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Kathleen Colella: You're listening to Amplified, presented by Lurie Children's. Transcripts of this and all episodes can be found at luriechildrens.org/amplified. Daughter, sister athlete, teammate, friend, audiologist. Over the course of Amplified, we have heard Katie talk about many of the roles and relationships in her life. And today we will hear about two other important ones, wife and mother. At the beginning of Amplified, I mentioned how communication is so critical for any relationship to be successful regardless of the hearing status. So I was excited to sit down again with Katie and her husband, Chris Farnsworth.

Chris Farnsworth: My name's chris Farnsworth. I am a firefighter paramedic and I've been married to Katie for coming up on four years now.

Kathleen Colella: So Chris and Katie, how did you two meet?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: At a bar.

Chris Farnsworth: At a bar downtown.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah. Um, I was out with some of my girlfriends and, um, as chance would have it, my girlfriend's roommate, uh, knew Chris and Chris and his friends happened to be at the same bar. I think you guys were already there. And, um, uh, she introduced us, then the rest is kind of history.

Kathleen Colella: And I remember you sharing before that being at bars was sometimes hard for you. Um, how was it talking to him in that first bar that first night?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: You know, I think that I instantly was attracted to him and, um, he had, uh, a great outgoing personality and he was easy to hear, you know, I also think sometimes it's, that's almost what just does it too. Like I just felt like I was really connecting with him because I was hearing him really well.

Kathleen Colella: Okay. What do you remember about Katie that first night?

Chris Farnsworth: I was amazed that she has a hearing loss.

Kathleen Colella: Did you know that first night?

Chris Farnsworth: She told me that first night, but we were at the bar it's a loud bar and she told me, and I had no idea. We were 30 minutes into a conversation. I had no idea. I thought it was amazing how well she was doing. I couldn't tell at the time, but she was reading my lips while we were talking. Uh, and I just thought it was amazing how well she did in such a loud environment

Kathleen Colella: Before you met Katie, had you ever known anybody with hearing loss that you were close to?

Chris Farnsworth: Uh, my grandfather, uh, had hearing aids when I was younger. Uh, he passed away when I was pretty young though. So I didn't have a lot of experience with anyone with hearing loss.

Kathleen Colella: And now four years later, happy anniversary. Um, how much do you feel like you've learned?

Chris Farnsworth: An amazing amount. Uh, I mean, thinking back on it prior to doing this podcast had, um, you don't realize how much you're learning at the time and the amount of things like how life changes, the amount of things that you do, because Katie does have a hearing loss and they just become second nature. Um, so like for instance, when we were living downtown, uh, prior to being married, we would always take walks and I would always walk on her left-hand side, uh, because her left side was her better side to hear from. Um, and then just communication and, and patience. Um, I've learned a ton, uh, in respect to that, because there's a lot of instances where I think that I've gotten my point across and Katie just hadn't heard me, or just only caught parts of what I had said. So, um, really working on communication, which is extremely important in our relationship. Um, I think, uh, her hearing loss has had, has definitely helped me along with that.

Kathleen Colella: Okay. And you two have a daughter who's two, and you're expecting your second, um, next month. So tell me, what has it been like being parents together?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: I think that, you know, the first moment that I felt like, oh, my gosh we're parents was, um, when they w when they came in to do the newborn hearing screening, and it was such an emotional thing, um, you know, that, of course, if Nora had a hearing loss, it was going to be so okay. Because we don't look what I do with my profession and the success that we have seen with children early identified. Um, but Chris and I decided to not undergo genetic testing beforehand, um, because it wasn't going to change our desire to have children. Um, and so when they did the newborn hearing screening, I just remember Chris holding my hand and it was just a moment of we're in this together, no matter what happens.

So when she passed, you know, I almost felt guilty for being relieved because I also didn't want to, you know, if she hadn't passed and I had a hearing loss, we were going to figure this out together and she was going to, she, you know, whatever was thrown our way, we were gonna figure it out together.

