Two years of hearing (and nonstop talking )

So, Miss R celebrated her 2nd hearing birthday on September 15th.She was switched on at 2 years 4 month of age and has moved at lightning speed since.She learned to detect,discriminate,identify and imitate all Lings 6 sounds within 2 weeks of switch on and produced her first words at 3 weeks post switched on.She started combining words about 2 months post switch on and she achieved all these milestones with us struggling to keep the CI on her.She hated her CI initially.I really didn't understand it since she was learning so much and enjoying the sounds that she could now hear.I guess she must have enjoyed giving us a hard time then.

Now she enjoys both of her CIs and is a true chatterbox who never stops talking.The only times that I could enjoy some peace and quiet is when she is asleep (late) and napping (rarely). We still haven't tested her recent language skill though we suspect that she is already on par with her peers.It's a tricky thing since we don't have any form of formal testing and no norm in Malaysia where most children are multilingual.Miss R is bilingual with Malay as her first language and English her second.She is learning some mandarin in preschool but we are opting for extra English class in replacement of Mandarin class for next year.We'll just keep her bilingual at the moment.

She enjoys listening to music (something that I couldn't imagine before) and going to participate in talent time contest in December organised by Opus academy of music.All the preparation is being done by the dedicated teachers so I can't write much about this.We'll start her on an instrument (most likely piano) next year when she is more ready.

So,now she looks like other kids and does things that other 4 year olds do except that she has extra gadgets on her ears.Maybe soon I will teach her how to explain her CI to other people.

Now,the only area that needs a bit more adjusting is her social skills.She's fine in preschool and daycare with familiar people but she tends to be very shy with strangers or new people.She will need at least 20 minutes of warm up time before she starts talking.
It's really ok, but it's not fun for me especially when I want to show off my talking child and the miracle of CI to some new people and my chatterbox child decided to keep quite and ignore the person who is talking to her.I have no idea what motivates her to do this, probably only the sheer happiness of exasperating her mother.God knows.

Before, I couldn't stop thinking about her deafness.Now,it has become a non issue.She could hear and talk like other children.Putting on the CIs has become second nature like putting on shoes or socks.Something that  I couldn't imagine possible but is IS possible with a little bit of work and perseverance.

Little Miss grump update

Little miss grump is her normal jolly self right now...no more episodes of severe temper tantrums.Because I was worried about sensory integration issues (which is quite common with hearing impaired kiddos),I took her to see a child developmental psychiatrist (superb dr!)in Seri Kembangan.After some observations and assessments done this is pretty much what we found out:

1.Rhianna's cognitive,motor skill and sensory is normal (except for her deafness of course!)She's a very perceptual,alert and observant child.No sensory integration issue is apparent.

2.She is actually an outgoing and extrovert child who likes to lead (surprise!) but has not developed necessary social skill for this (that's why she's so bossy!)

3.As by nature she is a bubbly girl,she has increased frustration level due to her inability to communicate verbally effectively (imagine having so many things to say and tell, but not enough words to do so?)This may sometimes affect her confidence level.As she learns more language and social skill,these problems will eventually subside.The Dr is pretty confident that she will catch up soon.

4.The severe temper tantrums episodes is most likely stress triggered and could be the result of emotional seizure? (still under investigation).

SOooo.. what should we do to help move her along?

1.Organize more play dates so that she mixes with other children of various ages and learn appropriate social behaviour like how to lead/follow the leader.
2.Do more real life activities with her instead of just play or pretend play.
3.Give her more control of her daily life activities like what she'd like to wear/eat,or when she'd like to take a shower..etc(I think she's already doing this,manipulating and bargaining until she gets her way!Or is that wrong?Maybe she shouldn't have to bargain and should only be given choices?)

So anymore ideas?Tell me people,how much more complex can a three year old be??

Little Miss grump

Once in a while, when the moon or stars or the sun get into alignment with each other or whatever..my lovely little girl will turn into little Miss Grump.

Little Miss grump's mission in life is to irritate and to test the limits of everybody who loves her causing chaos in the family life.From the moment she opens her eyes in the morning until she closes it at night,she will fight us and her favourite word will become "NO!"Her favourite action will be rolling and kicking on the floor.

We all heard of the 'terrible two' phase.As funny as these episodes can sometimes be (to other spectators especially her grandparents who think that she's an angel even if she grew horns and fangs ),they can add up to the parents' stress.

What I've learned from reading and attending multiple talks on behaviour problems is that
1.Being a toddler is hard.They are trying to learn new things and trying to assert their independence while having to recognize their limitations...really, no kidding!

2.Being a toddler with a new CI is even harder.You've been through a surgery that could be quite traumatizing,you are suddenly bombarded with these sounds that people expect you to learn to understand.Furthermore,you have no control over them.

3.God is trying to punish you for giving your mom a hard time when you were a toddler yourself...just kidding.

Anyway..what I do when Little Miss Grump emerges is I pick my battle.I only fight her for really important stuff,like if she needs to take any medicine,or she's really tired but refuses to sleep..Still the best way to handle temper tantrum is to recognize the trigger factor and avoid it.

Most of the time I just lock myself in the bathroom, chill out and repeat the mantra.."This too shall pass..this too shall pass..this too shall pass.."