- Hey, boys and girls,
it is so good to see you.
Paxton and I are glad you are here.
Say hi, Paxton.
Hey, Paxton.
So today's story is about hearing loss.
Have you ever been swimming,
and maybe got swimmer's ear?
So that maybe even got an infection out of it?
And then ended up having to go on medication?
Now, sometimes it'll clear up on its own.
But, other times,
you know, you have to have medication to be able
to get rid of it because it gets,
it starts hurting really bad.
Well, today's story is called, "Ears Like Cramps."
So if you think about your grandmother, your granddad,
you might notice sometimes that they
have something on their ear.
It's called a hearing aid.
And very often, you know,
it's not uncommon to see older folks wear hearing aids
because as you get older hearing does decline.
And everybody wants to hear right.
You wouldn't want to not be able to hear, right?
I mean, you need your voice obviously
to be able to communicate.
But you being to be able to hear
what the other person is saying, right?
So hearing is really, really important.
So the story is called "Ears Like Cramps."
What do you think is going on?
Let's find out.
Okay, here we go.
"Paxton, can you turn the TV up?" Ask Owen Owl,
as the friends enjoy their favorite show,
Animal Friends Together.
"I can hardly hear it."
"I think it's loud enough," said Liam Mountain Lion.
"You going deaf," Liam tease.
"Of course, I'm not going deaf," snapped Owen.
"The TV is just not loud enough.
We can turn it up some," said Paxton Prairie Dog.
" I don't mind."
"I still can't hear it, I'm going home," said Owen.
"I can walk with you," said Eli Elk.
"I'm supposed to be home in 15 minutes anyway."
"I'm leaving too," said Paxton.
"We'll see you tomorrow," he said,
as the friends left for home.
The three friends parted ways at the crossroad.
Owen stopped when he saw Roscoe raccoon
coming out of the brush.
"I called you, didn't you hear me?" ask Roscoe.
"Nope, I didn't.
I must've been daydreaming," Owen said cheerfully
while trying to hide how frightened he was.
"It's okay," said Roscoe.
"I'm here at home anyway, it's time for dinner."
"Me too.
I'll talk with you later."
Owen watched while Roscoe went in to the thicket,
and then shook his head, really hard.
"What is wrong with me?
Why didn't I hear him call me?
Is Liam right?
Am I going deaf?"
"It's about time you come home," said Owen's mom.
"I was beginning to get worried."
"Why?"
"You were supposed to be home an hour ago.
I told you before you left to only be gone about an hour,
because your dad and I have plans for tonight."
"You did?
I didn't hear you say that."
"What is wrong with you?
You haven't been paying attention for days now."
"I don't know.
I feel kind of funny sometimes," said Owen.
"What do you mean funny?"
Owen stopped and stared out over the field.
"I don't know.
Just funny."
"Well, there's no time to worry about it now,
here's your dinner.
Your dad and I will return in a couple hours.
And Olivia, next door,
will keep an eye out for you.
If you need anything, call her."
"I'll be fine," said Owen.
"I'm sure you will," said his mother walking out the door.
Owen ate his dinner and flew to the branch
above their home.
He drank in the beauty of this place he called home.
When in an instant, he found himself on the ground,
unable to move.
"Aunt Olivia," called Owen.
"Aunt Olivia, I need your help."
"You've broken your wing," said Dr. Avery Antelope
a little while later.
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing, honest.
I just flew up onto the branch above our home.
I've done that all my life.
And then I had that funny feeling again.
And the next thing I knew I was on the ground."
"What funny feeling?"
"I don't know.
Just funny.
Not ha ha ha funny,
but, weird funny."
"He mentioned that funny feeling earlier today,"
said Mama Orly Owl.
Who arrived after aunt Olivia phoned her
about the accident.
"Hmm, let me check a few things," said Dr. Avery
Dr. Avery looked into Owen's eyes,
and then checked Owen's ears.
"Hmm," said Dr. Avery,"
have you been having hearing issues?"
"I don't know," he answered thinking hard.
"I didn't hear Roscoe call me earlier today.
