Top tips for grandparents new to deafness
Published Date: 26 Oct 2023
For Grandparents' Day, we thought it would be nice to give a shout out to Ffion-Hâf’s grandparents, Ray and Mike, and offer some simple yet practical advice to those who are new to deafness.
Since Ffion-Hâf’s diagnosis as being profoundly deaf at birth, my parents (Ffion-Hâf’s grandparents) have been truly phenomenal! At the time, being told that your baby girl would never hear anything was utterly heartbreaking and a huge shock to everyone. How would we communicate with her? Would she have a good relationship with her brother? Would she be able to attend a mainstream school? How would family members connect and bond with her?
It was a difficult time, but Ffion-Hâf’s grandparents were wonderful from the outset. They were positive and optimistic, which really helped me change my mindset. By the time she was six months old, the whole family was learning sign language. How incredible is that?! They were adamant that they were going to be able to communicate with her. This is the positivity that we needed!
As time moved on, she became a candidate for cochlear implants (CIs). The operation itself can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, but having supportive grandparents to look after our eldest son, Macsen, keep on top the house chores, and fill the freezer full of home-made meals for our return home was just invaluable.
Ffion-Hâf has had more surgeries than we care to remember, with one failed CI and three new ones due to serious infections. These all involved very lengthy stays in hospital. My parents’ on-going support has continued over the past 12 years, and we simply could not have managed without them!
We visit them as often as possible. Ffion-Hâf has the most amazing relationship with her grandparents – they really are one in a million.
Here are my top tips for grandparents who are new to the deafness journey:
- Get involved!
- Be positive!
- Join the National Deaf Children’s Society – they provide lots of advice and information.
- Find groups on social media of other grandparents in the same situation as yourselves.
- Read up on deafness and the different types of technology available.
- Don’t be afraid of their hearing technology – learn to change batteries, tubes and how to trouble shoot!
- If you’re able, offer respite to your son or daughter.
- Learn British Sign Language! Hearing technologies are great, but how will you communicate with your grandchild during bath time, when they’re swimming, in the middle of the night, when they’re tired and simply don’t want to wear their devices, or when their device breaks?
- Become deaf aware.
- Advocate for your amazing grandchild – show the world how amazing our deaf kids really are!
Deaf children can do anything hearing children can, apart from hear. With the support from amazing grandparents, like Ffion-Hâf’s, they will be able to achieve anything! Happy National Grandparents’ Day to all of the amazing grandparents out there! You rock!
