‘A few words of sign language can make a deaf person’s day’

CARNOUSTIE youngster Oliver Bosch has been through a lot in his life.

The courageous 10-year-old is profoundly deaf and has battled through a series of operations.

Despite his brave spirit, mum Jemma explains as time goes by, Oliver has started to feel more isolated from the world.

We find out why and share his special message to our readers this Deaf Awareness Week.

Oliver has a congenital condition known as Goldenhar syndrome.

His auditory nerve is missing, which means sound cannot get through to his brain.

Although he’s not able to be treated with cochlear implants, he has an auditory brain stem implant fitted to help him to hear.

Jemma says: “Oliver is doing great now.

“He can discriminate between certain sounds such as the phone ringing or the doorbell going and has started to ask in sign ‘what’s that noise’ if he hears something.

“We still travel every year to have him mapped as his brain is still growing and the implant can move and stimulate other parts of his body.

“For example, he has some electrodes switched off because they made him cough.

“He still has balance issues and always will, but in general he is a tough little cookie.”

Sadly though, the youngster often feels isolated.

Jemma continues: “Oliver is only recently beginning to realise he’s different. He asks if people can sign, when we learned to sign, and if we knew it before he was born.

“He has one good friend at school Ella, who is a great signer and we gave her a little BSL book for Christmas to help her and Oliver.

“He’s a bit lost if she’s ever off school.”

Not very many children are learning sign language at school, she explains.

“Isolation is a real problem. You