Ling Sounds

Over the last year, Marlee has had speech therapy in our home once a week. During each session the therapist conducts what is called the Ling Six Sound test.  It is a quick listening test created by Daniel Ling who was a hearing loss "guru".

"The Ling-6 sounds represent various different speech sounds from low to high pitch (frequency). They help to test your child’s hearing and to check they have access to the full range of speech sounds necessary for learning language." This quote came from Cochlear's website.

                                          Here are the ling six sounds: 

These sounds are a good, quick way to test hearing because they are all found within the speech spectrum and span from low to high frequencies.  It is often used as a way to make sure hearing aids or cochlear implants are working correctly. In our case, we first began using the test to see if hearing aids were providing Marlee with any speech sounds. The goal in the Ling 6 test is, of course, to turn to the sound when it is made. Marlee was tested weekly but never turned to any of these sounds consistently with her hearing aids. She turned to "ah" a couple of times, but nothing to indicate she was always hearing that sound. 

After Marlee's implants were activated, we continued the test each week during therapy. Slowly but surely she began turning to some of the sounds. It was SO exciting to see her turn after months of seeing her continue to look strait ahead, not hearing a sound. On January 16th, Marlee turned to ALL of the Ling sounds!!! That's a big deal! Four months earlier she was not hearing any sounds, and now she is hearing even the soft sound of "s". 

The next week during therapy, I videoed the Ling 6 test. We owe a big thank you to our sweet therapist, Miss Elizabeth, for all of her hard work with Marlee!! We love when she comes to see us each week! 

Here are the six, short videos:

                      

So, now that Marlee is turning to these sounds does that mean she's good to go? The answer to that is not at all! Hearing the Ling six sounds is big step that suggests the implants are giving her full access to sound, and now we can start concentrating on all of the complexities that go along with learning to listen and to speak. Listening will never be normal or come naturally to Marlee, but that is why we will continue therapy and she will soon begin going to school five days a week. Turning to these six sounds is one of the first of many miracles we will experience as Marlee progresses through her hearing journey!