Hearing Test

Brennan had a hearing test this week. The hearing test involves B sitting in a small booth with hearing devices placed in each ear. When the right ear is tested, a static noise is used on the left side to make sure only the right side picks up the noise. Same goes for the left side. He is tested with "play audiometry" which is when B hears a noise, he places an object in something. For example, for one of these tests he placed a game piece into the connect four game each time he heard a noise. This way the audiologist knows he hears the sound and it becomes a fun game for the child being tested. B did so good during this test. He has had so many hearing tests that he finally has the system down! He is so quiet and concentrates so well and right when he hears a noise he places the object in right away!

The chart below shows his progress!!! The chart on the left is his right ear hearing (frequency in Hz). He has normal hearing on his right. The chart on the right has some dots and X's. The dots on the chart represent his hearing on his left side before the surgery he had in October. The X's above the dots represent his hearing this week in his left ear!!! Look at how much it has improved!!! Yippee!!! This makes me feel so good about going through with the surgery! It has helped him!!! Part of the test is listening to words and repeating them. He had an excellent word recognition score on his left side!!! This is all so very exciting! His new ear drum is still healing so we will find out if there is more improvement with his next hearing test in June.

B doing so well with wires coming out of his ears

Concentrating on the sounds

He puts the game piece up by his ear and listens so intently. When he hears the noise, he places it in the game.


Other things...

My good friend Dawn gave us this swing set!!! Her girls were getting too big for it and she asked us if we wanted it... uh...of course!!! It came at a perfect time too. Starting Friday B is going to be staying home for 1 1/2 weeks to prevent getting sick before his next surgery. So that means being cooped up inside our house. Now we have this fun swing set to use... weather permitting! Thank you so very much Dawn!


Joel is still recuperating from his broken leg. He has been off work since it happened in the beginning of November. He is still doing physical therapy and getting stronger everyday. He still walks with a slight limp and can't put full pressure on his leg. We are thankful he is not on his crutches anymore! It will probably be a couple more months until he returns back to work. We are thankful this gives him more time with the kids and especially his parents. Living life with ALS has been anything but easy for Joel's dad and we appreciate your continuous prayers for him. Joel left today back to Arizona to help out his parents. They are coming out here next Wednesday and Joel will be driving them down.

Waiting for daddy to take the train

Here comes the train!

Kissing B goodbye

Bye Bye daddy, we love you!!! See you in a week!