Click here to view the NAS calendar of news and events (External website).

We are delighted to be writing with news of David Whyte's next workshop and Salon Series.  His work has struck a resonant chord within organisations and the personal and professional development arenas around the world.  He is an inspiring speaker who, with a poet's insight, speaks to our human condition, and to the core of the challenges individuals and organisations face today and offers a vision for the way ahead.

David's client list includes: Astra Zenica, The Boeing Company, Deloitte & Touche, Innogy, The Industrial Society, Lucent Technology, Mattel, McKinsey, Microsoft, Nasa, Novartis, The Royal Air Force, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanford University, State of the World Forum, Said Business School, University of Oxford, Toyota, Unilever & Visa International.
 
With the poet's insight he takes us to where the strategic mind cannot take us.

The 2009/10 Salon Series - 28/29 September,  7/8 December 2009 & 22/23 March 2010

In this salon series David will explore with us the way the cultivation of self knowledge actually makes us fuller participants in a world from which we often try to hide. This inner foundations of a robust outer life; calling forth the necessity of coming to know, confront and develop one's flaws and abilities and the character to go with it together with the need to understand how others see us and how we affect the world around us.  We will look at those internal faculties and abilities that are the foundations for all the external actions we have to take to fully embody our positions of responsibility and leadership.
 
The first two salon series salons have proved to be remarkable and deeply impactful events.  Each salon starts late afternoon on the first day with a session with David, continues into the evening with dinner and then a full day the following day.  Please note the series is sold as a single event, each salon is not sold individually.  It is possible to attend the salon series even if you can only make two out of the three dates but the full salon price will have to be charged.

For more details anf booking, please click here

Have You Been Wondering About Running Baby Signing Sessions? Perhaps you’re wondering how effective our courses are and how enjoyable it would be for your families?

Don’t just take our word for it, instead read what Sue Childs from Gravesham Children’s Centre in Kent has discovered about our courses

“I am currently 3 weeks into a course and loving it! I cannot believe the way the Mums pick up the signs so quickly and how attentive the babies are!  It’s like someone has put on a magic switch.... it really is like magic and we are all enjoying it so much”

Why not also click on the following link to take a look at baby signing in action on a trip to the park. Make sure you turn the volume up so you can see just how often the signs are accompanied by attempts at spoken language which may otherwise have gone unnoticed:

www.babysigningtraining.co.uk

Why Is Baby Signing So Beneficial?

·         Baby signing makes the job of parenting easier. It allows parents to understand their child better, talk to them about their interests and realise just how much they know – all before they are physically capable of talking.

·         It encourages the development of early spoken language, because not only does it encourage parents to talk to their children more, but it allows them to recognise their child’s early attempts at speech, reinforcing every attempt the child makes.

·         It dramatically reduces frustration because babies are given a way to communicate their thoughts and feelings.

·         Baby signing aids children’s long term cognitive development. Original studies by Drs Susan Goodwyn and Linda Acreldo show that by the age of eight Children who had learned to sign as babies had an average IQ of 114 compared to an IQ of 102 for those that didn’t.

Why Choose Us As Your Training Provider?

·         We train you to operate baby signing sessions without imposing ongoing costs upon you

·         We run nationwide courses so no need to travel long distances to access training

·         We provide you with specialist resources to help make your sessions a success, including baby signing specific songs

·         We pride ourselves on the ongoing support we give to our tutors, both whilst they set up their sessions and once they are running

·         No ongoing training costs. Free refresher courses at any point for those who have attended once.

Our courses cost £250, which includes:

·         Full training for one delegate

·         A license to operate sessions from as many locations as you like

·         A DVD for staff training containing all of the songs and signs, in addition to a dictionary of additional signs.

·         A manual containing all of the theory covered on the day in addition to the songs and signs.

·         21 CDs containing our bespoke songs. One for use in sessions and 20 for use with parents. (many centres choose to sell these at £6 per CD, thus recouping almost half of the original cost of training)

If you have any further questions, would like more information or to book on to one of our courses please contact us at victoria@babysigningtraining.co.uk or call us on 01254 301782 or

07973574 294 (Please note if we are unable to answer your call please leave a message or send us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.)

Currently we have availability on the following courses:

Thursday 5th November – Farnham, Surrey (very limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Friday 6th November – Oxford (very limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Monday 30th November – Covent Garden, London (very limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Thursday 3rd December – Chester (limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Friday 4th December – Redditch, Worcestershire

Thursday 7th January – Preston, Lancashire (limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Thursday 14th January – Covent Garden, London (very limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Thursday 21st January – Cambridge

Friday 22nd January – Nottingham

Thursday 28th January –Bradford

Thursday 4th February – Birmingham (very limited availability, book early to avoid disappointment)

Friday 5th February – Stafford, Staffordshire

Thursday 11th February – Doncaster

Thursday 25th February – Southampton

Friday 26th February – Bristol

Monday 1st March – Manchester

Thursday 11th March – Ashford, Kent

Friday 12th March – Chelmsford, Essex

Thursday 18th March – Covent Garden, London

Thursday 25th March – Milton Keynes

Friday 26th March – Cambridge

Thursday 22nd April – Farnham, Surrey

Friday 23rd April – Bristol

Monday 26th April - Preston, Lancashire

Thursday 29th April – Birmingham

Thursday 6th May – Leeds

Friday 14th May – Covent Garden, London

Thursday 20th May – Norwich, Norfolk

Friday 21st May – Ipswich, Suffolk

Thursday 27th May – Chester

Thursday 3rd June – Scotland

Thursday 10th June – Kent

Friday 11th June – Cambridge

Thursday 17th June – Southampton, Hampshire

Thursday 24th June – Bristol

Thursday 1st July – Preston, Lancashire

Thursday 8th July – Covent Garden, London

Hilton Sheffield 

April 2008 saw a new corporate manslaughter law finaly finding its way into the statute book, opening NHS organisations to possible procecution. This conference will review the topical issues of corporate manslaughter in healthcare nearly two years on and will give an indepth insight from leading experts into procedure and process. the day will also include a review from the crown procecution service as well as health and saftey issues including the impact of negligent drug administration.

