enough, but unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done in bringing awareness about our needs to the forefront. I received mine from my surgeon after my cochlear implant surgery. If you didn’t, I would recommend contacting your implant manufacturer or surgeon for assistance. As soon as I arrive at airport security, I always inform the officers about my implants. Some people may tell you to take off your receivers and go through without sound, others will say you can go through the scanner, and lastly, you can always opt for a pat-down. Children under the age of 12 cannot be patted down by an adult TSA officer; instead, their parent or adult travel companion will be patted down in their place. Does this make sense? No, but it is what happens. One of these days, I am going to have my mom write a post about some of her not-so-pleasant TSA pat-down experiences, but that is a tale for another day. Suffice it to say, no CI recipient should ever have to remove their receiver unless they choose to. Lastly, if you go through the security machines, I always explain that my devices might set off the alarm. Most of the time, though, I skip the machines altogether (more on that below) and request a pat-down instead.

2. Opt for Pat-Downs at Security

 There was a time I went through a security machine, and it messed with my implant’s sensitivity settings. Ever since that day, I’ve never gone through one again. Instead, I always ask for a pat-down.

When I was younger, my mom would make the request on my behalf, but once I turned 12, I started doing it myself. It’s easy to ask the TSA agents, and they’re usually understanding. However, if they aren’t, explain to them that your hearing devices CANNOT go through the machine, as it could affect your hearing. It’s worth the slight extra time to avoid any potential issues with my devices.

This also means allowing yourself extra time to ensure officers are available for a pat-down is crucial. We would arrive at the airport with a three-hour window before our flight, but this was also before TSA PreCheck(more on that later).

3. Pack All the Essentials in Your Carry-On

 I always keep my backups and charging kit with me in my carry-on bag. You never know when you’ll need them. Here's my usual packing list for my cochlear implants:

Kanso 2 Home Charging Dock

Nucleus 7 Sound Processors

Charging cable and 4 rechargeable batteries

Disposable zinc-air batteries (these are a lifesaver when outlets aren’t available)

Outlet plug adapters (essential for international travel)

Mini Microphone (helps with hearing in noisy environments)

The battery sleeves for disposable batteries

I also use the Nucleus app to check my battery levels. It’s super convenient to have everything in one place, and it also allows me to adjust my settings for the various noise levels and environments found in airports

4. Pre-Boarding and the Aisle Seat Hack

When I travel alone, I always try to sit in an aisle seat. It makes it easier for me to see what’s happening around me and feel/stay aware of my surroundings as well as communicate with the flight attendants. If it’s a flight with priority seating(ie. Southwest), I request pre-boarding at the counter due to my medical diagnosis/disability, which gives me extra time to settle in and get comfortable.

For flights with assigned seating, I ask at the counter or gate if they can move me to an aisle seat. In my experience, they’re usually happy to help.

5. Talk to the Flight Attendants

Before the flight takes off, if you feel comfortable, you could let the flight attendants know about your hearing loss, especially when traveling alone. It’s a small thing, but it makes a huge difference. If there’s an emergency or an announcement you might mishear over the in-flight speaker, they’ll know to provide the information directly. Flight attendants are usually very accommodating once they’re aware of the situation. However, I don’t do this often.

6. Tsa PreCheck

TSA PreCheck has been a game changer for me as a cochlear implant recipient. It simplifies the security process and takes away so much of the stress that can come with traveling. With PreCheck, I don’t have to worry about removing my shoes, belts, or jackets, and I can leave my electronic devices safely tucked away in my bag. I will add, though, if you opt for a pat down like me, you will have to take off your shoes. It’s such a relief knowing I can breeze through security without the extra hassle. This process lets me focus on my trip without unnecessary delays, and it makes the whole airport experience feel a lot less overwhelming. If you’re a CI user and travel often, I’d definitely recommend looking into it!

Traveling with cochlear implants requires a bit of extra work, but it’s totally doable. These small steps help me feel prepared and confident no matter where I’m headed. If you’re traveling with hearing devices, I hope these tips make your journey a little easier too. Happy travels! Have any questions, concerns, or experiences you’d like to share? Reach out to me here at Deaf-i, I’m always happy to help and listen. Our shared experiences are something that I place great stock in and fully believe can help us all bring further awareness and access to our community.

Hi!  My name is Farah and I am the CEO and Co-founder of Deaf-i. I want to introduce myself and explain the purpose of Deaf-i. I am a 17-year-old Deaf bilateral cochlear implant recipient. I was diagnosed through a newborn hearing screen. At about 6 months of age, I was fitted with bilateral hearing aids. I was a successful hearing aid user but eventually, my hearing began to change. When I was four years old, I underwent my first cochlear implant surgery. I remained hearing-aided on my right side with a CI on my left for the next few years of my hearing journey. Although I was a successful bimodal user eventually my hearing in my aided ear began to decline, which led to my second surgery at 8, almost 9 years old.  Being born into a hearing family, spoken language became my main form of communication, and I participated in the Birth to Three program along with extensive auditory verbal therapy throughout my early life.

Deaf-i was born out of the need to build a community for CI recipients, inspired by both the Deaf and hearing world. There's a lot of us out there but we are all disconnected because we are straddling two different worlds. We are part of both the deaf and hearing community and that can be isolating, so I want Deaf-i to be an opportunity for us to unite and to be a safe space to share our stories, successes, and failures so that we can become a support system for one another and lean on each other. It is my belief that we can benefit from shared experiences, our support systems, friendships, professional resources, and familial experiences. These resources can help the next generation of recipients to break down barriers and maximize individual potential. I grew up with a great support system. I have my siblings, my parents, ENT, speech pathologist, and an audiologist. All these people helped me during my hearing journey to the point that it is considered a success. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today. However, I do wish that my younger self had a role model—someone to talk to and look up to, someone who could answer all the questions that the people around me couldn't. That's what I want Deaf-i to be: a support system. I hope that for individuals and families, regardless of whether you are starting along the spoken language path, we can fast forward for you and provide a glimpse of what the future may look like, especially during times when the view is often blurred. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and Welcome to Deaf-i I am so grateful to walk along the path together!