Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos

Many of you may remember Drew, the youngest child in Ohio to ever receive simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants.

It’s hard to believe that Drew celebrated his third birthday last month!

Happy birthday Drew!

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Just to make the day a little sunshinier, here’s a clip of Drew singing the great Ohio State University game day anthem Carmen Ohio (lyrics can be found here):

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Learn more at turnonmyears.blogspot.com

Tune in to the “DrewTube” channel here

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Books & Book Reviews, Irked Videos

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, Irked Videos

Drew was born in September 2006 with profound hearing loss in both ears, which means he is deaf. In the summer of 2007, when he was 8½ months old, he became the youngest child in Ohio to receive simultaneous, bilateral cochlear implants. TurnOnMyEars.blogspot.com, written by Drew’s mom and dad, is a record of their efforts to “turn on” Drew’s ears and educate him with an auditory verbal philosophy.

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, QuIrked Kids

Hello everyone!

I have just been skiing, and it was fabulous. I went to La Plagne, France.

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, QuIrked Kids

Hey!!

I am writing about one major life experience i have had so far. In two words, Robbie Williams is a 100% entertainer!! Whether you like his music or not he will surprise you. I went to his concert in Roundhay Park with my Mam and friends. We had to wait for four hours just for him. Luckily we got a good view on the hill called the side bank. He came on in the dark, and rose from below the stage! There were fireworks everywhere and pyrotechnics lit up all around the stage-i could even feel the heat! He went straight on singing! It was a huge opener, and it was intense, and everyone was screaming along with me! He sang “Millenenium” and his new single called “Rudebox.” I quite liked it. It is a bit of rap mixed with his usual. He sang “Angels” and everyone immediately started singing along to it. Even though i knew the words it took me a long time to sing along with it, because i have such a terrible voice! We were all dancing along to his amazing music!

Then he had a break for a bit, and when he returned he sang “Let Me Entertain You.” As usual, he performed a stunt during that song!! He appeared from the top of the stage and descended while singing the song!! It was fantastic!!! His dancers were really professional, too, of course!

He then asked for all the lights to be turned off, and said that, when he counted down from three, we should all turn our mobile phone lights on or take pictures with the flash from our cameras. When he counted down it was BEAUTIFUL!! It was supreme to see how many people were there, and it was actually quite an amazing sight! All the lights were flashing from everywhere. I had a go too.

Then he invited his friend John Wilkes onstage to sing “Me and My Shadow” with him!

The ending was brilliant. Everyone had such a good time, and so many people were there, and we were all sad to leave!

In the end, sitting here writing this, i have to admit i don’t think there will be any better entertainers for a long time to come!

See you soon baboon…

Joci Caven is Irked Magazine’s first music critic. She’s deaf, and just about the coolest kid ever. 

She totally digs her iPod, which she plugs right into her Cochlear Implant. She likes bands with strong beats, ’cause she’s “able to pick up on their frequency.” 

She’s about to take the music scene by storm.

Related:
Robbie Williams’ Official Site: http://www.robbiewilliams.com
The Friends of Roundhay Park: http://www.forp.co.uk

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, QuIrked Kids

I am wearing the implant on its own now. I have always worn a hearing aid but found it was getting too confusing picking up different types of sounds using two different aids. I am learning more about the sounds and everything just seems weird but I will get used to it. It has been frustrating and hard work because I have to adapt to the new sounds and concentrate harder. But it is worth it!

I did my SATs (also known as National Curriculum Assessments) on music! I got 74% and that was a huge thing for me. I was dead proud! I am studying the electric guitar so I can get through for the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education)! The electric guitar sounds amazing. I have missed so much in my life, and I still have quite a lot to learn. 

I am into hip hop and heavy metal at the moment. I enjoy listening to The Ordinary Boys, a band that is popular with the boys at the moment. Most of my friends are boys so I learn quickly about what boys like to listen to. Another band that I like at the moment is Orson. The band has done quite a few good songs like “No Tomorrow” and “Bright Idea.” I have it playing all the time on my iPod! It is Indie music which is another name for soft rock. The five people in the band are Kevin, George, Jason. Johnny and Chris! My favorite is Jason because he does the vocals and has an excellent voice!

The one thing I am looking forward to doing next week is seeing Robbie Williams!! My aunty is very into his music and has got a couple of tickets. I will be seeing him next Friday in Leeds! Robbie originally came from the band Take That! He did “Let Me Entertain You” (which is awesome). His birthday is 13th of February, eleven days before mine. He comes from Stoke-On-Trent, in Staffordshire. In 2000, he did a single called “Rock Dj” from an album called “Sing When You’re Winning,” which hit number one on the charts in England! He has also recently released an album called “Intensive Care.” It is some of his best music so far! I’m sure you will know about him as well!

I am starting year 9 of school and I will hope it to be a good start!

I’ll let you know what I think about the concert next time.

Catch ya later.

Joci Caven is Irked Magazine’s first music critic. She’s deaf, and just about the coolest kid ever. 

She totally digs her iPod, which she plugs right into her Cochlear Implant. She likes bands with strong beats, ’cause she’s “able to pick up on their frequency.” 

She’s about to take the music scene by storm.

Related:
The Ordinary Boys’ Official Site: http://www.theordinaryboys.com 
Orson’s Official Site: http://www.orsonband.com 
Robbie Williams’ Official Site: http://www.robbiewilliams.com

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Filed under: Themes, Deaf Jam, QuIrked Kids

Hi i am joci caven. I will be doing this column from now on hope you like it!

I am thirteen and i am deaf. I have been chosen to do this column and i am proud to do it! I can hear a little but i have to wear a hearing aid and a cochlear implant. I go to a mainstream school and i am in year eight!

I am enjoying my teenage years and am quite popular at school! I love doing all sports. I am actually rather good at basketball and love going to clubs and camps. I am the only girl apart from my friend lucy in the entire school who does it! Lucy and Alex are the only deaf friends i have.

Music is the major thing in my life, everything i do is about music! The one thing I find hard being deaf is that I struggle to hear tapes and cds so i don’t understand most songs. I find it amazing how you guys do. I can hear the words on easy songs and when i listen to them all the time. Most of the time I download the words off the internet and learn all the words from the songs.

One of my favourite bands is Kaiser Chiefs! They are a band from Leeds! They rock!! They are brilliant. They are quite new and their songs are the best! They have done “Oh My God” and another good one called “I Predict A Riot.” Their album is called “Employment.” All my friends are talking about them, The Kaiser Chiefs are quite popular. Their music has a strong beat and I am able to pick up on their frequency.

I couldn’t hear music before my Implant last summer, so it is all a new experience and I love it. My best Christmas present ever was my iPod, and I got a special wire that attaches straight to my Implant. It has taken quite awhile to get used to but now I listen to music all the time.

will write again about more music soon.

Joci Caven is Irked Magazine’s first music critic. She’s deaf, and just about the coolest kid ever.

She totally digs her iPod, which she plugs right into her Cochlear Implant. She likes bands with strong beats, ’cause she’s “able to pick up on their frequency.”

She’s about to take the music scene by storm.

Related: Kaiser Chiefs’ Official Site

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