Ideas & Advice Blog
Purposeful Pausing
Posted on February 13 2012, 3:14:54 PM | Posted by jtcweb
Pausing is one of the techniques used in spoken language learning for a child with hearing loss. It can be used initially to encourage response to sounds, later for language development and then for problem solving. Pausing involves waiting to see if your child responds before you prompt him or model the expected answer. Once a child is wearing his listening devices during all waking hours, pausing can give him developmentally appropriate opportunities to show what he notices and understands.
Inquiring about Cochlear Implants
Posted on February 13 2012, 2:56:12 PM | Posted by jtcweb
When a child is identified with a hearing loss, family members might wonder about a cochlear implant (CI). Specific information on implants, centers and candidacy can be found through websites and from audiologists. This paper addresses some questions families often ask in the beginning about the implant process.
First Words for Parents: Learning About Hearing Loss
Posted on February 13 2012, 1:17:37 PM | Posted by jtcweb
This is a short list of beginning words for parents of children newly diagnosed with hearing loss. It is meant to be simple not comprehensive. Many other terms are discussed in publications, explained on the Internet or defined in depth in dictionaries. Use can vary from country to country and even within the communities in one country. To understand these new words and begin to use this unfamiliar vocabulary parents will need to keep asking about the meaning and correct use of terms.
The Leader of Your Child’s Educational Team: YOU
Posted on February 13 2012, 1:09:54 PM | Posted by jtcweb
The day your child was diagnosed with a hearing loss, you became an integral part of a team created to bring your little one to his or her greatest potential. That team consists of the:
- Pediatrician
- Ear Nose and Throat specialist
- Audiologist
- Teacher of the deaf and
- Specialists you consult regularly
Middle Ear Fluid in Young Children
Posted on February 13 2012, 12:55:41 PM | Posted by jtcweb
This guide is about middle ear fluid in children birth through five years who have no other health problems. After reading this guide, you should know more about:
- Causes of middle ear fluid
- Tests for middle ear fluid and hearing
- Treatments for middle ear fluid and for hearing loss caused by middle ear fluid
- How to work with your child’s health care provider to find the best treatment for your child’s middle ear fluid
Some Common Sounds
Posted on February 13 2012, 12:51:24 PM | Posted by jtcweb
If you have normal hearing, you probably tend to overlook many sounds in your everyday living environment. You probably don’t think about the hum of a computer, whir of the ceiling fan, or the bang of something being dropped. Little hearing-impaired children need to learn about these many sounds that are part of the everyday world. This list of common sounds will give you ideas about what to point out to your child as you help him develop his listening skills.
Understanding Your Child’s Hearing Tests
Posted on February 13 2012, 12:36:26 PM | Posted by jtcweb
A child is never too young to have his hearing checked. There are multiple reliable techniques used to measure hearing. A “hearing test” is actually an “Audiological Evaluation” made up of several tests for parts of the ear and hearing (auditory) system. A “hearing screening” is a quick procedure done to rule out concerns and can happen at any age and even when a baby is just hours old.
Speech and Spoken Language
Posted on February 09 2012, 4:40:11 PM | Posted by jtcweb
Your family has chosen the spoken language approach for your child with hearing loss. Professionals are always talking about the terms speech and language. Aren’t they the same? Not exactly. Although they are closely related, speech and language are different from one another. Parents who know the differences in those terms can recognize what a therapist or teacher might be emphasizing. If parents are aware of the components of speech and language, they can describe in greater detail what their children have achieved and find challenging. The whole family can learn what is involved in both speech and language and encourage the child’s progress.
School Time!
Posted on January 25 2012, 6:12:30 PM | Posted by volunteer
When your child enters preschool, you have the perfect opportunity to develop on-going teamwork with teachers and school personnel. This is the time to bring your positive attitude and support, which will continue throughout your child’s education.
Building your Child’s Bilingual Skills
Posted on January 25 2012, 6:11:28 PM | Posted by volunteer
Parents look forward to sharing their love, values, culture and language with their young children. If a family uses two languages, they may hope their children will communicate comfortably in both languages. They might want their children to learn one language for school and another for home, or one language for the community and another for the family. There is much a parent can do to promote language learning within the child’s environment.