Understanding your child's hearing loss

Margaret: Our granddaughter, she was born deaf. We went for screenings and we didn't know what the screening was all about. So we went for one, then we were called back to go for another. Then I started asking questions, " what's, what's going on here? What's the screening business?" That was new to me.

Well, she said, "there's something wrong with the baby's hearing." So that's okay, alright then. So they sent us to an audiologist. We went to the audiologist and then they said she was profoundly deaf.

Barry: That didn't stop us loving her, and her growing up to be what she is today and make us really happy.

If she's deaf, she's deaf, and, but we love her just the same.

How did you feel when you learnt your child had a hearing loss?

Margaret: It was most upsetting and for Laqueta to go through all these kind of things when she was a baby.

Barry: Okay it broke our hearts a bit as grandparents.

Margaret: But down the track, We got used to it. We took it under control like, as to say, "okay, she's deaf." So we just got to deal with it, you know, our way, and so we did. We just treated it like any other normal kid then.

Barry: It's frustrating for her too, I can see the frustration in her. She wants to hear, she wants to communicate. All that sadness when it first started, like, "oh no, we've got a deaf child." In a Murri way or an Indigenous context, we sort of put that aside and we surround her with a whole lot of L O V E and, I think that helps.

What have been some of the challenges?

Margaret: Traveling was a big challenge because I've never been that way before. I've never been to that Townsville Base Hospital before. First time for me so that was a big challenge.

Barry: One way we dealt with it was talking to other people who were down there, social workers, Jenny Harris was there. And, even going to this big place, I mean, what planet were on, so where's this big place?

But there were social workers there who helped us and "you go the third floor, blah, blah, blah. Turn right, turn left" and what happened was that being there for a couple of days now, about three or four days, we got used to people, used to the place and Laqueta got used to the environment and we got speaking to the audiologists and the doctors and all that and they were really helpful.

At the early stages of this journey, explaining a little bit more about Laqueta's condition and what options did they were offering at the time. So it was, it was a little bit daunting, a bit frustrated and Laqueta was, we had all these issues too, but as grandparents and we felt the concerns too.

We were there all the way with her and when this journey started and we're still looking for things to help Laqueta still.

What advice would you give to other families on this journey?

Margaret: Take it a day at a time, don't be so, it's sad, but you know, in the long run you'll have people there to help you.

Barry: Sit down as a family and discuss it, discuss your child's issue and concerns and their journey. Share it with the family and so it becomes a family responsibility and also extend that in the community. But certainly as a family unit we can all be supportive going to the appointments or going away on visitations.

Margaret: So don't do it yourself, you got a family. Get all the family together and get your help that way and from the services that our indigenous people have. There are a lot of services out there. We didn't know.

Barry: So many options, there are other people out there want to help. Explore avenues of funding or other support things that'll support your child. There are things available these days that wasn't in our day growing up and people are out there to help in a Murri way or or indigenous way, TSI away or whatever that cultural component must be at the heart of it, Laqueta's in the middle, then we just build this big campfire around her and all these journey parts go along there but it's joined to Laqueta, not us. And thanks to people out there who really helped us and who took time to sit us down and meeting people in the know, like the Alma's and the, the deaf services, we are all gonna be part of, Laqueta journey and just never give up.

What hopes and dreams do you have for your child?

Margaret: That Barry will get up dance when she, you know, "Popeye!".

Barry: I'd want her to also don't be excluded from anything from society and people with that type of if you like, disability hearing or deaf can live normal lives. Can go to school, can go to learn, can communicate and in later life, I'd like to see her show a little bit of independence and go for a job, apply for her on flat and live normal life as with everyone else in Australian society.

I can smile today because I know that down the track, my biggest hope and dream and aspiration is that Laqueta will communicate with us. And that'll be the day that we look forward to.

Margaret: Yeah. Big party.

Barry: She not won't be binnagurri (deaf) then she be good.