Aural Rehab

Ben had his first Aural Rehab appointment this week (to work on his sound detection with his cochlear implant). Ben is starting to do some great listening and will turn to a lot of environmental noises - even his name after I call it five times. Aural Rehab is the first therapy service that Ben gets that doesn't do home visits... so we had to take Ben over to Children's outpatient. We have a standing appointment every Tuesday at 2:00. Let's just say that Ben much prefers therapy at home. He is starting to get a little apprehensive about being at the hospital. When he got to therapy we put him in this little desk chair, which he wasn't too sure about. He then hit his head on the back of the chair and he started crying. It took a little bit to calm him down and he ended up doing his listening therapy on my lap. Because of the chair incident, his mood wasn't the best and any time the therapist got close, touched him or showed him certain toys, he started to cry. Ben always just takes a little time to get use to new people and things -- especially when they are out of his comfort zone of home. Some of the toys she used with Ben we have at home, so we are going to try and do the same activities she did so next time, Ben knows what to expect. We've noticed that Ben is really starting to have an opinion about toys. Some toys we get him, he isn't sure of them and he will hide his face from them. Others he grabs right away and plays with them. Grandma Deb has taught me to take those toys he doesn't like and just set them by him while he plays. Amazingly enough, after a week or so he will warm up to them and start playing with them. For whatever reason, I think Ben just visually perceives certain things as unsafe. The therapist was great with Ben and gave us lots of ideas for home. She is going to be a big help.