And we had the resources and the support. Um, but when she passed and I just remember looking at Chris and it was just a moment, I feel like that was our first, you know, obstacle as parents and she was 12, you know 12 hours old. Right. So, um, but I feel like since then, yes, communication has just been extraordinary. Um, and Chris has been such a natural working with me and my hearing loss since day one. Um, and you know, he, he always will repeat himself and, or try to say it in different way or never made me feel, you know, that I'm, you know, just creating like a bigger, bigger problem than, you know what I mean? Um, and so, yeah, you know, I think, especially with Nora, um, and with my hearing loss at night, that Chris has taken such a lion share for listening to her at night, you know, that I can really get some sleep because I just don't sleep as well. If I, of course, if I have my hearing aid or my implant in, because for the last 30 years, I haven't worn anything when I've been sleeping. Um, and so, you know, he has just been such a rock for me and I have just, I feel so incredibly lucky that I've met someone who is just incredibly supportive and has never made me feel different.

Chris Farnsworth: Thanks for not telling the part about me running across the hospital with the bear claws in my hand.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah, Chris. So now I'll tell Chris actually wasn't in the room when they came in to do the newborn hearing screening.

Chris Farnsworth: And we were anxiously awaiting it.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: We were really, you know, that was the one thing that we hadn't really talked about it, but of course it was on both of our minds. Um, and so the poor guy had just left the room to go get us some donuts. And, you know, the screener came in and I, and they were wonderful because I asked them to wait till Chris came back and I called him and, you know, he's sprinting through the hospital doughnuts in hand, you know, just because he knew it was important. Um, and I think that. You know, I remember after, um, Nora passed and Chris and I really did give like, uh, you know, uh, uh, uh, true like indication that we were really relieved. And I think that the screener, you know, was just kind of, um, a little bit curious about that because, you know, of course, most parents don't even realize that's part of the protocol for their babies before they leave the hospital. Um, and so, you know, I then kind of, you know, I was able to mention that I did have a hearing loss myself, and you could just tell that the screener then really understood that, of course this was a bigger deal for us than maybe the majority of the families that he was seeing that day.

Julie Radasevich: Didn't he thank you for not telling him. Cause he'd be like would've been anxious.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah. So, and he was really sweet and he just tried to make light of the conversation and just say, I'm really glad you waited to tell me you had a hearing loss until afterwards. Um, just, you know, but he did such a wonderful job and, and I think it's so awesome. You know, the, the newborn hearing screening is available and especially with our profession, working with young kids and, um, now just catching these kids so much earlier and we would have caught Nora. So, um, you know, I think it's been really cool from a, um, audiologist perspective to see her grow and develop language and awareness to sound and identification of sounds. An just true understanding. I mean, it's, it's really cool. Um, and you know, it's and to be able to do that together in different ways, you know, that there are some things, of course, I'm mom and, you know, we have that bond, but, but Chris and Nora just have an incredible bond too. And again, just his patience with me, if I'm not understanding something, um, you know, if I'm not hearing, Nora ask me a question, you know, he's really just really good at just letting me know, hey, I, you know, this is what's going on and try to rope me into the conversation.

Chris Farnsworth: I feel like it's made me more protective almost. Um, and I'm always, I feel like I'm always aware or trying to be aware of what's going on around us. Um, you know, when we're living downtown again, we would be out at certain social settings and it's a little bit louder. I can tell that Katie's having a hard time. So I would be part of a conversation, but half listening to what Katie was talking about and trying to help her if like she missed something. Cause you could, like your sister said, you can tell when she misses something. There's plenty of pretty classic stories when Katie comes back with a response we're like, where did that come from? Uh, but yeah, it's, it's definitely made me a bit more protective. Um, and let's just leave it at that.

Kathleen Colella: And, um, you know, Katie, you didn't get your, you got your cochlear implant as an adult. And so you were together and I'm trying to remember, were you already married when you got your cochlear implant or -

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: So we just, we had just gotten married. Um, Chris and I were together for about five years before we got married. Um, and so we already had a very great relationship. Um, and so I got my implant about three months after we got married.

Kathleen Colella: Okay. You know, how was that experience as new, I mean, you're newlyweds at that point, um, helping Katie through that transition?

Chris Farnsworth: I made the mistake of trying to teach Katie how to back into our garage in an alley right after she got the implant that did not over so hot. Uh, she was having difficulty hearing me, uh, very stressful. She's hearing, you know what sounds like was it like robots, right? Or like a mouse and she's, I'm trying to teach her what's going on. And I didn't understand at the time how difficult it was for her. I, I think I had a, um, I didn't have a clear understanding of, of what she was going through at the time. Uh, so that was my first like eyeopening experience with wow. What's going on right now. How long is this going to take for her hearing to come back to what was normal for her? Uh, but we worked through it. I, we spent a lot of time at night and she would ask me to make certain noises and, uh, you know, talk and just talk to her, read a book, or do something and help her brain figure out what's going on.

