Trainings in Early Intervention with Infants and Toddlers with Hearing Loss Nancy Grosz Sager, M.A. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs Consultant California Department of Education Sacramento, California Karen Rossi, M.A. Omaha Hearing School Omaha, Nebraska

Faculty Disclosure Information In the past 12 months, I have not had a significant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of the product(s) or provider(s) of the service(s) that will be discussed in my presentation. This presentation will (not) include discussion of pharmaceuticals or devices that have not been approved by the FDA or if you will be discussing unapproved or off-label uses of pharmaceuticals or devices.

MCHB Grant Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention California Deaf and Hard of Hearing Early Start Workgroup Developed Best Practices Chose parent-infant curricula and training Chose language assessment tools Develop statewide assessment and reporting program

Best Practices for Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Family centered and relationship based Communication focused Sensitive to all cultures (including Deaf Culture) Respectful of all languages (including American Sign Language) and communication modes

Best Practices for Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Developmentally appropriate Evidence based Disability sensitive Community based Meaningful and functional Collaborative

Best Practices for Infants and Toddlers Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Identification and Referral Assessment of Unique Needs Family Centered Services Service Delivery Personnel Standards Learning Environments Curriculum and Instruction Transition to Part B (Preschool) Services

Early Start Trainings 8 regional trainings 327Early Start Providers 97 agencies Local educational agencies Nonpublic schools Teacher training programs

Overall Objectives Establish some commonality in ways professionals approach this population Establish common concepts and terminology for professionals to engage in conversations with one another Remain modality respectfulprovide professionals with a parent component that is added to the childs program Update professionalsearlier access to sound brings exciting new outcomes

Assumptions Attendees invited were trained professionals in the areas of Education of the deaf/hard of hearing Speech language pathology Audiology For these professionals, this was advanced, specific training For others, the training merely enhanced awareness/support for above professionals

General Features Training was all day--8:30-3:30 Presentation of information included PowerPoint presentations Videotapes, specific examples, and handouts to illustrate points Each program received one Toolbox to help implement training

Overview Overview of typically-developing babies Receptive language Expressive language Audition Speech Basis to strive for All bets are off!

Distinctive Parent-Child Interactions Eight Signature Behaviors that foster language development Eight Signature Behaviors that foster development of listening

Practice Practiced how to recognize these distinctive parent-child interactions Practiced how to determine where communication is breaking down between parent and child

Teaching Techniques Explored teaching techniques appropriate when working with families Playing and learning together Questioning Coaching Demonstration Discussion Discussing and completing appropriate worksheets together

Personalizing Intervention Determine skills to improve parent/family interactions and communication with child Target skills to improve the childs listening abilities Target skills to improve childs receptive and expressive language Target ways to provide practice for families in developing all of these skills during daily routines

Engaging Families Important to actively engage family in all intervention activities Recognize that families of infants and toddlers need to implement the program the child needs…..

……unless you plan to move in!

Conclusion of the Trainings Each local education agency/program received a Toolbox to reinforce the concepts presented Practice was provided Familiarizing selves with materials Examining all the potential uses Learning how to share materials with other staff members Discovering how to orient other staff

Evaluations 97% of the participants rated the trainings very good or excellent One of the best in-services I have attended which directly relates to what I do! Very useful and applicable. This training was very clearly explained and is very applicable to the specific age/ability level of the kids I work with. This has been one of the best and most useful conference I have ever attended.

Evaluation Comments [I liked best that] the curriculum was geared toward coaching the parent instead of direct service. Good emphasis on inter-actional, meaningful experiences based on childs focus and interests. Coaching versus traditional approach. Karen has a great style; friendly and sincere. She is a wealth of information.

Next Steps Trainings in Best Practices Trainings in Assessment Instruments Development of Statewide Language Assessment and Reporting Program