AgBell Conference 2012 - Demystification: Inspiring Children with Hearing Loss Through Self-Knowledge

Demystification: Inspiring Children with Hearing Loss Through Self-Knowledge

Susan Randich, Ph.D., Nancy Smiley, M.S. CCC SLP, LSLS Cert AVEd, Victoria Carlson-Casaregola, M.A. CCC-SLP, St Joseph Institute for the Deaf, St. Louis, MO

Need to empower children through self awareness
Will find a higher degree of success in life
More important than socioeconomic status or parents

How do you demystification?

Mind Map
Visual of competences, challenges, affinities,

On the map include:
Things I like
I am good at these thing
Things I don't like
Things that help me
Things that are hard for me/things that we need to work on

Pictures for younger kids
Word choice

Step 1 - Form an alliance - no one is perfect
Step 2 - Identify interests and affinities
 Can include sensory issues, strengths and weaknesses
Step 3 - identify strengths, assets, talents,  - avoid something all kids can do
Step 4 - identify weaknesses - 2-3, not reading but sounding out words, make it clear that smart kids have similar issues
Step 5 - How will problems be addressed - therapies, strategies and accommodations 

Dealing with resistance and denials - use humor
Write songs about self

Comments

[hearing aids London]

It is important to inspire children with hearing loss, and the only way to do this is through self-knowledge. They have to know their limits and what they can do. But the most important thing is that they should also know that they have importance in this world they are living. For children who suffers from hearing loss, they should see the brighter side of this world even they don't hear anything.