My child was born with hearing loss

All expectant parents dream about having a healthy child who does not have to struggle with problems at birth. When expecting their second child, Norwegian Gro Rugseth and her husband Jens were no exception. Their daughter, Guro, however, was born with a hearing handicap. Gro and Jens had their first daughter Kaia in 1989. She was healthy and normal in every respect. So, when in 1992 Gro became pregnant again, they had certain expectations for their new baby. "There is no history of hearing impairment in our families. Naturally, I thought about my child's future, but I was not overly worried. I tried to think about different kinds of problems, but you can never be fully prepared." Pregnancy and birth went as planned. However, soon after giving birth Gro Rugseth began to wonder about her daughter's reactions. "She was very slow to react and not very active, so we consulted our doctor to find out what was wrong. A number of tests were made. Her sense of hearing was tested several times, but each time the doctors stated that everything was all right." As part of their efforts to find out what was wrong with Guro, the doctors ordered a scan to determine whether she might be suffering from brain damage. The scan, however, was negative. For 10 months, Gro Rugseth tried to find out what was wrong with her daughter. 10 months which left their mark on all the family. "Those 10 months were characterised by a suppressed feeling of stress where you oppress your own intuition. It was a very depressing period. While pregnant I had been wondering whether everything would be all right once she was born, but it had never occurred to me that she could be hearing-impaired. It was a tough period where I alternated between feelings of hope and desperation as the future of my child was uncertain." Then, after 10 very long months, the doctors finally came up with a diagnosis. Gro Rugseth's daughter was born with a hearing handicap. "It was a complete shock. It had never occurred to us that she might be hearing-impaired. We were devastated. We could do nothing ourselves to help our daughter. It was a long, hard struggle before we were all happy again. It was only once I began learning sign language that I felt once again like a competent mother who could communicate with her children." Today, Gro Rugseth is the mother of three. The youngest was also born with a hearing handicap. Despite these problems and after a long uphill battle the family now functions normally. Nevertheless, the process has been beneficial for both the family and Gro Rugseth. "I thought I was protected and untouchable, but suddenly my life took a new turn. I have learned humility towards other people's predicaments. Also, I feel very closely connected to my children. Our children's hearing impairment is a freak of nature, but today I feel that our quality of life is better because we have learned from the responsibility placed upon us!"