UPCOMING EVENTS: Free Webinars for Parents and Professionals

I am excited to be partnering with some great organizations this spring to give two FREE webinars for parents and professionals.  Both events also offer 1CE credit from the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.  See below for more information and links to register for the courses.

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Cochlear Implant Evaluations: What To Expect, What to Ask

In past articles, I’ve discussed the cochlear implant process from candidacy to activation and beyond.  But what actually happens in a candidacy evaluation?  How do the professionals on your cochlear implant team decide who is a good candidate for the device?  What do all of these appointments really mean, and what questions should informed patients and parents ask at each one?

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I’m Not a Big Talker… So How Can I Help My Child Become One?

Some parents were born for Auditory Verbal Therapy.  Even before discovering that their child was deaf or hard of hearing, they had the gift of gab.  These are the people who could talk to anyone, never lack the right thing to say, and love having long conversations with friends.  But not everyone is like that.  What if you’re a quieter type.  Can AVT still work for your family?  How can parents who aren’t big talkers still help their children develop speech, listening, and language?  

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Cooking Up Therapy

Cooking is a great thing to do in therapy for many reasons.  It’s a hands-on, multi-sensory experience that most children really enjoy.  Making food is part of any child’s everyday routine, it’s engaging, and you get to eat the fruits of your labor!    What’s not to like?  If you’re stuck in a therapy rut, or just looking for something new to do, why not move your lesson into the kitchen (or bring the kitchen into your therapy room) and cook up some great speech, language, and listening fun?

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Plateaus, Valleys, Plains and Mountains: Measuring Progress

We know that getting a cochlear implant is not an instant fix.  Speech, language, and listening skills do not magically appear after activation, and progress is on everyone’s minds.  How does progress happen?  How much is enough?  How fast?  What should we do if things aren’t working out as planned?  

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Recovering from Cochlear Implant Surgery

Congratulations!  You (or your child) are on your way home from a successful cochlear implant surgery.  What now?  Here are some tips to make recovery as smooth and comfortable as possible.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing Loss and Education

Here are some of the questions I hear most frequently regarding students with hearing loss and their education, from preschool to college graduation and beyond!

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Hearing with Two Ears: A Balancing Act

There are a lot of reasons, research, and rationale to support the need for bilateral amplification for people with hearing loss.  It’s pretty much a “given” at this point in our field, though, sadly, there are still some insurance companies and even hearing healthcare professionals who lag behind the curve.  What should you consider if you or your child have just one cochlear implant and are thinking about going bilateral?  How do you get a second ear “up to speed” if there’s a significant gap between implant dates?  Is it worthwhile to continue using a hearing aid in the other ear after you receive a CI?  How can users or bilateral hearing devices get the most out of their two ears?

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The Waiting Game

Many auditory verbal techniques are not rocket science.  They’re simple suggestions and tweaks to your everyday routines — little changes that can make a BIG difference in your child’s ability to listen and talk.  What’s one of the hardest of these little challenges?  Learning how (and when) to wait!

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Testing, Testing…

Testing and evaluations bring up many emotions in parents and children alike.  Used well, a comprehensive evaluation provides a measure of the child’s progress and a road map for the way forward.  But how are you supposed to untangle the web of jargon and questions surrounding your child’s testing?  Let’s discuss…

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