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”
Tag Archives: Advocacy
Conquer the Cafeteria
I’ve written before about difficult listening situations: large group presentations, meetings at work, crowded restaurants, but one that comes up most frequently for students with hearing loss is the dreaded cafeteria. The room is often an acoustic nightmare, but time spent socializing with friends on a break between classes cannot be replaced. What’s a studentContinue reading “Conquer the Cafeteria”
FAQs about Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, and Auditory Verbal Therapy
When you meet someone new, one of the first questions we tend to ask is, “What do you do?” When I tell people that I teach children with hearing loss to listen and speak, it’s a real conversation starter. Here are some of my most frequently asked questions about hearing loss, hearing technology, and Auditory VerbalContinue reading “FAQs about Hearing Loss, Hearing Technology, and Auditory Verbal Therapy”
A “Why Not?” Attitude Toward Hearing Loss
Learning that your child has hearing loss can be a world-shaking event for parents. The truth is, though millions of people around the world have hearing loss, most parents have little prior experience with people who are deaf or hard of hearing before discovering that their child is suddenly a member of this group. ManyContinue reading “A “Why Not?” Attitude Toward Hearing Loss”
Back to School Guide for Students with Hearing Loss
Can you believe that August is here already and it’s time to start thinking about getting back into the school routine? The beginning of the school year is an exciting time, but it can also be filled with anxiety on the part of parents, students with hearing loss, and school staff. How will other studentsContinue reading “Back to School Guide for Students with Hearing Loss”
Helping Classmates Understand Hearing Loss
In the past month, I’ve had some incredible opportunities to spend time with a group of children I don’t often see — children with typical hearing — teaching them about hearing loss and how better to understand their classmate who is deaf. They’ve taught me a lot about hearing loss from a child’s-eye view andContinue reading “Helping Classmates Understand Hearing Loss”
Insurance Coverage for CI Surgery and Upgrades
One great thing about having multiple cochlear implant manufacturers is that they are constantly innovating and producing new technology! A new processor launch is thrilling, and the first question on everybody’s mind is, “When can I get my hands on it?!?” Unfortunately, the second question is often, “Will my insurance cover it?!?” Here are someContinue reading “Insurance Coverage for CI Surgery and Upgrades”
Insurance Coverage for Auditory Verbal Therapy
In the United States, there are significant differences in insurance coverages from state to state, and even between plans from different insurance carriers. This information is intended to be a general overview with tips that may help in your particular insurance situation.
Health Literacy
You probably know that “literacy” refers to the ability to understand language through reading and writing. Health literacy is the ability to understand information about healthcare and use that information to make informed decisions for yourself or those in your care. Why is this important for those of us in the Listening and Spoken LanguageContinue reading “Health Literacy”
What Does FAPE Mean?
FAPE stands for Free and Appropriate Public Education. Under United States law, students with disabilities ages three to twenty-one are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education. What does this mean?
Elizabeth A. Rosenzweig 