All My Children

To beef up the current Spike story line, All My Children has enlisted the assistance of J.Q. DePaiva. Only 10, this young actor is deaf in real life.

He's been hired to guest-star September 20, 21 and 24 in scenes that involve Kendall Hart (Alicia Minshew) and her child.

Fans of One Life to Live, meanwhile, should recognize the last name of this rising star. J.Q.’s parents are actors Kassie DePaiva (Blair, OLTL) and James DePaiva (Max, OLTL). Kassie will also lend her help to this All My Children angle.

Deaf at birth, J.Q. now wears permanent cochlear implants that enable him to hear sounds and blend in normally with other kids. Co-writers Barbara Esensten and James Harmon Brown said they are committed to infusing authenticity into this story of Kendall’s and Ryan’s child, who went deaf as a result of a car accident.

Spike will not experience the miracle of hearing instantaneously, said Brown, as they hope to build up the deafness as a challenge that profoundly, realistically affects those who love the boy.