The power of sound
The power of sound
One of the things that made a big difference for our child LB was sound. This included reading, singing or listening to music. During the darkest days that we experienced in hospital, one thing remained constant – LB could continue to hear us.
Even when LB was less responsive due to medication, there were signs he was listening. We could see on the various hospital monitors he would become calmer when he heard the sound of our voices. To this end, I used to read to LB on a daily basis. It doesn’t sound like much, but as a parent when there is little else you can do to comfort your child you take what you can get. When you are unclear on your child’s ability to see, sounds provide vital communication options.
Keep the faith in sound
The sound and power of your voice can give your child a sense of familiarity. This is particularly important in what will be a very confusing situation for them in a hospital or medical setting. I read to LB first thing in the morning, at various times during the day and at night. It can be very challenging to read when you don’t get much feedback. Before I could see evidence that LB was responding, I started getting a creeping doubt. There was an overwhelming feeling that I was being selfish and was just reading to him for my own benefit.
My advice to anyone in a similar situation is don’t let the doubt creep in. Keep the faith that your child may be able to hear your sounds. Even if their hearing is damaged or their response is muted, the fact that their parent or carer is nearby can help bring a stabilising influence to what your child may be experiencing.
What sounds should I read to my child?
In a sense, it almost doesn’t matter. Most hospitals will have some children’s books available to borrow that have been donated. There are child friendly stories that can be accessed on the internet. I read the Gruffalo so many times that I effectively memorised the entire book! There are so many classics, and I will look to signpost some in a future article.
Sing, sing and sing again
Likewise, the sound of singing can be a great way to lift spirits. I used to sing a rotation of nursery rhymes to LB mixed with some other children’s songs. The nurses and healthcare assistants used to come and join in on occasion, which made for a lovely atmosphere! Even now, as we have settled into a daily routine, singing to LB is something I still do. I also strongly encourage his carers to do so. There are also some fantastic charities out there who can help with this. The lovely people at Spread a Smile often visit children in hospitals, and can sometimes also offer virtual singing sessions.
Musical sounds
Musical sounds have a positive effect on those living with brain injuries. Like with singing, some trial and error is good to establish what your child’s preferences are. Popular channels on YouTube can be helpful with this. Try a variety from Dancing Fruit (images of fruit ‘dancing’ to music) to more conventional favourites. Don’t forget CocoMelon or Baby Shark! This also opens the door to music therapy for your child. With thanks to the Amber Trust, music therapy is something that LB enjoys and responds positively to. I will add further information on music in a future article.
Tonieboxes
There is also some technology that can help with sounds for parents and carers of children with a brain injury. One of these is called a Toniebox. They play preset stories, songs and music rated by professional actors that you put on top of the Toniebox to activate. This helps expose your child to a variety of sounds and voices other than your own. There are options to personalise material, so you can record your own voice or that of other loved ones to provide your child comfort when you are away. I will look to do some further articles on Tonies at a future date. We have a fair few for LB from the UK, USA and Australia!