We Held a Webinar with Teachers and Directors of Childcare Facilities on the Adaptation of Children with Hearing Difficulties

On October 21, 2021, our team held a webinar for specialists on the topic: “The Environment Teaches Us”, which provided basic information and guidelines for working with children with hearing difficulties in the kindergarten setting. The idea to offer this topic arose together with parents of children with hearing difficulties who are about to enter and adapt in the kindergarten environment. The webinar was attended by 21 children’s teachers and principals from Varna and the country, who expressed an interest in the topic.

Our colleague Doctor of speech therapy and hearing-speech rehabilitator Nicoleta Yoncheva shared some basic specifics in working with children with hearing aids and cochlear implants.

The event aimed to help teachers answer some important questions such as:

• Is this environment suitable for the child?
• What is the difference between hearing aids and cochlear implants?
• What does the child hear?
• How should I talk to him?
• Does it understand me?
• What does it mean when his device lights up?
• Will he be able to cope with the learning material like other children?

During the webinar, Dr. Yoncheva gave guidelines for building a supportive meeting for the hearing-impaired child. He pointed out that a hearing-impaired child can develop just like any hearing child, and it is necessary to be placed in a favorable environment and given appropriate stimuli. The technical side of the operation and application of hearing aids and cochlear implants was explained. An important role in working with children with hearing difficulties is played by the hearing-speech rehabilitator and the speech therapist, which was clearly demonstrated with a video.

The facilitator gave strategies for the teacher to use to support the child. Demonstrates some commonly used and useful everyday communication gestures. And finally, he shared about the “hidden talents” of these children – their musicality and dancing skills!

At the end of the webinar, participants had the opportunity to ask questions and exchange contacts with Dr. Yoncheva, with the idea of ​​future support for specific cases.

Photo credit: https://leader.pubs.asha.org/

The webinar was held in implementation of the project “Transfer of practices to improve support for children with special needs and their families for inclusive education”, financed by the Bulgaria Active Citizens Fund under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.