Apps for Rehabilitation Specialists by Med-El

MED-EL Rehabilitation Apps are available for iOS or Android devices, these 3 applications can save you time by helping you electronically store and share information with patients and their families, all while avoiding the cost of ordering and printing paper resources. 

Link: blog.medel.pro/rehabilitation-apps/

1. Common Objects Token Test

2. Auditory Skills Checklist

3. Hear Today

Join Lynn Wood at the 2017 AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium

 The session participants will:

1. Gain knowledge and skills in choosing and implementing activities, apps and games that can be valuable tools for maximizing LSL, literacy and communication success.
2. Describe specific LSL techniques and strategies when using the games and activities in therapy sessions and educational lessons.
3. Become familiar with some current auditory (re)habilitation tools and resources which support LSL outcomes.

Program Abstract:

You understand the principles of Listening and Spoken Language, now put them to work!   Learn fun, effective, hands-on LSL activities, games, apps and tools to sharpen auditory, language, literacy and communication success in children, teens and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. Strategies, techniques and best practices for LSL will be incorporated throughout the session.

Modeling LSL based games to be played at home with friends and family is a functional way to engage others in children, teen, and adult auditory learning, communication skills, and carryover. Motivating and valuable LSL materials promote confidence and communication success in hearing aids users and cochlear implant recipients throughout their hearing journey.

Key recommendations and suggestions for engaging materials and tools for LSL sessions and lessons will be discussed. LSL resources and auditory rehabilitation tools commercially available that support listeners of all ages and stages will be highlighted and shared.

Tools for LSL professionals, educational audiologists, hearing itinerants, speech and language pathologists, teachers, parents, caregivers, peers and for the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing will be explored.

The format of this session will be interactive with demonstrations and audience participation.

S.T.A.R.R. - Parent Coaching Strategies for Listening and Spoken Language

S.T.A.R.R., a new parent coaching tool for LSL was published by Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children of San Antonio, Texas.  S.T.A.R.R. is a simple acronym yet the materials are powerful when guiding parents and caregivers in effective listening and spoken language strategies.

S- Stay close

T- Talk, talk, talk

A- Auditory Environment

R- Reciprocity

R- Repeat Routines

The S.T.A.R.R. strategies are used as a script to guide those who have chosen a Listening and Spoken Language outcome for their child that is deaf or hard of hearing. The points on the STARR can be introduced in isolation or all 5 skills collectively to be used by throughout the waking hours of the child

The Parent Coaching Strategies for Listening and Spoken Language - Booklet - $15 – sold individually

   

S.T.A.R.R. Parent Coaching Strategies for Listening and Spoken Language - Magnetic Stars - $20. - Sold in sets of 10 magnetic stars.

Available online at: https://sunshinecottage.secure.omnis.com/ed_products/educationstore/index.php?catalog/all/-/date/1

Cochlear's Sound Start Auidtory Development Posters

Sound Start - auditory development   http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/intl/home/support/rehabilitation-resources/professional-resources

This eight-poster series is great to have on the wall in your clinic for easy reference. The posters give you ideas on how to develop the auditory skills of awareness, discrimination, memory, meaning and more. Posters 7 and 8 are a colorful and concise summary of the 20 key strategies for developing listening skills. You will find the ideas and content very helpful.

• Poster 1 – Awareness
• Poster 2 – Meaning
• Poster 3 – Discrimination
• Poster 4 – Memory
• Poster 5 – Auditory Sequencing
• Poster 6 – Story Telling
• Poster 7 – Listening Strategies 1
• Poster 8 – Listening Strategies 2

Monitor and Tracking Scales - From Cochlear Corporation

Cochlear Corporation's Monitoring Scales http://www.cochlear.com/

The Integrated Scales of Development supports the monitoring and tracking of the child’s development from birth to 48 months in the areas of; Listening, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Speech, Cognition, and Pragmatics. There is also a handy tracking and monitoring form the clinician may want to keep in the child’s file. 

