Tuesday 22/05/90 – Our first lesson

(1st Lesson…2nd Visit to Carel du Toit Centre, Cape Town)

Hughan and I had arrived in Cape Town. We were staying on the grounds of Tygerberg Hospital, at the accommodation for families with hearing impaired children.

Vanessa was pleased to see us and we were having our first session with her.

Hughan and I worked together in a room while Vanessa observed from an adjoining room, which had a viewing window from it. Vanessa was able to watch me play with Hughan and we were unable to see her. She would correct me while I was working with Hughan, through an intercom.

This is what Vanessa wrote in the diary.

Today’s lesson –

Activity : blocks and cars

Aim : apply basic communication principles.

Lovely repetition – you used a single word and then that word in a short, full sentence.

“Push, push the puzzle”.

“Give, give me the block”.

“Pick me up mummy”- good interpretation of his actions.

Lovely, you are waiting for the eye contact.

Good: you are pointing out the different parts of the face. “The rabbit has eyes”, “look at the rabbit ears”. Always try and relate this immediately to his body, “Hughan’s eyes”, Hughan’s ears”, then perhaps “mummy’s eyes and ears”.

Lovely you are following his interest – he wanted to play with the draw. “Pull the draw open”,” close the draw”. Lovely he interpreted you playing with the horse and making it jump over the block.

Good you are trying to name everything. “Put the bean bags back” instead of “put them back”. “Sit on the chair” instead of “sit there”.

Lovely interpretation “Lift me up Mummy”.

Lovely auditory training – “Woof woof”: says the dog. “Oink oink”: says the pig.

Lovely turn taking: “Mummy take the bean bag out”. “Hughan take the bean bag out”.

The dog’s nose, Mummy’s nose, Hughan’s nose”. Lovely you pointed the body part out on the dog plus then on Hughan and your body.

Thank you Sue – not only are you looking smart today but you are also working well with Hughan.

Welcome back – I’m looking forward to working with you again.

Remember Occupational Theropist : 2.00pm.

See you tomorrow.

Vanessa

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Saturday 18/05/90 – Cape Town

Hughan and I traveled to Cape Town and we arrived at lunchtime.

It is a lovely feeling to be back.

Vanessa. Thank you for your letter. It’s been great hearing from you.

We feel Hughan has been responding well to our voices. He is still having ear drops in both ears, but since he has been unable to use his hearing aids, I feel he had been giving us better eye contact.

We hope you will see a change in him. We have had great fun with him and he is still a good little boy.

Thanks

Best wishes

Sue

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Friday 17/05/90 – Great memories

I traveled with Hughan to Johannesburg and I attended my friend’s funeral.

Meeting up with my friends family and remembering all the good times I had had with my friend.

This was a very sad day.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Thursday 16/05/90 – Packing

I spent the day packing for our trip to go to South Africa.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Tuesday 15/05/90 – a very sad day

A very close friend of mine died this morning and I have had a very bad day.

Willem was in Johannesburg for the day which did not help.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Monday 14/05/90 – conjunctivitis

Hughan has a runny nose and we had another visit to the doctor.

He has also started a discharge in his left ear and has got conjunctivitis. He does not look at all well.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Friday 11/05/90 – Our security system

Hughan sat with me at the dining room table today and we had a great time colouring in with different coloured crayons.

We have had a security system put in the house. Hughan knows if he moves the light comes on and for the first three days he didn’t like them at all. He would cover his eyes so he wouldn’t see the light go on.

At night he would cry to be picked up as he was scared to move by himself. I picked him up and let him touch the light sensor and he seems much better now.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Wednesday 09/05/90

Jamie started school today and Hughan has finished his antibiotics and seems much better.

I have found during the school holidays that I have spent the whole day entertaining the boys and they have grown very close.

Jamie is not so jealous of Hughan any more although we have had our moments!!

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Tuesday 02/05/90

Well Hughan is not at all well today.

We have had another visit to the doctor and this time he has tonsillitis and running a temperature. He is on antibiotics for seven days.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)

Monday 01/05/90

Hughan has started taking a great interest in his trolley, pushing the around everywhere. Hughan and I went for a long walk around the garden. Hughan loves the garden and playing in the sandpit.

I have not taken Hughan to a baby group as it has been Jamie’s school holidays and so while Hughan has had his ear infection, I have not wanted to do too much with him outside, as the weather has started to get cold and also we are still having rain.

(I started this website to help other patents with deaf children through our experience. Our son Hughan was born in 1988 and was diagnosed profoundly deaf at 14 months old. We kept a Diary, so his progress could be tracked between our lessons, as we were living in Gaborone in Botswana and traveled every 3 months to the Carel du Toit Centre in Cape Town.)