Why Not Baby Signs?

Even parents who have chosen a listening and spoken language outcome for their children often ask, “Should we use baby signs?” just to fill the gap during the time from identification to cochlear implantation, or identification to those first spoken words.  If you’re to believe the media hype, every parent, those of children with and without hearing loss, is doing it.  So what could be the problem?

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Lies, D*mned Lies, and Statistics: How to Understand Research

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, d*mned lies, and statistics.”  — Mark Twain

It can certainly seem that way, can’t it?  Most people are not given the opportunity to take a rigorous research methods class over the course of their educational careers, and even our high schools rarely teach students the skills they need to be informed consumers of the research and statistics that surround us every day.  When confronted with the sea of information on hearing loss, communication modes, and amplification options, what’s a parent of a child with hearing loss to do?

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WEBINAR: So You Want to Become an LSLS?

Are you a student or professional considering LSLS certification?  Maybe you’re already in the process and beginning to navigate the forest of information, application forms, and requirements.  Join me for an unofficial insider’s guide to the LSLS application process.  I’ll share my been there/done that tips and tricks for understanding the application requirements, earning your hours, finding and working with a mentor, and getting the preparation you need to ACE that LSLS exam!  Want to join in?

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For Children with Hearing Loss, Not Just Any SLP Will Do

I am a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) by training.  I think SLPs are great!  But I strongly believe that for children with hearing loss, not just any SLP will do.  Why?

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What to Expect On Activation Day

The day you’ve been waiting for is finally here!  After the process of candidacy assessments, choosing a device, and surgery, it’s finally time to activate the cochlear implant.  I’ve written before about what to expect in the first few week’s after a child’s CI is activated, but what should you expect on your child’s activation day?

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Just One Hurdle: A Strategy for Teaching New Skills

On your mark… get set… go!

In a track and field competition, runners race around the track, jumping hurdle after hurdle in an attempt to be the first to the finish line.  It’s an incredible sight.  When we’re teaching children with hearing loss a new listening, speech, or language skill, however, we’re running a different kind of race.  For optimum success, here’s my suggestion: choose just one hurdle.

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What Are the Advantages of Teletherapy?

When I began to offer teletherapy services, I wanted to make sure that my clients would be receiving treatment that was as good as in-person therapy.  What I didn’t realize was that, in many cases, teletherapy could be even better than treatment in a brick-and-mortar location!

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What Is the Evidence for Teletherapy?

Though teletherapy is a relatively new development in the fields of speech-language pathology and auditory verbal therapy, studies have shown it to be just as effective as in-person treatment.  It even has many advantages over conventional therapy.

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