"Can he talk?"
"Can he hear me?"
"Will he be able to read?"
"Will he be able to drive?"
"How does he talk to you?"

Cason is Deaf. At the age of three, Cason was FINALLY identified Deaf. For several months, almost a year, no one knew why Cason was not speaking. There were so many maybes. "Maybe he has autism, let’s have him evaluated." "Maybe he has apraxia, we'll look into it." "Maybe he's just a late bloomer, lets give him time but continue therapy."

After all of the maybes we finally were scheduled for an ABR (auditory brainstem response). If you have children, you know this test is done to a newborn child, which Cason passed. At this time, because of his age, Cason had to be sedated because you are required to be still to get a true reading. Cason was brought back to his father and I, and we were told Cason had ANSD (Auditory Neuropathy Sensory Disorder) and he was profoundly Deaf. In that moment, my world went silent, ironically just like my child's. I didn't hear anything being said, I didn't know what they were telling me, all I could think to ask was, "Will he ever be able to hear?” and, “Is he going to be okay?" I know now that it was just the shock. I have a perfectly growing, intelligent boy just like the day he was born.

We moved fairly quickly with getting hearing aids, which we knew would not work, but is standard for insurance purposes. Cason received his first implant in February, and was 'activated' in March. With all this being said, we also started introducing ASL (American Sign Language) to Cason. My child had already been deprived of language for three years of his life. I was not going to allow that to happen ever again. His second implant was in August and activated in September.

Cochlear implants (CIs) have two parts, a magnet that is placed by opening a flap behind the ear that has a small receiver placed on the skull and a wire that travels through the cochlea containing electrodes that send electrical impulses through the nerves. The other part is the processor that you usually see sitting behind the ear. CIs are a tool, a great tool and provide many D/deaf individuals with hearing. I support those who implant and those that do not, but I truly believe ASL should be used with every Deaf child NO MATTER what. CIs are a tool, and it’s important to remember that anyone with out their CI is Deaf.

Cason does not wear his CIs, and I am in full support of this decision. CIs work for some people and not others. There is a misconception about CIs and using sign language. Most will tell you that sign language will prevent a child from becoming oral/developing language and this is simply false. Language is language. ASL is a beautiful gift given to my child that allows me to communicate with him.

I also have to mention the Deaf community and how important it was for us to get involved. Yes, it was absolutely terrifying meeting new people, but the acceptance is UNREAL. Yes, sign language is hard, but what new language isn't?

We recently moved to Florida for Cason (not even a week ago) for him to attend FSDB (Florida School for the Deaf and Blind). I have already seen a change in my kiddo. It's incredible what INCLUSION will do for someone. Speaking of inclusion, interpreters and captions are just a couple of examples that Cason and other Deaf individuals have the right to. Cason has changed my world and opened doors for so many opportunities and allows to me to help spread awareness that others may not know. ADVOCACY is key and I'm not stopping until Cason tells me he can do it for himself.

So, to end on the questions I get asked above, my child talks with his hands. My child cannot hear you, in fact he is profoundly Deaf. Cason is in first grade, and is reading. Cason will be able to drive, of course when that time comes, and he will carry a pamphlet like card that states that he is Deaf. Cason communicates with his entire family through using ASL.

The most important thing to remember is that Cason can do anything the hearing can do, except HEAR, and the only thing that makes him different from you is that he talks with