Family Camp Offers Forum For Families Facing Pediatric Hearing Loss

Main Category: Hearing / Deafness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 20 Apr 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The Hallmark Hall of Fame movie "Sweet Nothing in My Ear" airing this Sunday, April 20, explores a choice families face when raising a deaf or hard-of-hearing child, whether to have their child receive a cochlear implant or not. The issues are all too familiar to the many people who attend House Ear Institute's annual Family Camp, happening this year on May 30 June 1 in Malibu, CA.

The House Ear Institute (HEI) performed the first pediatric cochlear implant (CI) surgery in 1980. In the years that followed, pediatric cochlear implant procedures became widespread as a breakthrough treatment that could give children with profound hearing loss a chance to hear. Recognizing the new choices and social implications that resulted from the advent of pediatric CI, the Institute established Family Camp 23 years ago as a comfortable, open forum where parents raising a deaf or hard-of-hearing child could share feelings, compare experiences and exchange information and varying philosophies with one another.

"While a number of other facilities address the needs of children with hearing loss, the Institute's Family Camp addresses the family dynamics that surround and influence the child's development," said Marilee Potthoff, director of marketing, HEI.

Designed to help all members of the family, both deaf and hearing, as well as parents and children, the camp provides a supportive atmosphere that fosters both verbal and sign language communication. It also helps build self-esteem, friendships, and respect for each other's differences and decisions.

Each year about 40 families come to camp which includes about 70 hearing, hard-of-hearing and deaf children. Fifty percent of the families return each year.

This year the parent workshops are focused on helping parents build their child's self confidence and teach their children with hearing loss to be assertive and to ask for what they need in the classroom.

Campers aged 12 months to 16 years old are matched with counselors who use sign language and other modes of communication to optimize the children's learning and enjoyment of activities in arts and crafts, safety, dance expression, rhythm and percussion, nature and sports.

Family Camp will be held at Camp Hess Kramer from May 30-June 1 in the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking northern Malibu.

About the House Ear Institute

The House Ear Institute (HEI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve quality of life. HEI scientists investigate the cellular and molecular causes of hearing loss and related auditory disorders as well as neurological processes pertaining to the human auditory system and the brain. Our researchers also explore technology advancements to improve auditory implants, hearing aids, diagnostic techniques and rehabilitation tools. The Institute shares its knowledge with the scientific and medical communities as well as the general public through its education and outreach programs.

House Ear Institute
2100 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
United States
http://www.hei.org