Friday, September 28, 2007

Brain wave monitor?


Are there a number of small children going around wearing brain wave monitors that look like cochlear implants? I wasn't aware that such a thing existed. When Noah's brain waves were monitored they covered his head in a bunch of wires, sand, lemon juice, and gauze. A CI shaped monitor would've been so much easier! First there was the woman who very knowledgably pointed to Noah's CI and said "That's one of those brain wave monitors" to the general public in a doctor's waiting room. She started to explain all about it, but I missed out because we had to see the doctor. Later we met the "He can't come through the metal detector or his brain will stop" airport security gaurd. Today we met the "That's a cute monkey sticker on his brain wave monitor" woman at BJs check out. The best part was when I said "It's a cochlear implant. He's deaf" she nodded knowingly and said "That happened to a little girl at my church. She had to get tubes." Yeah. Ok. Seriously, though. Is there such a thing as a brain wave monitor that looks like this?

I'd hate to continue thinking these people are crazy if I'm just uninformed.

8 comments:

Nathali said...

These people absolutely have no idea what they are talking about, but I have to admit that before I found out Michael was hearing impaired, I didn't really know what they looked like either.

I have a question, do you use DVD's to teach Noah sign language? If so, which DVD do you like best?

Thanks!!!

Johnette said...

People amaze me!! Even if you don't know what it is, which is probably a good percent of the general public, how do you immediatley jump to "brain wave monitor"? Here's your sign!! :P

Anonymous said...

I've never heard that before, but I have heard people think that Ethan is wearing a blue-tooth phone. I seriously doubt that there is such a thing as a brain wave monitor that you wear around outside of the hospital, other than the EEG that your little guy had in that first picture. People are funny!

And since Nathali asks, we LOVE Singing Times videos, they are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Hi again,

Sure, you can add a link to us. I just added your link to our site as well. So cool to have found you, thanks to Berke Outspoken (saw you in the comments).

You've inspired me to work with more video...it's so fun to see and hear your little guy.

Emily said...

My husband and I got a kick out of all the comments. We used to get stupid comments all the time about Dakota's trach and that's a far more common thing than a CI I would think.

Shannon said...

hahaha! The best one for me so far was a lady who ASKED what it was. I said its a cochlear implant. And she said "oh ya I used to have those when I was little". LMAO hmmm so you had them and then they took them out?? Some people...

What CI does he have? It looks different than Ashtons.

Jennifer said...

You have to laugh huh? Sometimes people say the stupidest things... frankly, even if I didn't know what his implant was I wouldn't even think to say it was a 'brain wave monitor'...

and btw - the monkey sticker is cute! hehe

Anonymous said...

I think you should tell them that yes, it is a brain wave monitor, but when you are out in public you don't make him wear the tinfoil hat that goes with it. ha ha ha! What can I say? People are idiots. And no, there are no "brain wave monitors" that people wear when they're up, alert, and functioning!!!