Young children are in a critical period of development for listening, speech, language and communication. For young children with hearing loss, consistent optimal access to sound is crucial to the development of listening and spoken communication skills. Young children rely on their parents/caregivers to encourage optimal hearing aid use from as early on as possible, and are too young to themselves understand the importance and impact on skill development that is directly linked to wearing hearing aids. At certain stages, the responsibility of supporting consistent hearing aid use can be a daunting task for parents/caregivers due to a range of factors.

This one hour self-paced online course presents recent research into the importance of optimal hearing aid use to a child’s communication and language outcomes, and provides strategies to support consistent hearing aid use in children.

Learning Outcomes

Participants of this course will:

• Link the importance of optimal hearing aid use to a child’s communication and learning outcomes.
• Develop a greater understanding regarding what optimal hearing aid use looks like.
• Develop a deeper insight into the malleable and fixed factors that may influence hearing aid use.
• Develop strategies for supporting parents and early educators.

Course details

• One hour, self paced course suited forprofessionals working with young children with hearing loss.
• Participants will require access a computer/tablet with an internet connection and audio capabilities in order to access the course.
• Participants will be able to access the course for 3 months.

Accreditation

• Completing the “Building Consistent Hearing Aid Use in Young Children” course can contribute to 1 hour of NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Elective PD