This document provides a case history for S. Sz. Dalma, a 23 month old girl diagnosed with profound hearing loss at 14 months. Dalma received her first hearing aids at 14 months and began therapy to learn how to hear, listen, and talk. The initial goals of therapy were to teach Dalma and her family about using the hearing aids and how hearing works, as well as starting language learning through talking, singing, and playing together. Dalma has made progress in her hearing, listening, and vocabulary skills, and can now communicate using around 150 words through listening alone without needing lip reading or visual cues.

1. Case historyof S.Sz.Dalma
S. Sz.Dalma isa 23 monthsoldlittle girl withprofoundhearingloss. She wasdiagnosedwhenshe
was 14 monthsold.Whichisconsideredasan earlydiagnosisinHungary.It’susuallyaroundthe age
of 2. Evenwhenthere’s alreadyahearingimparedpersoninthe familylike inthiscase.
At age of 14 mothsDalma got herfirsthearingaids.The familyfoundourinstitutiontroughafriend.
Luckilytheycouldstartthe therapyrightaway.
The firstbig tasks(asalways): (betweenmayandoctober– summerwasa holiday…)
 teachingeverythingabouthearingaidswhatthe familyneedstoknow – how to switchon
and off,howto putit in,take it out,keepingitcleanetc.
 choosingthe righthearingaid – ouraspect of choosing – knowledge notlooks!
 explaininghowhearingworkswithahearingaid
 teaching Dalmaand herparentshow to hear andlisten–the meaningof the sounds
 teachingthe parentshowto talkwithDalma
 counselingasthe partof the therapy
To aim these goals:
 therapy– learningtohear,listenandtalk
 goingto control exams
 tryingout a couple hearingaids
 alwaystalkingwiththe engineer
2014. octoberwe choose a hearingaid.Dalmastartedtol istento hearname.Her voice was
colourful, she saidherfirstwordsnotjustimitative words.
The secondsteps:(october–december)
 makingthe hearingaid’sprogramfitto Dalma’shearing
 startingto learnthe language bytalking,singingandplayingtogether
 involvingeverypeoplein the family
To aim our goals:
 goingto examsandobserve Dalma’severydayreactions
 startinga notebookforthe songs,sounds
 duringa therapyinvite otherpeople fromthe familynotjustthe mom
Mom’s alsostarteda blogto write herfeelingsout.Duringthe counselingshe couldreallyshare her
thoughts.She startedthe blogherself butshe haven’ttoldittothe therapist.She knew aboutitbut
didn’tmentionit.She knewthe momhasto tell heronherown.Aftera couple weeksthe momtold
the therapistaboutit.Since thentheytalkabout the blog.The mom’sstill notreadytotell a couple
things.The blogisthe perfectplace totalkto each otherwithoutsayingitoutloud.

2. RightnowDalma has around150 wordswhatshe usesin everydaybasis(notjustnounsbutverbs
and adjectivesas wells).Herhearingandlisteningskillsare improvingeverydayaswell asher
vocabulary. She can be manageable onlybytalking.She doesn’tneedlipreadingourvisual helpshe’s
listeningall daylong.She’sstarteddaycare so she can learnforherpeers.