To: bethha@SLP.org
From:hpotter@magic.org

Beth,

Just to let you know, we did have Joey evaluated for speech and language and they referred her to an audiologist for a hearing evaluation. The audiologist there said that Joey had a severe hearing loss in both ears and that she would need hearing aids and also speech therapy. We haven't been back to the SLP yet for any therapy, but I was just wondering what the prognosis is for Joey's education. Will she learn to read? It just seems like learning to spell and read and write when you can't hear at all would be really hard. I know Joey's speech therapist will eventually be able to give us these answers, but I just thought you may have a rough idea of what we should expect.

I'm sure that, as a speech therapist who's seen kids like Joey before, you know how the parents feel when they get news like this. I guess the optimistic side of me is looking for hope in answers to these questions and is what keeps me from being overwhelmed. Then there are times when all I can do is worry and my heart breaks for Joey as I conjure up worst-case scenarios. Anyway....I know I'm rambling, so I'll stop for now.

Any help you can offer in the way of answers, though, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Henry Potter