In November each year, the Sight & Hearing Association puts out their annual Noisy Toys List. As parents we know these toys can be annoying, but some toys are so noisy they can actually be dangerous. Noise Induced Hearing Loss Sound is measured in decibels, and sounds that are very loud can permanently damage hearing. Our ears are amazing structures, … Read More
Using a One-Pager for Back to School
As speech language pathologists, teachers of the deaf, or parents, we know what makes “our kids” tick and what’s special about them, but how do we communicate that to new teachers or school staff? One resource I like to use at the beginning of a new school year is a one-pager introduction. It’s simply one page that highlights who a … Read More
Face Coverings and Auditory Access for Students with Hearing Loss
If you work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing and use speaking and listening, you know that good auditory access is so important. We do everything we can to give them the best access. We make sure their devices are programmed optimally, we think about seating choices and remote microphone technology…but something new we’re contending with is … Read More
How to Get the Information You Need at Medical Appointments
Some of my readers may have seen that I recently took this little guy in to have his hearing evaluated. At 16 months, I realized he’s behind in speech and language, and suspected it might be due to not hearing well. So, I took him in to an audiologist, and sure enough, he is/was having some middle ear issues (likely … Read More
How is Auditory Verbal Therapy, or Listening and Spoken Language, Different than Speech Therapy?
I will be the first to admit it–the first time I heard the term “auditory verbal therapy” and saw a definition, I thought “Hmm, but how is that different than good speech and language therapy?” Maybe you’ve had the same thought. As I’ve been working on my certification, I’ve been thinking a lot about this question, and want to share … Read More
Self Advocacy Skills for Preschoolers with Hearing Loss
This is one post in a series about self advocacy skills for children with hearing loss. If you haven’t already, I’d invite you to read Self Advocacy For Kids with Hearing Loss: Becoming a Successful Adult Starts Right Now. It explains why I feel so strongly about self advocacy skills for children of all ages. The preschool age (3-5 years … Read More
Strategies for Creating a Rich Language Environment
If you’re a parent, you know the feeling…the ever present question or nagging thought, “Am I doing enough?” And if you’re the parent of a child with a hearing loss, that voice can be overwhelming because there can be so much you think you should be doing. So first, let me tell you, this post is not about what you’re … Read More
One Page School Introduction
It’s hard to believe, but at least here in South Dakota, the beginning of the new school year is just around the corner. And with that, new teachers, classrooms, expectations, etc. As the parent of a student with cochlear implants or hearing aids, you want to be sure your school’s staff understands your child as well as they can. One … Read More
Why Listening and Spoken Language/Auditory Verbal Therapy Isn’t For Everyone
I think Hands and Voices says it best–“What works for your child is what makes the choice right.” And we know that just like any other group of children, children who are deaf or hard of hearing are a diverse group, and one type of therapy won’t work well for all of them. A caveat, before proceeding… Now, if you’ve … Read More