Tag Archives: Auditory Verbal Therapy

Culturally Sensitive Therapy

One of my favorite parts of my job is the fact that I get to spend time with so many amazing, interesting, terrific families of children with hearing loss.  Thanks to teletherapy, “my” families now come not only from around my city, but also from around the world.  Each one brings their own unique perspectiveContinue reading “Culturally Sensitive Therapy”

Five Strategies to Encourage Your Child to Talk

  Here are five simple strategies you can use to encourage your child to expand their expressive language at home.  At first, it may seem overwhelming to keep them all in your “toolbox.”  That’s okay!  I suggest focusing on implementing just one new strategy at day for a week.  As you practice and gain confidence,Continue reading “Five Strategies to Encourage Your Child to Talk”

Making Things Sticky

Many parents have had the experience of walking out of a great therapy session and then thinking one day later, “How were we supposed to work on that goal again?”  Likewise, many therapists have had the experience of déjà vu when they feel like their session is just a repeat of last week’s, with noContinue reading “Making Things Sticky”

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”

Asking All the Right Questions

It’s said that there’s no such thing as a stupid question.  But for therapists who want to communicate well with the families they serve, there are certainly some ways to ask the questions that are smarter than others.  How can therapists ask the questions they need to get crucial information from families, and how can families askContinue reading “Asking All the Right Questions”

“That Kid” Who Won’t Sit Still: 12 Tips for Making Therapy Work

We’ve all met “That Kid.”  The one who has seemingly endless energy.  The one you have to brace yourself for before he enters the room.  The one who can never, ever seem to sit still for therapy.  What’s a therapist (or parent!) to do?

Do You Teach Lipreading?

When I tell people that my job is teaching children with hearing loss to listen and talk without the use of sign language, it usually stops people in their tracks for a minute.  The first question I usually get is, “How?” which leads to a whole discussion about the auditory brain.  The second most frequentlyContinue reading “Do You Teach Lipreading?”

How to Give a Communication Options Talk… Without Doing Most of the Talking

One of my favorite things to do as an Auditory Verbal Therapist is to meet with families of newly identified children for their initial evaluation.  It’s such a privilege for me to be able to walk alongside families as they take their first tentative steps into the world of hearing loss.  Thanks to universal newbornContinue reading “How to Give a Communication Options Talk… Without Doing Most of the Talking”

Get Me Outta Here! When It’s Time to Change Activities

The child is getting fussy, the parent is getting bored, and the therapist is starting to sweat.  It’s time to change activities, and stat.  But it’s not as simple as pulling out a new toy.  How you make the change makes a big difference.