What noises that I was making. It's pretty amazing. I mean, how quick, what was it a couple months and you were starting to hear fairly normal again. Um, and I mean, it's a testament to her. She's brilliant thousand times smarter than I am. Um, but she put it together so quick and it was a lot of work. Um, but it just amazes me what she's gone through and what she continues to go through with this.

Kathleen Colella: What was that transition like initially going from a hearing aid to a cochlear implant?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Um, it was, it was a lot. And actually shortly before I was implanted, um, my, my left ear, as you know, everyone's kind of attributed, has been my stronger ear. Um, and there was one occasion where my left hearing aid was not working and my right one was, and I was just super disadvantaged and really feeling stressed out. Um, even as an a pediatric audiologist, you know, it was just something that I couldn't fix at home. I needed to send the device in. And actually that particular morning, Chris drove me to work because I was just really upset about it. Um, and so, uh, shortly after that, when it, after I had the implant, particularly the recovery as an adult was different. Um, you know, that I, it was still an outpatient procedure. I still went home, you know, pretty much immediately after surgery. Um, but even those first few days I was just not feeling great. Um, and, uh, I'll never forget, Chris giving me a pseudo spa. Um, hair wash because I couldn't get the incision wet and, you know, and he would take me around the block and I'm just kind of still in a daze and he's trying to talk to me. So I think again, just that connection and feeling so protected and so supported. Um, even that first week before I was even activated was amazing.

And then, um, of course he was at my initial activation as were both sets of parents, you know, both of his parents came to be with us as well. And that was awesome because I feel like just the support again, you know, that I felt my whole life has been incredible, um, that it was everything and nothing that I expected. Right. Like, from my background, I knew that I was walking into a completely unknown situation and I could hear absolutely nothing. I might feel like I understand voices, you know, any thing in between. And my first experience was everything just sounded like, um, keys on a piano or beeps. I could hear different noises, but I could not discriminate what they were. Who was talking, what they were saying, if someone was talking versus clapping, like, I, I couldn't understand any of that. And so it was very overwhelming. Um, and, you know, definitely took some time to adjust, but I think again, just having the, um, you know, support from, from Chris too, was just incredible to, you know, be able to work with me as after I was implanted.

Chris Farnsworth: And we had the incident with your head wrap. Do you remember that?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Oh, yes. Okay. So, um, you know, after you have a cochlear implant surgery, they wrap your head to protect the incision site and you usually need to leave it on for about 24 hours. So we were just shy of the 24 hour mark and I'm itchy. And, you know, I'm just begging him to take this thing off. And we were sitting in our bathroom. And I was sitting on the toilet and he's above me and he's helping cut off the wrap. And I think just because of how tight it was, then all of the blood kind of left my head after the wrap was taken off. And I actually started to kind of get a little faint.

Chris Farnsworth: She had a short syncopal episode, she was out for a couple of seconds.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah. And, um, you know, and I was totally fine. Um, but also Chris being a paramedic, he was like, okay, how do we, you know, so again, just, always feeling like I had somebody who was there and, and 110% keyed in every single day with my hearing loss. Um, no, that's my hope for anybody who has a hearing loss that, you know, when you're looking for a partner, um, that they find somebody who you know, you know, you can rely on because yes, there is something that makes everyday situations sometimes a little bit harder. And so to have someone who can be there to just really help you move forward, seamlessly is huge.

Kathleen Colella: How is it co-parenting with your demanding work schedules? Full-time clinician full-time firefighter?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: I think that like any two working parents, you need to find a way to collaborate and make it happen. Um, we are very fortunate that we, uh, have had the flexibility of grandparents helping with Nora. Um, but, you know, when we're both home, I also think that we try to alternate as much as we can to allow the other person to get a project done. Um, and at night, like I mentioned, you know, Chris really does take the lion's share of listening for Nora. You know, if she's up, um, especially now that we're past, you know, the bottle stage and everything like that, um, you know, that I feel really lucky that he's able to just help me in that situation.

