What a wonderful story!!! Its similar to what my mother said to me recently. When I was diagnosed at three years old, she said she wanted me to learn sign. The doctors told her I would stop talking if I learned sign. She argued but they convinced her that I would be better off if I was put into an oral only mainstream program without a hearing aid and forced to learn to listen. I did fine with this until I went to fourth grade in a new school. That school suggested I be transferred over to our local deaf school. My mom told the doctors and said she thought it would be good for me. They again convinced her that I'd stop talking and that I would be fine in my current placement without any assistance. I changed schools in 5th grade and promptly failed the grade. The doctors ordered an FM system and said I'd be fine. Well, I hated that stupid, clunky, and rather large FM thing and refused to wear it. I somehow managed to pass through the rest of my schooling fine. As an adult I was finally given my first hearing aid for my worst ear and sent to a speech therapist. I tried to be able to function with just the one aid for 5 years. I went to a new audi last year and they said my problem was that I needed two aids and I have been ok since. My mom regrets all the problems I have had and wishes she would have sent me to the deaf school. She wants to have her, my son and I enroll in ASL classes now and she doesn't care if I never talk again. I feel bad that she has held on to 27 years of regret. I'm glad to know she cared and I am very upset with the doctors who did this to us.
