You made it through your first IEP meeting. Phew! While it is definitely not the intention of any school team, participating in an IEP meeting is overwhelming for most parents. These meetings can feel like a whirlwind, with numerous professionals sharing loads of information and making recommendations using language that is…
Incidental Learning/Incidental Listening
Incidental learning is learning that occurs through observation, rather than direct teaching. Incidental listening, is the ability to overhear what is being said around us, and learn from what we have heard. It is not uncommon for parents of preschool aged children to show surprise when they hear their children…
Reading and Spelling: It’s Not Just About Letters and Words
When we think about children learning to read and spell, we usually talk about learning letter/sound correspondence (knowing what sound each letter makes) and learning sight words. However, there is much more to being able to read and spell than being able to make sense of the letters on the…
Ask a “Just Right” Question, You’ll Get a “Just Right” Answer!
As children are beginning to develop language skills, I often see parents getting caught in the cycle of asking their child question after question to practice and “show off’ the newly acquired language skills. While it appears that the child is practicing listening and language skills, often the questions are…
Perspective Taking/Theory of Mind: A Critical Skill for Social Competence
When we think of our goals for our children with hearing loss (whether our own children, our students or our clients in private practice), we aim high and strive for development of age appropriate skills across all domains. This includes academics, communication, and of course socialization. To develop good social…