ODYSSEY - When the Educator Is a Parent: A Perspective and Some Helpful Hints

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Miles

Narrative essay by Jessica Wiley about parenting through a child’s hearing loss, drawing on her experience as a special educator and literacy inclusion teacher. Wiley describes early diagnosis, fitting of hearing aids, and the strategies she used to build language exposure before and after birth. The piece highlights family routines, use of spoken language alongside sign language, and coordinated therapy supports, including speech and occupational therapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

When the Educator Is a Parent

Diagnosis and early intervention

Building language through everyday routines

Finding resources and therapy support

Jessica Wiley, EdS, is a literacy inclusion teacher for the South Conway County School District in Morrilton, Ark.; a board member of Arkansas Hands & Voices, a nonprofit organization of professionals and parents working with families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing; and themother of a hard of hearing child. She is also a Parent Mentor with Community Connections, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Wiley welcomes questions and comments about this article at jessica.wiley@ [sccsd.org](sccsd.org). ODYSSEY When the Educator Is a Parent: A Perspective and Some Helpful Hints By Jessica Wiley I’m a special educator whose classroom was next door to the homeroom of my hard of hearing son. I had him as one of my students for special education literacy three times a week. I was fortunate to have the professional background, personal knowledge, and treasured relationships with colleagues—all of which helped me navigate the experience of giving birth to a child with hearing loss. What started out as a lone assignment quickly grew into a team effort! I share some of what I learned below. I have always said that my teaching career prepared me to be a parent. Little did I knowhow true that would be. I began teaching in 2009. Two years later, in 2011, I became a mother for the first time when my daughter Katalyn was born, and then again in 2014 when my son Kristopher was born. Both of Kristopher’s newborn hearing screenings showed that he had hearing loss, and a month later we were referred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where an auditory brainstem response confirmed my biggest fear: hearing loss. At 2 months, Kristopher was fitted with his first pair of hearing aids. Soon after came the next pair and a plethora of appointments, equipment, information, and batteries. As so many hearing parents know, the diagnosis of hearing loss begins a wild and sometimes difficult journey for the whole family. As a teacher, I knew that a child’s first experience with language is before they are born; hearing children recognize their mother’s voice while still in the womb. After Kristopher’s diagnosis, I wasn’t sure what he could hear, but I was determined to expose him to language. During bottle feedings, I would talk to him about how he was a greedy eater. While doing laundry, he would watch me go by, and I would talk to him, carrying soiled loads of clothing and lots of love. During trips, I would speak to Kristopher from the driver’s seat, showing him the passing billboards, and Katalyn would identify the colors Photos courtesy of Jessica Wiley 2024 Far left: Kristopher (age 2) sitting on the couch watching television with Mommy (2016). Left: Kristopher (age 4) reading one of his favorite books and riding in the car with Mommy (2018). and types of cars that whizzed by. As he got older, we talked to me. all the time, playing “The Floor is Lava” as he and his sister I used speech. My husband, other family members, used a myriad of tactics to move around a room without countless therapists, and I had many conversations about stepping on the floor. We talked while eating pizza, and we incorporating sign language. However, I focused on spoken talked while watching movies in pretend language, confident that Kristopher forts. Our imaginations would take over, would excel in his use of speech. and words would spill out in silliness and Somehow, I found resources and joy. I had to be strategic. guidance. The learning situation I I had to be strategic. Kristopher was a wanted, Pediatrics Plus Developmental wriggler, and lights and movement Kristopher was a Preschool, had a waiting list, but by caught his attention, but when he heard wriggler, and lights age 2, Kristopher was in full my voice, he redirected and focused. I attendance. He received speech would put my face close to his and talk, and movement caught therapy, occupational the

FAQs

How does Jessica Wiley describe the beginning of the hearing loss journey for her family?

She explains that after newborn hearing screenings and confirmation at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the family enters a difficult journey involving appointments, equipment, and information. She frames the experience as something that affects the whole family.

What strategies did Wiley use to help her son develop language?

She describes deliberately exposing her son to language during daily activities like bottle feedings, laundry, trips, and play. She also notes using spoken language and sign language while adjusting interactions to keep his attention.

What support systems helped Wiley after she returned to work?

She discusses arranging daycare, seeking help from Arkansas School for the Deaf Outreach Support Services, and coordinating early intervention. She also describes weekly therapists providing speech and occupational therapy through outreach programs.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Miles