Chris Farnsworth: Fortunately with my job, I'm kind of used to being up at night, so it's really not that big of a deal to me to get up. And, and I selfishly kind of like it when Nora gets up at night, cause you get the extra little time with her. If you got to hold her for a little bit, it's kind of nice at this stage, when she's two years old, you really don't get to do that much anymore. Um, it just happened the other night and it was good 30 minutes of time with Nora, uh, where she just kind of cuddling up with you. But, um, that's I, I think that's the one big difference for us with, you know, having another baby coming very soon is that when I'm home, katie has her implant and hearing aid out. And I'm the one listening for, uh, you know, if the baby's rustling around and moving, and as Katie will say, when she sleeps, when someone else's around, she's kind of just dead to the world. She's just out, doesn't hear a thing. Um, and was like that for 30 years prior to having children. So we've got a couple interesting funny stories where, uh, she does not wake up well, that's for sure. Um, there were times where, uh, Nora was crying. I would get up and our kind of routine is that I will get up, change the baby and then, you know, wake Katie up and hand her over so she can be fed. And, uh, there was one time where Katie rolled over. And she was holding her pillow like a baby after I had woken her up, and Katie looks up at me and then looks down at the pillow and freaks out because she thought that she was holding Nora, which was pretty classic. She had no idea what was going on. And then there was another time where I woke up Katie, or changed Nora came back in to get Katie, actually up to, to feed Nora and Katie just rolled over and looked at me. And Nora's, you know, a month old and she goes, did she eat? Yeah I fed her the pork chop out of the fridge.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Chris is like, I fed her the pork chop. And I said, you don't have to be so insensitive. Oh yeah. But, um, yeah, you know, just, and so it is interesting now thinking about doing this again and, um, the experiences that we've learned and.

Chris Farnsworth: Compared to guys that I, you know, I said, I work with, we talk all the time about this stuff and their experience, uh, you know, with early on with the kids is pretty hands-off. The wife gets up and does the feeding and goes back down and they're like, just stay asleep. You can't do anything here, but with us, it's a little bit of a different setup. And, um, I think I'm a little bit more involved. Um, But I kinda love it.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: He's, he's not giving himself enough credit. Chris is an incredibly involved dad, um, and always has been. And I think, you know, that initial involvement of course then has just evolved to, you know, with his schedule, he's home more with Nora than I am. Um, and so, you know, a lot of times it's, it's kind of breaking the traditional family you know, set up where Chris is kind of the primary parent a lot of times, um, and Nora, you know, oftentimes will gravitate towards him. Um, and I think that is just so special. Um, and, you know, well, how much of that is related to my hearing loss versus just who he is as a person it's tough to tease out, but I think that, um, that's really awesome, you know, that he is able to be so involved and that, you know, he enjoys it.

Kathleen Colella: I agree. I feel like you're setting the bar where it should be for any father, not even one in your situation. So I applaud you, Chris. Since you're married to Katie and know more about hearing loss than the average person, do you feel like it's ever affected you at work or it's ever translated over to anything at work?

Chris Farnsworth: It absolutely has helped me at work. Um, you know, I'm a paramedic as well, so on the ambulance, we'll go out and we'll respond to elderly patients that have hearing aids. I've had multiple calls with children that have had hearing aids and. I've been able to help out multiple times. You know, a lot of guys will look at it and I don't know what to do with this thing. If they, if the patient needs to have a hearing aid put in or, um, turn it on or something like that, uh, that along with knowing how to communicate, uh, with people who do have hearing loss, um, I've noticed at work, a lot of guys will just start talking louder and I make it a habit of standing right in front of the patient. Making sure that they could see my face because that's another thing that I've learned from Katie. Uh, and it has gotten me in trouble at times that she can read lips like crazy. Uh, I really have to watch out for that, but at work it's absolutely helped me as well. Um, and I, and I feel like I I'm able to get across to the patients a lot better. Uh, and you know, I brought that to my crews at work and I feel like it's made me a better, um, first responder. Absolutely.

