Auditory Verbal Graduate Headed To Venice!

Matt is one of my Auditory Verbal graduates.  Matt’s success is no accident rather he has overcome obstacles related to hearing loss, worked hard, persevered, and never gave up. He has quite a story to share! I am so very proud of him and his family. Way to go Matt!

Sound Advice Article and Mural

The Sound Advice article and accompanying mural was was created by David Sindrey, M.Cl.Sc, LSLS Cert. AVT. It is available for download in The Listening Room which has many rehabilitation and educational resources offered by Phonak and Advanced Bionic’s.

First, you need to create a free account. Then once in,

• Go To Lessons
• Search Murals
• Choose Interactive Murals
• Sound Advice is Exercise 3

Auditory Verbal Therapists Need to Listen

One of my little listeners asked me if I like PJ Masks. I began sharing about shopping at TJ Maxx. I asked him to listen and identify auditory highlighted /p / vs /t/. I  went on to auditory highlight max vs mask. He promptly found his backpack, turned around and... I understood!

What are your favorite, "must have" AVT toys for young children?

I recently responded to this question posed in the Hearing First Professional Learning Community and shared this reply.

I just opened a few of my therapy closets and here is what I saw in no particular order. I prefer traditional toys that are open-ended and use no batteries for young children. Preschool Toys and books for are often an easy find at a resale shop. Over the years many families have given me their must-have AVT toys that their child has outgrown and I passed them on to new Little Listeners.

• Buckets, cups, spoons for water or digging in styrofoam peanuts, colored rice…
• Early music instrument set - tambourine, drum…
• Jumbo cardboard blocks by Melissa and Doug
• Toys related to songs, nursery rhymes and storybooks
• Blankets for tents
• Tunnels or tents
• Beanie Babies and puppets
• Balls - all sizes
• Farm, zoo, pet shop toys 
• Wind Up toys
• Simple riding toys
• Wooden and cloth blocks
• Play food - play kitchen, store or restaurant
• Water play toys - from bath toys to  dishes for washing
• Fisher Price Little People Sets (vintage is best)
• Wooden beads (animals or vehicle) threading
• Stacking and Nesting Cup Sets
• Wooden puzzles
• Doll House
• Cars, trucks, buses, boats
• Basic train set with track
• Mr. Potato Head
• Play Dough
• Dress up clothes
• Tool set
• Tea set
• Babydoll/baby blankets, baby food/bottles, and diaper bag contents
• Books, books, books

AV Graduate Anthony Alfano Featured In Chicago Lighthouses On The Mag Mile

I am so excited to share that Anthony Alfano, one of my AV graduates is featured in Lighthouses on the Mag Mile, a public art display celebrating access and inclusion for people with disabilities from 

The Chicago Lighthouse Deaf-Blind Program

 . Fifty-one 6 foot lighthouse sculptures on North Michigan Avenue are catching the public’s eye and capture their hearts this summer. 

Anthony is pictured as King Cole the merry old soul. His chair became his throne as he calls for his p

ipe, bowl and fiddlers three. Rich Green’s illustrations on the lighthouse will be soon to be published book, Chicago Treasure that features photos of children from all over Chicago in leading roles of classic fairy tales, nursery rhymes and folk tales. Proceeds from sales will be donated to The Chicago Lighthouse for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and Access Living.