Working with Deaf + Hard of Hearing Children Webcast Series

Cost: Access to all four modules for $99 Unlimited 90-day access.

*By clicking on NOTES while watching, the full script for these webinars will be visible to the users.

Presenter Bio

Kathryn Ritter, PhD., CED, LSLS Cert. AVT

Listening and Spoken Language Specialist - Auditory-verbal Therapy

Kathryn Ritter has worked in a clinical setting with children who have hearing loss and their families since 1975. She holds a B.Sc. in Speech Pathology, an M.Sc. in Deaf Education and a Ph.D. in Special Education. She also holds LSLS Cert. AVT certification (Listening and Spoken Language Specialist -Auditory-Verbal Therapy).

Dr. Ritter has extensive experience in pediatric cochlear implant habilitation and rehabilitation. Her primary focus has been family-centered Auditory-Verbal practice and research in the areas of family support systems, program evaluation, instrument development, and, most recently, the importance of providing good access to sound to children with very complex needs in addition to hearing loss. She has been a sessional lecturer in the faculties of Educational Psychology and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta, and is a frequent presenter at local, national and international conferences and workshops and a regular guest lecturer at the University of Alberta. She has published in the areas of Auditory-Verbal practice, mainstreaming children with hearing loss, family support, support of children with hearing loss and additional complex needs, program evaluation and instrument development.

LSLS Cert. AVT certification is a rigorous post graduate certification available to Speech Pathologists, Audiologists and Educators of the Deaf. It requires a minimum of 900 hours of experience in mentored listening and spoken language intervention over 3-5 years, 80 continuing education hours, a written examination, and documentation of continuing education activity post certification.

This webcast series was developed in consultation with Sue Peters, MClSc., R.Aud, Aud(C), CCC-A. Sue has extensive experience as a Paediatric Audiologist, working for 13 years at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital. Sue also served as coordinator of a regional Cochlear Implant Service and worked for 5 years with a major North American Cochlear Implant manufacturer. Sue is currently providing consulting services to Healthcare organizations in the areas of organizational change, clinical process improvement and Lean implementation. This includes working with the University of Alberta, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine in the development of a needs assessment, business case and program design for an Audiology training program.

This series includes four webinars about hearing loss, each focused on a different audience: General Audiences, Physicians, Speech Language Pathologists and Public School Teachers and Support Staff. The series has a pediatric emphasis but also has application to adults. Participants will receive a certificate of completion issued by the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

This webcast series has been approved by AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language (LSLS) for 2.36 CE credits.

Introduction to Hearing Loss

This webinar provides an overview for general audiences.

Topics covered include:

  • Frequency of occurrence of hearing loss
  • Types of hearing loss
  • How hearing loss is diagnosed and described
  • The social impact of hearing loss
  • Amplification options and expectations
  • What to do if you think you or someone close to you has a hearing loss
  • Some resources for further learning and support

Length: 18 minutes

Patients with hearing loss + their families - a review for Physicians

Topics covered include:

  • The importance of early diagnosis and management
  • The social impact of hearing loss
  • Incidence of hearing loss
  • Review of types of hearing loss, most common causes and medical management strategies
  • How hearing loss is diagnosed and described by Audiologists
  • Amplification options and expectations
  • Some resources for further learning and support

Length: 32 minutes

Working with Deaf + Hard of Hearing Children in the Regular Classroom

Topics covered include:

  • Frequency of occurrence of hearing loss
  • Impact of hearing loss
  • The importance of early diagnosis and amplification
  • Types of hearing loss
  • How hearing loss is diagnosed and described
  • Amplification options and expectations
  • Strategies to support optimal learning in the classroom
  • Some resources for further learning and support

Length: 40 minutes

Working with Deaf + Hard of Hearing Children Who Use Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants for Speech Pathologists

Topics covered include:

  • Frequency of occurrence of hearing loss
  • Impact of hearing loss
  • The importance of early diagnosis and amplification
  • Review of types of hearing loss
  • Review of the Audiogram and importance of Real Ear Measures
  • Review of amplification options and expectations
  • Strategies to support listening and spoken language development in the classroom, treatment setting and home
  • Some resources for further learning and support

Length: 52 minutes