Kathleen Colella: That's wonderful. Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Chris Farnsworth: So they brought up subtitles earlier that has actually changed my life for the better as well. We were actually, uh, just prior to, uh, Katie giving birth to Nora, we were watching Game of Thrones and that is an amazing show to watch with subtitles. Cause you miss it's amazing how much you don't even know that you're missing. Uh, when you're reading the subtitles on the screen. So every now and then I'll toss them on at work. And guys are like, what are you doing right now? Just wait. You'll, you'll see. It's amazing. Um,

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: And I think subtitles are good for relationships too, because inevitably someone misses something. Right. And rather than having to stop the show, what did they say? You know? Um, it's awesome. And I think it's definitely helped us out too, you know, that I don't have to just stop and say what and not to say that Chris wouldn't take the time to tell me, but you know, he's also trying to enjoy it and enjoy the show too. And you know, it's nice that it's just one less thing again, that we don't have to worry about.

Chris Farnsworth: So, one other thing that has definitely changed since Katie got her cochlear implant was her ability to stream straight to her ears, which is amazing. Uh, and at the same time can be frustrating.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Irritating.

Chris Farnsworth: For me, which, you know, I absolutely see how, you know, how amazing it is for her. She's never be able to just put in headphones and, you know, unplug and listen, listen to something like that. Um, so I try to respect that, but at the same time, you know, our, our setup is I do all of the cooking. Katie does the laundry. It works out great. Uh, but I'll, I would finish making dinner and I try to yell into Katie from the kitchen. Hey, dinner's ready. Come on in. And I'd yell it like three, four times, like what is going on? And this is shortly after she had gotten the cochlear implants and I'd have to walk into the room and she was just streaming. And I just, again, no idea what's going on around her. Um, so I flipped the lights on and off to get her attention for her to come into the kitchen to eat. Um,

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: It works, it works and you know, and God bless him cause he'll just flip the lights and then just look at me like pay attention and then, you know, but,

Chris Farnsworth: And I think, uh, along with that, like the protective side protective side comes out with me, um, even more because she can set the levels of how much she's hearing outside of the streamings. So, um, there was an incident when you were on the train going into work, um, going up the stairs, leaving the L stop and all of a sudden everybody turned around and was sprinting down the stairs. And Katie had no idea why. And, you know, they thought something was going on. Um, at the top of the stairs, turns out it was just a door that had slammed, but Katie had no idea. And she came home and told me this. And I was, you know, so nervous, so worried. Uh, you know, because I, I've seen, you know, the things that she can miss, you know, we would bike around in the city. She can't necessarily hear people that are biking behind her coming to pass or saying passing on your left. And I've seen it before where, you know, there's been close calls, so hear about stuff like that. And we, you know, we have to have to talk about like, we need to set these levels at a, uh, a level where you can still understand what's going on around you.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: And that's not knowledge you had before you met me. You know, so I think, yeah, just those experienceso have allowed you to just of course have a different understanding of people who have hearing loss, um, you know, for your job and for life to, um, my grandmother has a hearing loss and she, um, you know, just, isn't a great hearing aid user. Um, but uh, Chris is amazing when it comes to, you know, talking to her and really taking the time to make sure that my grandma, my 92 year old grandma knows, you know, what's going on. And, um, and you know, that's one of the things I adore about him, you know, that he's really able to kind of translate that to other people around him, too.

Kathleen Colella: We're here today with Katie Radasevich Farnsworth, Dr. Katie Radasevich Farnsworth. And just to give a little background of how this project panned out. Um, we did all the initial recordings with her family and Katie about six months ago. And then we have just now been able to get together. To do this final interview. And I don't know if you'd like to give an update of all of the many things that's happened in your life.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yes. So in one of the previous episodes, as you mentioned, yes, it was six months ago, which seems crazy. I feel like with how the state of the world that it has been, you know, these past two years, um, I feel like time has flown and time has stood still, right? The past six months have been crazy for our family. Um, I now have a little little boy who is six months old. Um, and he's wonderful. Thank you. Um, his name is Ryan, and so that has been, you know, the biggest transition for the last six months kind of just growing our family. And also just continuing to see patients in clinic.

It's been a very busy year amid the crazy pandemic as well, um, that we've been able to continue to see these patients and, uh, make sure that these kids are still hearing well and, and doing well in school, especially because a lot of these kids are back in school after being remote this past year. Um, so just continuing to service them and get them back up and running within the school system, I feel like has been a big source of stress for everybody just to make sure that they're, they're doing well.

