My name is Tom.

I was diagnosed with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss in January 2023. I currently use hearing aids that improve my hearing by 40%.

This allows me to hear speech and other sounds.

Unfortunately, the late diagnosis, as well as the hearing loss itself, causes me to have significantly delayed speech development. I don't build sentences, I communicate with gestures and know about 50 words. I work hard in classes with a speech therapist, an educationalist, a psychologist, and rhythmics. I have several meetings a week with therapists.

There is a chance for me to go on a rehabilitation camp to the World Hearing and Speech Centre in Kajetany in the summer. I would have daily

6 hours of classes:

Surdologopaedic classes

- Auditory training - development of auditory memory, stimulation and stimulation of auditory functions.

- Auditory and music classes

- Psycho-educational classes

- Hand and foot therapy classes

- Sensory classes

This is a great opportunity for me.

In addition, I will have the opportunity to have an otolaryngology consultation at this highly regarded centre. Unfortunately, the cost of this course for me and one parent is £5500.

I can't take advantage of the funding from PFRON because our PCPR subsidises only 14-day periods. And I don't want to go on holiday, I just want to work with therapists to finally start talking to my parents. They are waiting for this so much. I love them deeply, and I want to finally tell them!

Because of my hearing loss, I am starting to exhibit more and more behaviours from the autism spectrum, and I am uncontrollable during over-stimulation. It's very difficult for Mum to calm me down, and she needs Dad's support. That's why we all have to go to this camp - I'll have a lot of activities there, and that will cause overstimulation.

Dad has to pay an extra 2,000 zloty for his attendance, which adds up to about 8,000 zloty.

It's also an important time for Mum and Dad. There they will meet parents struggling with the same thing, they will have the opportunity to consult my current condition with experienced therapists, and I will also be monitored for autism, and this is very important now.

Thank you good Man for reading this. If you want to support me on this journey, I hug you in my heart thanking you again.

Stay warm, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

I hug you in my heart

Tom