Upstart Chat - What it's like to be a Deaf kid in Aotearoa

Upstart caught up with Natalia to ask all of YOUR burning questions!

About Natalia...

  • Natalia is 11-years-old and was born Deaf.
  • Natalia's Dad is Deaf and her Mum is an NZSL Interpreter.
  • Natalia's Mum taught her NZSL from birth.
  • When Natalia was one-year-old she had surgery for cochlear implants.
  • Natalia's first word was "Star" - the name of her dog.
  • Natalia loves playing the drums.
  • She loves using NZSL to chat to her family and other Deaf people.
  • Star in the making! Natalia has just won a role in a short film!

Natalia answers YOUR questions…

+ What is something you would like people to understand about being Deaf?

Hearing people should remember that even though some Deaf people can speak, we can't always hear them.

You should get the attention of the person you want to communicate with and use clear lip movements when speaking to someone that is Deaf.

+ How do you communicate with your hearing friends?

I have bilateral cochlear implants, so I can speak.

I need my friends to get my attention first, before they start talking to me, otherwise I cannot hear them.

Some of my friends and my whole class are learning NZSL so we can communicate!

+ What are your top tips for those who are just starting to learn NZSL?

Use clear lip movement, learn the NZSL alphabet, and find a good NZSL class to start learning!

+ What can kiwi kids do to make it easier to communicate with hard of hearing classmates?

Have a go, don’t be scared to communicate... Deaf people won’t bite!

We need friends and fun, just like everyone else.

+ Do you use any technology to make communicating with hearing people easier?

I rely heavily on my cochlear implants, and my Roger pen.

The Roger pen is a microphone that the teachers wear so I can hear them clearly.

I will be forever grateful for the technology that can help me hear music and the laughs of my family and friends!

+ Is there anything specific that you would really like to hear?

I would really like to hear a lion’s roar, they are my favourite animal. I have heard many things, but never a lion’s roar.

It is my dream to be a vet/zookeeper, so I hope to encounter one.

Amazing technology - About Natalia’s Cochlear Implants…

There are two parts to a cochlear implant…

  • The implant (inside the body) 

  • The Speech Processor (this sits outside the body) 

Cochlear implants are placed just under the skin behind the ear by a surgeon. The implant has lots of electrodes that are placed inside the cochlea (the shell-like part of the inner ear) by the surgeon. 

The Speech Processor converts speech and sound into a digital signal. This signal is then sent across the skin to the implant. The electrodes on the implant stimulate the cochlea’s nerve fibres (which is what allows people to hear). This nerve carries the signal to the brain. The brain then interprets the signal as sound. 

NZSL signs Natalia thinks every Kiwi kid should know…

Click on the images below to open the New Zealand Sign Language online dictionary and see videos of how to use these signs…

Try New Zealand Sign Language
and be in to win…

To celebrate New Zealand Sign Language Week 2022, we have TEN New Zealand Sign Language Week prize packs to giveaway.

TO ENTER:

Check out all the amazing beginner’s resources here, then complete the entry form (using the button below) to tell us what you did to recognise New Zealand Sign Language Week.

Enter the NZSL Week competition…
Wendy Schollum