The motto of the event was: "You can hear thanks to technology. To be heard - thanks to people."Tattygul Rysbaeva, the mother of Alinur, shared: "My son has a hearing impairment and is in the second grade of a regular school. I have three children, and the other two have no hearing issues. Alinur wears binaural hearing aids and is successfully coping with the educational process."
According to Tattygul, many parents mistakenly believe that after hearing aids are fitted, children will immediately start speaking. However, it is necessary to develop understanding - the child needs to learn to analyze information and adapt to the surrounding environment.
"We included a comprehensive rehabilitation program: sessions with a deaf educator, speech therapist, defectologist, as well as classes on sensory integration and physical development. This has yielded significant results. Alinur has become more stable and has started to better control his movements. Children with hearing impairments often experience vestibular system dysfunction, which can lead to clumsiness and difficulties in group games. Developing motor skills and proprioception helps Alinur better understand the world around him," noted his mother.
Tattygul Rysbaeva at the event dedicated to the International Day of Cochlear Implantation.
"Our children, who started hearing later, perceive the world visually. For example, at five years old, Alinur learned the multiplication table thanks to cartoons and visual learning. He is passionate about mathematics, knows numbers in Russian and English, can count freely, and perform mathematical operations. However, his speech developed more slowly than his mathematical skills," added Tattygul.
After fitting the hearing aids, they began actively working on vocabulary using visual cards. "I pronounced words aloud while demonstrating actions, such as 'open' and 'close.' Gradually, Alinur began to associate words with actions and images," his mother recounted.
During walks, they discussed everything they saw around: cars, houses, trees. Through repetition, Alinur reinforced new words both audibly and visually.
Alinur at the event dedicated to the International Day of Cochlear Implantation.
As Rysbaeva noted, such work requires the constant involvement of the whole family.
"Only family involvement can help a child in rehabilitation," she is convinced.Support and care for hearing aids are also very important. "Batteries run out quickly. I always check the devices after work: can he hear and is everything okay? We clean them every two days, as earwax can clog the tubes, hindering sound perception. The devices need to be dried properly and removed for sleep so they can 'rest' and not whistle," Tattygul shares.
Tattygul Rysbaeva at the event dedicated to the International Day of Cochlear Implantation.
It is also important to explain to the child that hearing aids are his devices, and no one should touch them. "There was a case when a classmate asked Alinur if they were headphones. He calmly explained that these are hearing aids that help him hear," his mother recounted.
"Before sending him to school, I discussed everything with the deputy principal and the teacher. I explained that an inclusive environment is important for his full development. He does not have mental impairments; he is teachable and attentive. Usually, children with hearing impairments are directed to specialized institutions, but we were recommended a regular school," she shared.
According to Rysbaeva, those around them perceive her son's characteristics well. "We have not encountered open discrimination. Perhaps someone thinks something to themselves, but no one expresses negative comments. I present Alinur as a full member of society and do not allow him to be treated with pity. On the contrary, I am stricter with him than with other children, because if high expectations are not set, he may start to become lazy," Tattygul said.
Now Alinur completes his homework independently, except for complex word problems in mathematics, and helps his younger brother with his studies. He feels responsible as an older brother.
"I would like to remind you that before losing his hearing, Alinur reacted well to sounds. For example, he could hear when we opened soda in the kitchen and would run over saying, 'Cola, cola.' He could hear, but then he lost his hearing. It is important to be more open and kind to children and people with developmental differences," concluded Tattygul Rysbaeva.
