Using Technology to Serve Children Who are Deaf

Listen and Talk is deeply committed to family centered services. Our Early Intervention providers coach families to help them understand the process of helping their child develop listening and spoken language skills in a natural, playful way. Through supported practice, a family learns to help their child respond to and interpret sounds, building a foundation upon which spoken language and learning will grow. 

When we initiated a telehealth model of service delivery (Virtual Home Visits or VHV), we were intent on making sure that parents received the coaching and support that would help their family be successful. With the results of the study described in our previous report and interviews with families, we are learning that parents CAN get their needs met through a telehealth model of service delivery.  Now some of our families are asking we provide services solely through VHV!

We had the opportunity to interview some of these parents in an effort to better understand the reasons for their preference. Here are some highlights:

Question: 
Do you feel your needs are being met better with in-home visits or virtual home visits?

Parent 1 Answer:

"I do better with VHV because it forces me to practice on my own —rather than rely on the therapist to run the session... I find I have more confidence doing the whole session myself after a virtual visit."

Parent 2 Answer:

"VHV is either the same or better... Before, when I had in-home services, I would sit back and watch the therapist... Now, sessions are tailored to how I would perform as opposed to how any given therapist would do it... I guess that could be perceived as better or worse—depending on how I am doing with it!" 

Thanks to donors like you, we are developing evidence-based methods for meeting the complex needs of families no matter where they live! Thank you for your support!