And I did want the TV louder when we were watching it.
So maybe," he said shrugging his shoulders.
"Oh," he said, feeling the pain from the broken wing.
"It looks like you have something called otitis media
and maybe even some bigger issues."
"What is otitis media?" Asked Owen.
"Otis media is an infection in the ear,
where fluid builds up causing hearing loss
and even, sometimes balance issues,
which is what might've happened to you on your branch today.
You lost your balance causing you to fall."
"He's had this problem before,
even often when he was younger.
But it's been awhile," said Mama.
"Will it go away, Dr. Avery?" Asked Owen.
"Will I be able to hear right again?"
"I believe you will.
But we might have to look at some other options
to be able to help you hear."
"You mean there are long-term effects
from this problem. Dr. Avery?" Asked Mama.
"I'm afraid so," said, Dr. Avery, gravely.
"This repeated problem with fluid buildup and infection
can cause damage to the eardrum.
The bones in the ear and nerves also can be affected,
causing permanent hearing loss.
I need to run more tests.
But I'm reasonably certain Owen
is going to need hearing aids."
"What's a hearing aid?" Ask Owen.
"It's a device worn on or near the ear
that allows people to hear.
It has a special microphone that picks up sounds
that travel through a small plastic tube,
that also helps hold the hearing aid in place."
"You mean like gramps wears?"
"Yes," answer Papa Orrin Owl.
"That's for old people," said Owen scowling.
"I don't want to wear that.
Kids would think I'm weird or something."
"It's not a matter of being weird.
It's a matter of hearing or not hearing," said Papa.
"There's a new kind of hearing aid," explained Dr. Avery.
"That should correct the problem, yet be hardly visible."
"Can I just have medicine again
and not have the hearing aid?"
"I think this time there is enough hearing loss
that you will need to use a hearing aid
if you want to hear well.
Let me do some tests and we'll see."
Several weeks later, after a variety of hearing screenings,
Owen went to see Dr. Avery.
"Here are your hearing aids," said Dr. Avery
as Owen sat on the table.
"Will they really make me hear better?" Owen asked.
"Yes, they will.
Your hearing loss is not as severe as some children,
but it is progressive.
It seems you have some bone structure issues
that is also part of the original ear infection problem.
But we should be able to manage your hearing loss now."
Dr. Avery placed the tiny hearing aids in Owen's ears.
"It feels funny," said Owen.
"You will get used to it in no time.
And you won't be falling off branches anymore,"
said Dr. Avery patting Owen's wing sling.
"How is your wing feeling?"
Owen's eyes brightened.
"I heard you really clear," he said,
ignoring Dr. Avery's questions.
"How did you do that?"
"It's your hearing aids.
They will need some adjusting.
But we will get it just right
and you'll hear as good as anyone."
"I can't wait to tell Paxton and the others,"
said Owen excitedly.
"I'll be able to hear the TV now,
and miss my remake at school.
And hear everybody when they talk to me.
This is awesome," he added, "Just awesome."
Do you think you would be excited if you could hear?
If you had to wear hearing aids again?
Or not again,
but had to wear hearing aids.
I know sometimes,
the thought of wearing something like that
is frightening.
Because it makes you feel different.
It makes you feel like you look different.
Papa Owl was right, wasn't he?
It's not about looking different,
it's about hearing better.
And sometimes, you may see a child wearing a hearing aid.
Most of the time, you won't, they're real little now.
And I'm not saying you can't see them at all.
But they're so small that,
most children don't even notice it
when another child wears a hearing aid.
But what's more important is you being able to hear
and taking care of those ears, what do you think?
So the next time you get an earache,
and have to go see the doctor,
hopefully, you can just get medication for it.
But if you ever see a child with hearing aid,
be kind.
It's okay.
They just want to be able to hear just like you.
So that's it.
Paxton and I are going to go.
But you must say, bye Paxton.
Bye, Paxton.
We are so glad that you shared some of your day with us.
You are very, very special.
And we are so happy you spent time with us.
We'll talk to you later.
Bye.