Kathleen Colella: Right. I agree. And, and I, and I do want to talk more about that, but I also want to point out that Julie got married.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yes, yes. Okay. Yeah. Maybe it's not all about me. Yes. My sister, my sister, Julie did get married. She got married this past November to a guy named Jack at Fishermen's Inn in Elburn. Um, and it was such a wonderful day. Um, Nora was a flower girl, my two and a half year old. And Ryan was a, um, kind of a ring bearer, but more of a attendee if you will. But, um, yeah, so Abby got Julia got married. Um, and then my other sister, Abby has spent quite a bit of time with us too. Um, now that we have two littles too, um, just help us out in any way that we can.

And yeah, I feel like that's been the biggest updates.

Kathleen Colella: Yeah, that's a, that's a, that's a lot. That's a lot. Like you said, it's been a huge transition of going back from virtual learning, where everything was paused to in-person learning and helping families get the services they need, because I feel for some people it's like they had to start over and it's so frustrating.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yes. I definitely agree. Especially because during that virtual learning, everybody was trying to figure out how are we going to serve these kids? Regardless, if they had a hearing loss, you know, just making sure that we were able to reach these kids and engage them. Um, but I think you throw on a layer of hearing loss on top of that, where you're asking these kids to be able to stream or be able to listen online.

That just brings so many other challenges to make sure that they are able to continue to participate in classes, especially our kids that are in a mainstream setting. To make sure that they can just have access the same way that all those other kids can maybe more naturally do. I have a lot of families where that was a big transition and I found a lot of parents being pretty concerned about is my kid able to hear, um, are they able to participate in the way they want to and how can we as audiologists support them?

And I think even across the hearing aid manufacturers, there were different kind of tips and tricks that were coming out to help get those kids connected wirelessly, but I think it, every patient, it seemed like it was its own unique case. I felt like it wasn't like a one size fits all at all.

Kathleen Colella: Right. Right. And how has masks, you know, how has it been for you? You know, in work and life wearing masks.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah, it was, it's been tough. Um, I think that it has gotten a lot better just because I've been able to maybe be a little more upfront about what I need patients to be able to do. Um, what's great about the sound booth is when I'm on the tester side of the booth and my patients are in the sound booth, i, you know, I can ask them to pull their masks down if they feel comfortable with that, because we are actually in two separate rooms. So that has been huge. I think just continuing to self-advocate for myself, you know, which is not that it's ever over. So with the masks that has kind of required me to re self-advocate for myself, which I think at this stage of my life, as we've kind of talked about in previous episodes, there are so many things that technology has allowed to help make my life a little bit easier, right? Like subtitles and, um, being able to connect to different devices, wirelessly, all of that has just allowed things to just be a little bit more simple, but now we've thrown a mask on all of these people where the majority of hearing impaired patients are excellent lip readers.

Whether or not, that's something that has been taught to them or do something that I feel like they just kind of clue into that has been of course, just tough taking that away. And I think that myself, as well as all of my patient's parents are kind of surprised for how much you rely on lip reading. I think it was kind of a surprise even to myself, for how much I continue to rely on lip reading, especially with patients where maybe the family's first language isn't English.

So just relying on that lip reading, when you're trying to also overcome just a pretty thick accent can be very challenging. And so throwing a mask on has just created an added layer of just really needing to pay that much more attention, rather than being able to kind of listen and take notes at the same time, just really sitting there and listening I've found that it's gotten better, but especially at first, uh, I was exhausted just coming home from work.

Um, and then especially once I got pregnant, I was double exhausted. So it was, it was a rough couple of months to really. Get into a good groove where I felt confident enough that I could, you know, continue to really do my job, of course. And also just listen. What's great, is that on my end, I've also been able to wear communication masks, where there's a clear cut out where my mouth is.

And so a lot of patients and their families have commented on, you know, just how wonderful that is, because then they can at least see me, but you know, patient families aren't coming in with that. So, it has been a challenge, you know, I think that there's just been so many challenges about these past couple of years, aside from just the masks. Right. But I think that has just created a whole other layer where we already have a job where we just want to help people. Um, but you, I almost needed to help myself first, before I could help them.

