Special Needs & Hearing Impairments

My daughter was born with hearing loss, it progressively got worse. About 1 1/2 years ago she went deaf completely. At that point, she started sleep walking. It only happened now and then, maybe once every 2-3 months. Well lately it has been happening almost daily. She is 9 years old, when I ask her what is going on she just looks at me like I am crazy...

Anyone experience this? It might not even be hearing loss related. I haven't called her doctor yet, but I will if this continues much longer. She doesn't seem scared or upset, almost like she is awake and "should be" walking around!

Thanks!

Michelle

It must kind of alarming seeing your DD sleepwalking! Is she taking any medications? I've often heard that can trigger it.

It would be interesting to see if her hearing loss had something to do with it. I've never heard of it but maybe our CL will have some incite....Then again, maybe you just have a plain old sleepwalker. ;)

Keep us updated! (HUGS)

Hi and welcome!  First off, I'm sorry about her hearing loss, and secondly the sleep walking!  I can understand how frustrating this must be!  I can honestly say that I have never heard of a connection between sleep walking and hearing loss.  I truely believe the two are seperate issues, and from what little I know about sleep walking there is nothing you can do.  I hope you have talked to your pediatrician about this.  In the mean time I would put up a gate in her bedroom doorway when she is sleeping.  This may work, it may not.  I had a friend (adult) who slept walked and would open doors, walk down stairs, and even left her appartment only to find herself outdoor in her PJ's!

PLease keep us posted, because I'm sure you are not the only parent experiencing this!

HUGS.

Maria :)                

~~How very softly you tiptoed into my world, and only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footsteps left upon my heart. ~~

~~A part of you has grown in me, and, so you see, it's you and me, forever, and never apart;  maybe in distance but never in heart~~

      

                     

 

                        

                              

 

                               

Thank you both for your replies and support! I just picked up a gate today, hopefully that will keep her from leaving her room. I spoke with a nurse at the dr's office, she suggested I talk to DD's ENT, so I called and left a message there. But the nurse did not think it's anything to do with the hearing loss. Recently we moved, and she thinks that may have triggered it (we moved about 3 months ago). I can see that, I mean my DD has a hard time making friends because of the hearing loss, so maybe she is still struggling with that. She has bilateral cochlear implants, (got them about a year ago), and is in main stream school. So maybe it's the new school like the nurse said.

She also suggested that I have DD keep a journal by her bed, maybe she will write down or draw something instead of wander around. I will discuss that with DD today when she gets home. I guess that I just may have one of those sleepwalkers! My brother was one for years when we were little!

Thanks again for your help!

Michelle

"Recently we moved, and she thinks that may have triggered it (we moved about 3 months ago)"

Ah yes! That makes sense.

"She also suggested that I have DD keep a journal by her bed, maybe she will write down or draw something instead of wander around."

Excellent idea.

On a side note, when my brother and I were young, he was a sleep "talker". I used to have full conversations with him, and he wouldn't remember them the next morning. Amazing how our sleeping brains work sometimes. ;)

I wish you and your DD lots of luck!