DIY - A Listening Box - A Classic Auditory Verbal Resource

A LISTENING BOX is a must-have tool if you guide families of young children who are deaf and hard of hearing. I first made a Listening Box while learning from Doreen Pollack in her video-tapped training lessons as an undergraduate student at the University of Akron Speech and Hearing Clinic.

The auditory premises I learned from Doreen remain true today. Doreen Pollack established the Acoupedic Program in Denver for teaching listening and spoken language to children who were deaf and hard of hearing. This was later named Auditory-Verbal Therapy and today it is referred to as Listening and Spoken Language Therapy.

A Listening Box is a classic Listening and Spoken Language Auditory Verbal activity for beginner listeners. A Listening Box holds sound-making toys, objects, and toy instruments in order to present the sound through hearing first. The sound-making objects are hidden behind the Listening Box’s lid which little kids love. This Learning To Listen activity helps a child develop sound awareness and attach meaning to speech and environmental sounds.

DIY In one of my early intervention auditory verbal sessions with the parents or caregivers we make a DIY Listening Box together either face to face or in a teletherapy session. It gives us time to chat when I can offer important information about sound awareness and listening and spoken language outcomes.

Leadership Opportunities for Teens For Teens Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Meet my friend Nate. I was Nathan and his family’s Auditory-Verbal Therapist and good friends today.  Nate traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in AG Bell’s LOFT (Leadership Opportunities for Teens) program earlier this month. LOFT was established in 1996 and is dedicated to shaping and transforming the lives of deaf and hard of hearing teens by fostering valuable skills of self-advocacy, self-confidence, leadership, and communication. For five days, Nate bonded with 18 other kids, learned a lot, had a blast, and did plenty of sightseeing.  

Nate has a great personality advanced in academics, literacy, and social skills. A few of his achievements include:

• Competitive Speech Team. Nate's events include persuasive speech and radio speaking

• Honors French for his foreign language requirement

• Nathan will soon earn the highest honor and national-level recognition for Boy Scouts of America as a Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

• Photography became Nate’s interest and hobby during the pandemic. He bought his own camera and is taking photography classes.

Nate is personable, curious, compassionate, and a well-rounded young man. His speech, language, and academic abilities are commensurate with his hearing peers. This is a result of Nate's family's unwavering commitment to listening and spoken language, his cochlear implant hearing technology, the dedicated professionals on his team, and Nate's motivation and work ethic.

Nate’s Dad and Mom took turns attending our auditory verbal therapy sessions which was an essential part of his listening and spoken language success.

Nate and his Mom kicking off a new school year last week.

Over the years I have had many of my auditory verbal graduates attend LOFT. Part of what makes AG Bell's LOFT programs so important to these teens is the everlasting bond they establish with their peers who often become lifelong friends.

Learn more about the LOFT program at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Favorite Stories And Genres To Read With Your Child For World Book Day

🌎 April 23rd is WORLD BOOK DAY! 🌎  Explore stories from a variety of genres with your child to expand vocabulary and their depth of LSL learning. Try some of my favorite stories below.

📘 PREDICTABLE books with repetitive phrases and strong patterns like Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen are key for children learning to read.

📙 PARTICIPATION books like Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Caulery foster listening and following directions.

 📕 RHYMING books such as Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino target listening to sounds in words.

 📗 PICTURE books illustrations often provide information, not in the text. Encourage your child to comment and talk about illustrations in books such as Quick as a Cricket by Don and Audrey Wood.

📘 INFORMATIONAL books are non-fiction and introduce new topics. Dinosaur Bones by Bob Barner is filled with facts, rhyming text, and cool illustrations.

Tell Me You're An Audiologist Without Telling Me You're An Audiologist! Ear Protection Guards Against Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

I stopped by my daughter and son-in-law’s home unannounced and my grandsons were helping their Daddy mow the grass. My audiologist’s heart was full as all three were wearing ear protection and guarding against hearing loss. They listened to my years of talking about hearing, hearing loss, auditory verbal therapy, hearing devices, and more!

Everyone knows that wearing sunblock protects against sun damage but we need to share with family, friends, and strangers that ear protection can protect against hearing loss caused by loud noises. Noise-induced hearing loss can build over time, is permanent, and is preventable!

Teach kids about noise and hearing loss, by being a good role model..
1. Wear hearing protectors, such as earplugs or earmuffs.
2. Move away from the noise.
3. Lower the volume.
4. Learn more at https://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/

Do you work with families and children that are deaf and hard of hearing? Check out my Listen with Lynn resources, games, and activities!