Children who are deaf or hard of hearing are not able to develop the ability to listen and talk without appropriate technology and specialized supports. This project will provide technology that measures the quality and quantity of interactive talk. This, in turn, will help families enrich their child's listening environment and communication and better enable their child who is deaf or hard of hearing to develop rich spoken language and listening skills for learning.
During the first 3 years of life, a child's brain is developing more rapidly than any other time in their life. Any degree of hearing loss can disrupt a child's ability to develop language. With proper supports, almost all babies with hearing loss can learn to listen and talk. 2 critical elements include use of high-tech listening devices and specialized support to parents. This project will help parents learn how their interactions can help their child develop rich listening & spoken language.
This project will provide technological tools to help parents understand their child's early language environment and interactions. With the support of Listen and Talk specialized providers, families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing will learn how to increase and improve the quality of interactions with their children. Such changes can result in stronger family interactions and children more prepared to succeed in school.
This project will support hundreds of families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing by helping parents increase the quantity/quality of interactive talk, during the most critical period of brain development. Families whose home language is other than English, will also benefit. The anticipated improvement in interactions and the listening environment, will help the child develop the listening, language, and learning skills to be kindergarten ready and succeed in the wider hearing world.
