Mum's anguish over deaf twins

Lorraine Tinney Lorraine Tinney - 1626 • Last updated 31 Mar 2008 13:08 Comments 1 Comment

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A DOTING mum of twin boys still remembers the day she found out her beautiful sons would never hear her voice, or listen to their favourite music - because they were deaf.

Karen McCulloch, who lives in Port Glasgow with seven-year-olds Lewis and Fraser and husband Thomas, said: 'A bit of you dies. Unless you live with a deaf child you can"t imagine what it"s like. It"s an invisible disability and we have that twice over.

'They were assessed in December 2002 and it was a horrible Christmas. You blame yourself and think it was something you did, although I had a perfect pregnancy. You look for answers to why it"s happened.'

The boys" disability has had a huge impact on family life. Special events other kids take for granted can prove tricky for the brothers.

Physiotherapist Karen, of Muirdykes Avenue, said: 'Going to see Father Christmas can be difficult because they cannot see his mouth because of his beard and his voice is muffled.

'I remember being in a friend"s house on Mother"s Day after they were diagnosed. Her wee girl said "Happy Mother"s Day" and told her she loved her.

'I felt so sad I would never hear that from my boys. But they did say it eventually. They said it in sign language before they said it.'

Thanks to hi-tech implants the twins have exceeded all expectations and they now have a degree of speech and a hearing age of five.

Karen, who is chair of West Scotland Deaf Children"s Society, said: 'We can understand them and close family and friends know what they are saying. It"s like listening to someone speak in a foreign accent.'

Not everyone in the deaf community agrees with the use of implants, many claiming parents who use them are trying to change their child to make them "normal".

Karen said: 'We wanted to get as much communication into our children as we could as not being able to hear is quite a barrier to learning and education.

'We wanted to give them the best opportunities we could in a hearing environment. We have thesame hopes for Lewis and Fraser as any other parents have for their children.

'They are hearing disabled, not different or unique. I just hope they don"t encounter the stigma many deaf people face, many are not in the best of jobs through their experience of further education.

'I just want them to be happy whether they want to be a doctor, professor, work in a factory, or do something in the deaf world.'

The boys, who attend St Michael"s Primary, get support with a worker from the specialist Garvel Unit and are like any other seven-year-olds, playing trugby at Greenock Wanderers and splashing about in the pool.

And their proud parents would not change their gorgeous sons for the world.

Karen said: 'The circumstances have made them who they are, they are active and confident wee boys.'

The boy"s uncle, Rod Miller, is doing his bit to help his nephews and other deaf children by running his first marathon in Edinburgh on 25 May.

Rod, 44, from Greenock, hopes to raise lots of money for the West Scotland Deaf Children"s Society.

He said: 'It was on my "fridge list" to do a marathon before I was 45 and you had to raise funds for a charity to get a place. So this was ideal.

Karen said: 'I am delighted that Rod is running the marathon to help the charity. As society chair I appreciate that it take a lot of hard work to raise money and this will give us a bit of publicity.'

To start the ball rolling, a fundraising disco and games night is being held in the 68 Club in Brown Street, Port Glasgow, on Friday 2 May.

The fun starts at 7pm and will go on until 1am.

To obtain tickets, call Karen on 806235 or email: karenshields@yahoo.com

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 31 Mar 08

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Abdul wasy
Unregistered User
Dec 3, 06:13
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Hi Deaf .Dear sir!!1

How are you?

I am deaf from Afghanistan . I want to work and live in the UK . How can I

begin to find a job in the Uk ?

There are organizations in the Uk that help deaf people find jobs.

They may be able to help, but you would still have to go through the other

work visa channels, etc, before being able to work in the UK .

There are people who help others make the transition from other countries tornthe US , you should research them, instead of asking on here. Good luck

PLEASE SAY DEAF GET A JOB FIND

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