Kathleen Colella: Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: And that just required more programming changes, um, for myself, just more aggressive settings, just to really be able to hear these families. Yeah. And I think never being afraid to ask for repetition. Right. And, and show those families that they need to also repeat themselves, not just for me, but for their kids. If you're walking around in a noisy situation, um, if they didn't hear you, you really need to make sure that you get your point across.

Kathleen Colella: Sure. And I gave you and your family a lot of credit for being so open because I feel the culture of being an oral communicator with hearing loss is not really publicized or, you know, sometimes even dismissed of that this is really a culture of children and families learning to communicate in their own way.

A lot of emphasis gets put on the capital D deaf culture and American sign language, which is also its own beautiful culture. But just because that's not your mode of communication, you pick doesn't mean your family's not adopting a whole new rhythm. That you know, you, I think you and your sisters most beautifully described it with you getting ready in the bathroom and Julia and Abby holding your hearing aids. You know, that's a culture that families get to be part of. And I don't think it's seen that way. It's so focused on the diagnosis side of things or the technology side of things, which is important, but not the whole picture.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah. And I think, um, when a family is picking kind of their preference for communication, whether that be sign language, oral or a combination or a total communication approach, that's a big decision and it can continue to be an evolving discussion, but like you said that was a decision that my family made for me to be an oral communicator. I know some signs, but I'm actually fluent in Spanish. So, especially when these masks came to be it wasn't like I could then rely on my sign language skills to really be able to communicate efficiently enough with these families. And so, yes. So my mode of communication, this oral culture that I have, has really had a spotlight, especially, you know, these past couple of years.

Kathleen Colella: Yeah, it has.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: And I think you're totally right. It isn't something that's really discussed because oftentimes those kids are maybe more typically developing more mainstream, but those kids arguably, are working even harder to really make sure that they can be successful as an oral communicator.

Kathleen Colella: Right. What advice do you have for parents? And I know it's probably not just one. There's no one magic bullet, but, um, what advice would you pass on to parents?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: I think my biggest piece of advice is just keep listening, um, and, and keep an open mind. I think that you are just absorbing, especially with the initial diagnosis, you're absorbing so much information. And we, we talked about in a previous episode where, at Nora had her newborn hearing screening and just how emotional that was for me. And I'm somebody who is a pediatric audiologist and just absorbing as much as you can, continuing to listen, continuing to ask questions, not only of your kids, but also of your other trusted people in your life, whether that be another family member, your physician, your audiologist.

I think everyone has, everyone wants to just be able to provide the right support. So I think just continuing to listen, and I also think just continuing to be flexible, you know, things come up, right? Like, like any other kid you're, something's gonna get lost. Something's gonna break, continue to be

Kathleen Colella: Ear infections.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: You know, just continuing to be flexible and trying to just roll with the punches as much as you can, because I think especially as a young, as a mom of young kids, seeing how much my kids feel the energy that I'm giving off, you know, I don't want any parent to feel a disconnect with their hearing impaired kiddo because they're stressed about a situation and their kid is feeling like they're a cause of stress. That's what's amazing about pediatric audiologists too, is we're there, you know, Monday through Friday and if something happens, then we can help fix, you know, whatever device is broken or okay. We need it. We have an ear infection lts get you in with ENT. Um, I think, you know, being flexible and continuing to develop a relationship with the audiologist is really important. Of course, developing a relationship with your kid and just treating them like who they are and not because of their hearing loss.

Obviously at Lurie Children's we see a lot of kids who have hearing loss secondary to maybe another comorbidity. Right. And, and I'm not here to say that every kid can be treated the same way, but I also think, you know, hearing loss is something that we can tackle together and it doesn't need to be anything that can limit your kid or limit your family.

And there's always a way, and we just need to find the way. So I think just being flexible is, is a big, is a big piece of advice and that can kind of just be all encompassing, not even just because of the hearing loss.

Kathleen Colella: Sure.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah.

Kathleen Colella: What do you think is the most misunderstood part of being a pediatric audiologist?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: I think that social media is a wonderful tool, especially with when you are a newly diagnosed family, um, or there has been a change in hearing and now we're going down a different path. Maybe we've gone from hearing aids to cochlear implants. YouTube is a blessing and a curse, right? When it comes to just the expectation of, um, what your kid is going to do when they first receive amplification, because yes, there are definitely wonderful, special aha moments, but you know, there's also really tough days. So I think that is maybe the biggest misconception of our job that you come in and everything's going to be wonderful and nothing's, you know, nothing is going to go wrong maybe.

