New Words-App For Children With Hearing Devices
Friday, January 27th, 2012A new app enables children with hearing-aids and cochlear implants, to practice their listening and speaking with flash-cards and a range of speech sounds for each letter. Very cleverly, the app has parent tips for its use.
Read more >> New HOPE Words App for iPhones and iPads
Watch the video >> See the Hope Words App in [...]
How The HSE Can Use Telepractice To Cut Costs
Sunday, January 8th, 2012One year ago, IDK noted how a speech and language telepractice solution in rural Minnesota, could benefit Irish children in resource teaching allocation.
Telepractice is “the application of telecommunications technology to deliver professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client, or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation” (ASHA, 2004).
Here are three ways in which [...]
Advice For Deaf Students Going To Third Level
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011Monica Heck, a student of journalism at DCU, recently wrote a feature piece on deaf students at third-level in Ireland, for DCU’s College View paper.
Read the piece >> Deafness at Third Level
A key point to remember is that each student prefers different supports at third-level. Some will favour speed-text (digital note-taking), or CART (ad verbatim note-taking), [...]
Transcript of Live Interview with Dublin SouthFM
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011On November 2nd, 2011, Conor Byrne at Dublin South FM interviewed Caroline Carswell from Irish Deaf Kids, on IDK and its activities. This transcript has been generated by Miriam Walsh, a former IDK intern who still contributes time to IDK’s operations, as needed.
Read the radio transcript (pdf format) >>
Listen to the podcast interview (25.2 MB)>>
Further [...]
Newborn Hearing Tests In Waterford And Wexford
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011From November 7th, 2011, babies born at Waterford and Wexford Regional Hospitals can have free newborn hearing tests, in an opt-in programme that is also available to babies born outside of hospital in Waterford.
These new hospital newborn hearing test programmes, costing in the region of €1.1 million annually, are part of the HSE’s Newborn Hearing Screening Programme for the [...]
International Teen Summer Camp (UK, July 2012)
Friday, November 18th, 2011In July 2011, The Ear Foundation (Nottingham, UK) held its first international teen summer camp in Yorkshire, for 19 teens from five European countries, who between them had 7 different types of cochlear implant processors.
The camp is running again from July 23 to 27 2012, at the same venue: St John’s School, Boston Spa, Yorkshire, [...]
IDK’s October 10th Information Session: Update
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011At IDK’s tech and education event in Dublin on October 10th 2011, a few tech solutions were profiled for their role in facilitating children with hearing issues to listen, communicate and learn in mainstream environments.
A key point: technology needs integrating into an environment, to benefit everyone present – not just the children who are deaf or [...]
Touchscreen Tech Boosts Literacy In Deaf Children
Thursday, September 29th, 2011Technology tools can be instrumental in teaching literacy skills to children with hearing issues and/or other learning needs, as this article shows.
Touchscreen tech helps people with disabilities
Some parents and educators are reserved about using iPads in early-years education. Moderation and context are advised in such settings but if an iPad device helps develop a child’s language [...]
After A Cochlear Implant – The Real Work Begins
Thursday, September 8th, 2011In response to a mum’s recent mail, here’s what may be expected when a child’s cochlear implant is switched on for the first time.
After a cochlear implant is activated, a child can take more than a month to respond to sounds they hear. Then, “the real work begins”, families are told.
(Lights, Sound) Activation!
As the child [...]
New School Year – A Quick Reference List
Monday, August 29th, 2011If you’re a parent or teacher with a deaf child starting a new school year, here’s a quick reference list that might answer some of your questions.
Hearing Assistance Entitlements
Educational Supports in Ireland
Advocating For Your Child’s Service Provision
The Visiting Teacher Service: Background Details
The Effective Use of IEPs in Irish Classrooms
What To Do If Your Child’s Support [...]