SKI-HI Parent Advisor Training

 Join the CDHHE Network as an Early Intervention Provider
Our network of providers educates and supports families
throughout the state of Indiana when their child is identified
as deaf/hard of hearing. We will train a nd support you as a
member of this unique network!

Language and Literacy Corner - New Language Resources Available!

 

Introducing new resources for families and professions related to language topics: Extraordinarily Committed to Enrichment in Language & Literacy (EXCEL²). EXCEL² is a series of flyers within our IDEAL initiative. These are intended for professionals and families and cover a variety of important topics related to deaf and hard of hearing children’s literacy and language development. EXCEL² documents can be downloaded and many have links to additional resources on each topic.

You may also consider printing and sharing with others. Perhaps Grandma and Grandpa want to know more or a school principal would benefit from the information. The flyers can be found under the IDEAL technical assistance tab. EXCEL²

will be updated with more topics, so be sure to continue to check for additional language enrichment information. Currently available topics:

· Background Knowledge

· Beyond Letters, Colors, and Numbers

· Emotional Health and Resilience Language

· Learning Through Play

· Narrating Your Day

· Screen Time

Another resource that has been added to our list of IDEAL technical assistance resources is American Sign Language and English Language Milestones—The Next Steps. The Next Steps cover milestones middle school through young adulthood and include expectations for language needed for independence and college.

     These milestones are perfect for use when developing Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and determining long-term goals or engaging in Person Centered Planning. The Next Steps milestones are available in English and Spanish.

 

 

Brain Builders Corner - Early Intervention - Joy, Play, and Language Acquisition

 

The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Conference took place virtually from March 13 through 15 and offered sessions reflecting on early intervention practice and sharing information with families, among a plethora of other topics for audiologists, interventionists, families and medical providers. 

We are sharing some nuggets of information related to brain building in infants and toddlers. Dr. Jack Shonkoff shares, “Building your babies’ brain sounds a little intimidating– so step back and take a deep breath. Parenting is much more of an art than it is a science.”

 Did you know that play builds brains? Play, such as peek-a –boo, patty cake and singing songs with repetition and movement is a way for children to explore and develop a sense of mastery of the world. The baby will want to continue these activities, telling you that their brain is learning. See the mini Parenting   Master Class video on Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child’s website.

Parents know it is important to celebrate their child. Resources  dedicated to fostering joy are available from Hands & Voices Fostering Joy for Families website.  Check out their tip sheets (ASL, English, Spanish as well as many other languages!) Let us know if you would like a copy of the Fostering Joy Journal, available to a limited number of families from the CDHHE Early Intervention Network. There is a separate website dedicated for Fostering Joy information for professionals.

Some of the tips that can be incorporated into our work with families are backed by science and include:

• Encouraging families to take pictures of events and activities that bring the family joy and making a “joy” album.
• Encouraging journal writing to document their joy.
• Posting or sharing on social media, or joining a group of other families interested in fostering joy. Facebook has a Family Fostering Joy group and a Professional Fostering Joy.

Sound Advice from Audiology - The Impact of Hearing Loss

 Language

Most language is learned incidentally, or through example. Direct teaching of language is sometimes necessary for children who are deaf or hard of hearing as incidental learning may not be as accessible. For verbal language, consider the child’s ability to access the speech spectrum and different listening environments. For visual language, ensure the child has access to rich examples of language in the environment. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may require additional support to develop certain skills in spoken English. These include abstract words (before, after, equal to, etc.); understanding words that have more than one meaning; word endings that give information about tense, singular versus plural, etc., and unspoken social "rules" such as turn taking, what to say or not say and when.

The IDEAL (Indiana Deaf Education and Assessments of Language) milestones document is an excellent resource to keep in mind what language skills develop at what ages – in English and American Sign Language as well as Spanish (Español).

Articulation

Often, children who do not have sufficient auditory access to certain speech sounds have difficulty producing those sounds. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing may produce speech sounds incorrectly and/or omit certain speech sounds. Often this leads to difficulty understanding what they are saying. For children using listening and spoken language, the ability to speak so that they are able to be understood by others is necessary to communicate and connect with other people. Audibility is key to natural development of speech sounds. Specialized coaching is needed to highlight these speech sounds and teach the child to recognize and produce them properly. This training can help make their speech easier to understand.

Social-Emotional

Communication is needed to build healthy relationships. Adults must ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing can communicate with their family and peers. Understanding social-emotional milestones can help parents and professionals have accurate expectations. Deaf and hard of hearing children benefit from the chance to interact with other adults and children who communicate in the same way. Some children feel alone when they do not see anyone else who knows what it feels like to be deaf or hard of hearing. This can potentially lead to frustration, anger and even acting out. The opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another is helpful.

Cognitive

Missing or misunderstanding what people say can make it hard to learn new information. Children need to be able to learn to improve their reading and thinking skills. Children who are deaf or hard of hearing must have all of the same information as their hearing classmates. They may need extra time or different materials to make sure the information is clear. Sometimes, the cause of a child’s hearing loss may also cause cognitive delays. Some children have hearing loss and cognitive delays that are not related. When a child who is deaf or hard of hearing is being tested, it is important to keep their communication needs and challenges in mind.

Resources:

Central Institute for the Deaf– Considerations for choosing speech targets

Hands and Voices Parent Tip Sheets– Language and Social Development

IDEAL Parent Document– English and Spanish

Success for Kids with Hearing Loss – Impact of Hearing Loss and Speech Perception and Learning

Staff Spotlight - Rebekah Cunningham, Ph. D.

 

Rebekah Cunningham, Ph.D.

Please join us in welcoming our newest team member! 

Rebekah has been a contractor for the Center’s Deaf Education program since August 2021. She is from Indiana but spent more than a decade in Arizona before moving back to the Hoosier State in 2014. She received her doctorate in Audiology from the University of Cincinnati and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University and Purdue University, respectively. Cunningham has worked in many different professional settings, including hospitals, industry, and academia. She currently teaches doctor of audiology (Au.D.) students through A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. She was formerly the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program director for the state of Indiana. Her passions have always been working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and mentoring the next generation of audiologists. She is actively involved in the American Academy of Audiology, serving on multiple task forces and committees, as well as chairing the convention and the board of directors.

FUN FACTS:

• Rebekah and her husband Bob have four children.
• Rebekah volunteers at the Humane Society of Hamilton County. She has three dogs and four cats (which may constitute an occupational hazard).
• She loves to sew and quilt.
• Rebekah loves cows, and her kitchen is cow-themed.
• Rebekah once sang the National Anthem at a Cincinnati Reds game.

Connections - Spring 2022 - Volume 7: Issue 2

 From our Director:

Join our team!

Many transitions are happening at the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education – from onboarding a new educational consultant in our deaf education program (see page 2 to learn more about Rebekah!) to changes in roles for Erika Pearson as she moves from our audiology program to Early Intervention (as an EI specialist), while others step away from their roles at the Center.

We have openings to highlight for our stakeholders– please help spread the word about these opportunities:

• Audiologist - https://workforindiana.in.gov/job-invite/269883/

• Audiology Administrative Assistant 5 - https://workforindiana.in.gov/job-invite/335569/

• Administrative Assistant 3 - https://workforindiana.in.gov/job-invite/341482/

Family & Community - Summer Camps and Events Coming Good

 

Don’t forget: The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is offering beginning, intermediate, and advanced ASL classes in May 2022.