• Download: Integrated Scales of Development for Listen Learn Talk
• Download: Integrated Scales of Development Tracking and Monitoring Form
• 
  

TLC (Tracking Listening Children) is the latest in a long line of habilitation tools developed to

 support your work with parents and children with hearing loss. Following the great success 

of the Sound Foundation series, comes this comprehensive tool to help you track your 

child’s progress and ensure they are achieving milestones in a timely manner.

Download the TLC workbook

. 

Summer Bucket Lists in Auditory Therapy

Boredom Busters or Bucket Lists have been a fun way to kick off summer break. The activity stimulated new vocabulary, categorizing, describing, critical thinking, and lots of listening and spoken language fun! I explained to the kids that a bucket list is how you create your goals, hopes, and dreams. We talked about including things that you know you will be able to accomplish, as well as things that you would like to try to accomplish, along with some things that you might not be able to do (take a trip to Australia), but you would love the opportunity if the chance presented itself to you.  

The parents and I gave them topics and we brainstormed. Sometimes, if they couldn't think of anything I would have them listen to choices, remember what I said and then make some choices. They all seem excited to begin their bucket list challenges. We talked about a Bucket list will ensure they won't be bored or have nothing to do. Get off the couch, turn off your electronics, and go have some fun! The kids weren't sure at first but then really took this seriously.

I reminded the parents to make every summer count! They were surprised when I said that we only have 18 summers to make memories with our kids and then they are off to college or the next life adventure.

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Smiling-In-Sixth
I got this idea from a blogger - SmilinginSixth

Here are some of the ideas I can recall we talked about and put into our buckets.

New swimming goals - somersault underwater, dive off a diving board, swim in a lake

Rainy day activities - play a board game, build a blanket fort, have a dance party

Nature activités - nature hike, go fishing visit an arboretum, create a sundial

Summer foods I want to eat - ballpark hot dog, fresh garden vegetables, BBQ, a funnel cake

Sporting goals - run, walk a 5K. make 3 runs in a baseball game, play a game or tennis

Fun with friends - go on a bike hike, start a book club, go fishing, volunteer at church, at a shelter

So many other topics: 

Water Games and Fun
Things I Want To See
Pool Time Goals
Places I Want To Go
Park Activites
Library Goals
Reading Goals
Travel plans
Road Trips
Sunny Day Activites
Summer Fairs and Activities to Visit
Favorite Summer Treats
Favorite Summer Drinks
Summer Music Events and Concerts
Carnival and Amusement Park Rides to Try
Camping Fun
Fourth of July Activites
Ocean and Beach Activites
Water Games and Fun
Memorial Moments

Listening and Spoken Language Provides Better Outcomes For Children With Cochlear Implants

Early Sign Language Exposure and Cochlear Implantation Benefits

Ann E. Geers, Christine M. Mitchell, Andrea Warner-Czyz, Nae-Yuh Wang, Laurie S. Eisenberg, the CDaCI Investigative Team

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/06/08/peds.2016-3489

Source

In a new, multisite study of deaf children with cochlear implants, UT Dallas researchers have found that children with either no exposure or limited exposure to sign language end up with better auditory, speaking and reading skills later. 

"This study provides the most compelling support yet available for the benefits of listening and spoken language input for promoting verbal development in children implanted by 3 years of age," Geers said. 

"Contrary to earlier published assertions, there was no advantage to parents' use of sign language. This result affirms the decision of many hearing parents who choose not to use sign language when their child receives a cochlear implant."

The paper is one of the first nationwide longitudinal studies of how sign language exposure affects young cochlear implant recipients.

Summary articles:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uota-ocp060817.php

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170612/Research-shows-how-sign-language-exposure-affects-young-cochlear-implant-recipients.aspx

GET IN THE GAME - AG Bell 2017 LSLS Symposium

Hope to see you a month from today! 

July 1st 10:00 AM.

 AG Bell 2017 LSLS Symposium in D.C.