9th Month!

I once again returned to YCIS today for my 9th month assessment. This time I took my eldest son as he wanted to know what they do!

Firstly I did the decibels test and the average score was between 30 and 35 dB - much similar to the last one in February.

Next was Mr Truly Boring doing the lipreading and listening - WOW, I finally hit the 100% mark as I was aiming to get that as in Dec 07 was 97% and in Feb 08 was 99%! I knew I would get that 100% mark!

Without lipreading scored 64% - that is a huge jump as it was 40% in February. With background noise - again another huge jump - scored 43% (23% in Feb).

Here comes the tricky bit - the "one word" session - well in February it was 0% but today I couldn't believe it that I scored 33%. Didn't do the environmental sounds as he was happy that I scored 93% in February - son was a bit disappointed because he was looking forward to doing that!!

So the audiologist (Salim) was pleased with it and so was I..... just can't believe the high scores!

After this we saw Lynne the Speech and Language Therapist. She asked me a few more questions and was being videoed again. She's pleased with my new results and is happy and I didn't have to do any work today nor no homework was given today as there's nothing else I could do!

So went home on a happy note and I've spoken to Howie, mum and few friends and they cannot believe what I scored today and said that I've really improved a lot since November!

I don't need to go back till November when I have my first medical review with the consultant and then next August for the hearing test!

In overall I'm happy! And I've just given £425 to the Ear Trust today and there's more to come after Saturday's event. (I had already raised £201 online using Justgiving.com)

BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER

PROFILE of Rachel Fishwick

• is a former civil servant


• was a Guide Leader in Belgium for three years


• has written a blog about receiving a cochlear implant, an electronic system that stimulates the auditory nerve, at http://www.yorkie67.blogspot.com/.


• was awarded the 20 year service award in March 2007

Guide Leader Rachel Fishwick, 41, has never let deafness stop her enjoying all guiding has to offer. She talks to Claudia Cahalane about how she has overcome her disability.

Have you been deaf all your life?
Yes, I was born deaf. I’ve always worn hearing aids and have tried all types, from traditional ones to wireless technology and digital hearing aids. I don’t know sign language, apart from the alphabet – I lip-read instead. In November 2006, I suffered tinnitus and the hearing in my left ear became much worse. But last October I had a cochlear implant operation and my hearing and speech have improved.

Has being deaf caused you any problems in guiding?
I joined 5th Bingley Brownies at the age of seven. The other Brownies knew I was deaf, and it wasn’t a problem at all. I wasn’t taught sign language so I just had to speak up! At Guides, we’d go camping but it was never an issue, until the evenings perhaps, when it was dark and listening and lip-reading became more difficult.

What about now you’re a Leader?
I have had no trouble at all with my unit, the 10th Mirfield Guides (Yorkshire). They’ve all learned to speak to me clearly and have always loved my ideas. My Guides have fundraised £110 for the Ear Trust as they know that I’ve improved because of the cochlear implant and I have raised £550.

Has your condition ever stopped you doing anything?
No way! I joined the Venture Scouts and gained the highest award, Queen’s Scout, and went to India and Pakistan to attend the 10th Asia Pacific Jamboree. I became a Guide Leader in 1987 and have had numerous roles since. I was even with the 1st Brussels Guides (BGIFC) for three years when my husband was working for NATO HQ in Belgium.

Have you been able to travel?
Oh yes, I’ve been to Australia on my own and spent three months in Borneo in the jungle with Raleigh International – I was the only deaf person out of 250 people but we all got on really well. Communication is not a problem for me – people learn to look at my face when they speak to me.

Do you think you’ve helped other people understand deafness?
Yes, I’m currently visiting units in our District to give them a talk about my deafness and teach them to do the manual alphabet. We also have one partially hearing Guide in our unit so we all know what to do – look at her when speaking and don’t hold your hand, or any object, in front of your face.

What do you do outside of guiding?
I love the outdoors, cross-stitching and watching my sons play hockey. I also love cooking, particularly Indian, Chinese and Thai food.

The Ear Trust is trying to raise £2 million to build a new centre in Bradford. Go to www.ycis.org.uk for more details.

This was published in the "Guiding" Magazine (August 2008 issue) which is a national magazine for all Leaders in the UK and in BGIFC.