Kathleen Colella: Right. I mean, cause getting the, getting the device.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah. You know. Yeah. Because that first moment might be amazing, but then you go home and your toddler rips off the hearing aids and that's the stuff that's not on social media or on that YouTube channel. I think the parent support groups are wonderful, but again, I also think developing a really strong relationship with your audiologist so you can just ask those questions and get out. Good, honest, educated answer is huge. Because I think I have a lot of families that come back and they're very frustrated they won't leave these hearing aids in, or I'm not seeing a change in hearing. I'm not seeing improved responses and there could just be a whole slut, Lou of reasons why that is. And I think sometimes that just kind of gets lost in the shuffle until you're it's staring you in the face. Yeah. I feel like that's the biggest.

Kathleen Colella: And you know, you, I feel you are such a trooper when we first started this project and we recorded back in June when it was so hot and you were so pregnant. I feel we recorded right before you were like, no, thanks.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Oh yeah. More. I mean, I mean, yeah, he came early. Thank God. He came early. But, um, yeah,

Kathleen Colella: The next week I saw you work and you said, yeah, I'm about done. I'm about done with this pregnancy.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Um, I'm about done. Yeah, it's been, it's been such a journey. It's been so rewarding to work with kids. I think selfishly it's just as much fun for me as it is for them. Right. To get to see these kids make, make progress, or if they're not making progress, kind of figuring out what do we do to help, um, and having those breakthrough moments is huge and developing those relationships with parents and with kids and with their siblings too.

You know, I think that's also a, another piece of the puzzle that isn't really discussed that much. And my sisters were such an integral part of my childhood. And even now, you know, they're a huge part of my identity. And I think that they made it a point to be involved. And that was because they were allowed to be involved. Right. Um, and so I think that's, what's really nice too, is just bringing those siblings and so they can see these appointments. It's crucial too.

Kathleen Colella: Right, right.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Yeah.

Kathleen Colella: Well, are there any final words you want to impart?

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: No, I think this is -

Kathleen Colella: On our, I'm sure, huge listening audience.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: I, this has been such a fun journey and I feel so grateful for you to, you know, just, -

Kathleen Colella: Oh please, I'm just so grateful you shared everything.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Just you, this has been such a huge undertaking for you and you have just spearheaded this whole thing. And I'm just so excited that now we have something that these parents can listen to and start to relate to. Um, yeah. Well, thank you really from, from the bottom of my basement. Thank you.

Kathleen Colella: As everyone hears my two boys pounding upstairs.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: Ryan's upstairs chugging a bottle too. So yeah,

Kathleen Colella: it takes a village.

Katie Radasevich Farnsworth: It does.

Kathleen Colella: Even though this project is finished. Katie's journey will undoubtedly continue to shine brighter and louder. Her story is a tribute to the human miracle of communication and how connects us all. itKatie story is uplifting, but unfortunately not the standard. Are things better for kids with hearing loss than they were 30 years ago? Of course. But there still remains so many barriers for so many families. Our medical and educational systems do not have the resources to align with what audiology best practice says these children need. Caregivers and parents struggled to find funding for hearing aids and properly trained pediatric providers.

Audiology training continues to rise in costs even though salaries do not, leaving new graduates with staggering student loan debt. Sometimes children are still not referred in a timely matter to audiology due to another provider dismissing childhood hearing loss as a potential diagnosis. Some families can barely afford the transportation to get to their appointments.

It's a real problem with enough content for a whole other podcast. But for now Katie's final advice resonates for all of us living and or working with children. Just keep listening. And as always, thank you for listening.

Amplified, presented by Lurie Children's was created by me, Katie Colella music by Lesfm, artwork by Katrina Graziolo. Special thanks to Jamie Budzig, Lisa Weber, Joy Ringer, Jen Haney, Danielle Lee. And of course the Radasevich and Farnsworth families. If you need resources regarding childhood hearing loss go to Luriechildren's.org/audiology-resources. Transcripts of all episodes are available at Luriechildren's.org/amplified.

Learn more about Katie and the incredible division of rehabilitation services on Instagram @Lurierehabservices. That's @L-U-R-I-Erehabservices.