Author Archives: earosenzweig

1 + 1 = 3

I often hear from frustrated parents, “My child knows A, my child knows B, so why on earth can’t she make a sentence with A and B together?  I’m pulling my hair out!”  Moving from single words to phrases of two words or more is a significant milestone in language development.  How do we helpContinue reading “1 + 1 = 3”

Big Goals for Big Kids

A lot of attention in the AVT world is focused on infants and toddlers — detecting hearing loss at birth, fitting them hearing technology ASAP, and getting their families off to a running start with listening and spoken language early intervention.  When all goes well, many of these children can be fully mainstreamed from preschool andContinue reading “Big Goals for Big Kids”

Safety for People with Hearing Loss

Hearing technology can provide incredible access to sound for speech, language, cognitive, and social development.  However, one of the most basic reasons people choose hearing aids, cochlear implants, or Baha devices for themselves or for their children is more essential: SAFETY.  Awareness of environmental sounds for alerting and personal protection is one of the greatestContinue reading “Safety for People with Hearing Loss”

Success on the Job for Employees with Hearing Loss

Whether you’ve been hard of hearing all your life or are adjusting to life as a late-deafened adult, navigating the workforce with hearing loss can be a challenge.  How can you manage job interviews, communication challenges on the job, and determine appropriate accommodations?

Repetition Without Boredom

We know that you need thousands of hours of practice to become an expert at any skill, and many, many repetitions for something to stick. The same is true for children learning new speech, language, or listening skills. But how can we get in the practice they need without boring them (and ourselves!) to tears?

Do You Know How to D-I-P?

When an infant or toddler first receives hearing technology, it’s an exciting day!  Shortly after, though, parents want to know, “When will he start to talk?”  Stop and listen for a minute.  Do you hear that baby babbling?  What if we could learn to listen and talk to new listeners in a way that wouldContinue reading “Do You Know How to D-I-P?”

Map Your Way to Better Speech

Common “knowledge” says that hearing happens with the ears and speech happens with the mouth, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  In reality, the loop between our ears, brain, and mouth creates an integrated cycle.  We only speak as well as we hear, and we only hear as well as our brain processesContinue reading “Map Your Way to Better Speech”

Coaching the Parent Who Doesn’t Attend Therapy

Due to family schedules, it’s usually the same parent or caregiver who is able to attend therapy with the child each week. Each session, this “present parent” receives coaching, modeling, and guidance in becoming their child’s first and best teacher. In a two-parent family, how do we as therapists also provide this same level ofContinue reading “Coaching the Parent Who Doesn’t Attend Therapy”

Just Right Challenge

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky is credited with identifying the concept of the “Zone of Proximal Development.”  This “ZPD” is the area between what a learner can do without help and what a learner can do with help — that is, it’s the zone where growth and learning really happen.  Zone of Proximal Development sounds impressive, but forContinue reading “Just Right Challenge”