For more details please click here

 Do you wish to :
• Increase the ability of all workers with children to facilitate early language development.:
• Develop your skills in working in partnership with practitioners whilst remaining child centred.
• Support practitioners in analysing their skills in supporting children with communication difficulties.
• Complement your own therapeutic intervention within each child’s Early years setting.
• Develop your own skills in :
o assessment of interaction,
o diagnosis of presenting communication difficulties
o prognostic insight.

This day will describe a model of therapy which provides adult -child interaction video and practitioner workshops.
You will be provided with a comprehensive training pack with full facilitation notes and participants’ handouts. The training outlines the necessity of focusing on interaction in order to facilitate increased developmental rate in children’s development of play, attention, listening, understanding, expression and use of language. It’s key aspect is use of video to support practitioners in analysing their own strengths in supporting children’s communication development.
 
From this course you will gain:
• A practical understanding of the benefits and complexities of adult-child interaction.
• Specific focus on the use of video and how to support positive adult self evaluation. Observation of videos for analysis and case examples.
• Adult-child interaction pack with advice on how to deliver training
• Specific strategies for client centred therapy, through video playback (adult -child) and practitioner workshops.
• Self/Peer supervision sheet to develop own working practice
• Use of video to develop your own self-awareness in client management and interaction

For more details please click here

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

This new half day conference brings together leading experts from the paediatric arena to discuss the medico-legal issues surrounding the care of children and the challenges this can present. The morning will highlight the need to be honest with parents when things go wrong.

For more details, please click here

Woburn House, London

This afternoon conference looks at the three main areas where misdiagnosis commonly occurs and the effects and damage coused by delays in diagnosis. The conference will take an indepth look into timley intervention to preserve maximum function in strokes, abdominal emergencies and the difficulties faced by clinicians in diagnosing symptoms correctly, as well as medico-legal issues sourrounding Acute Coronary Syndrome.
 

For more details, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

For all professionals working with children and adults diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome and their families. A day of lectures, workshops and discussions concentrating on the particular issues around Ushers Syndrome.aiming to explore and share good practice.

We will be joined by Russ Palmer a musician with Ushers syndrome and his wife Riitta.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Venue : The Ear Foundation

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children

Course Description:
Bilateral implantation is increasingly becoming the routine audiologic management for severe to profoundly deaf children. There is a growth in both simultaneous and sequential bilateral implantation. This one day course will consider and explore the benefits of binaural hearing.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of the current research and expectations for children receiving bilateral implantation.
~ Opportunities to consider the issues involved in assessment, tuning and balancing the two systems being worn.
~ Opportunities to think about the practical support and management of children with bilateral cochlear implants.
~ Time for group discussion to consider the long term implications of having a bilateral cochlear implant
~ Insights into the experience of parents who have a child with bilateral cochlear implants
~ An overview of the current practice in Sweden and Belgium and the outcomes they have obtained with regards to bilateral implantation.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : Free

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children

Course Description:
This meeting will give you the opportunity to meet with MED-EL’s Rehabilitation Specialists and to get hands on with the range of rehabilitation materials
developed by MED-EL and collaborating cochlear implant centres. This is your chance to look at the materials in detail and explore their utility and application.

Materials available to discuss and explore include:

~ The LittlEARS test battery - designed to assess the development of
~ listening skills in very young children
~ Soundscape - on-line resources
~ Listening Cube - provides a decision making framework for auditory (re)habilitation.
~ TeenEARS - a test battery specifically designed for teens with cochlear implants
~ Little Listeners - information for therapists and families
~ Music and Cochlear Implants

For more information on the materials available to explore go to
www.medel.com

To register for the course please contact charles.mitchell@medel.com

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Deaf professionals

Outside speakers/collaboration: Deaf professionals who have worked extensively with children with cochlear implants and adult implant users

Course Description:

This course is for deaf professionals who would like to know more about cochlear implantation and its implications. The day will consider the roles that deaf professionals can have supporting deaf children with cochlear implants and the challenges they may bring

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants
~ An explanation of how a cochlear implant works
~ An update on the outcomes of children with cochlear implants including considering the reasons for the range of different outcomes
~ Some suggestions for troubleshooting the technology
~ The opportunity to meet deaf professionals who work extensively with children with CI
~ The opportunity to meet and talk with an adult cochlear implant user
~ Plenty of opportunity to discuss the issues around cochlear implantation and communication

Pre-requisites: This course is not suitable for hearing professionals

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Woburn House, London 

The need to minimise diagnostic error is a neglected aspect of patient safety, and has potentially devastating consequences for patients, families and healthcare professionals.  This conference will examine the impact of diagnostic error, look at current research and emerging ideas on the approaches to reducing error, and identify the measures that will affect change in practice, procedures and medical education to improve patient safety. This is an essential event for medical directors, clinical governance professionals, policy makers, regulators, academics, doctors, nurses, lawyers, patients and patient safety bodies to attend.

For more details, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The National College for School Leadership, Nottingham
Cost : £140.00

A focussed conference exploring the challenges and issues around cochlear implantation for adults, covering a wide range of issues including changing communication needs and recent research outcomes.

We are delighted to be hosting this day in partnership with Geoff Plant and Hearing Rehabilitation Foundation in the US.

Geoff will be joined by a faculty of experts and adult CI users, who will bring together current practice, knowledge and experience in the area.

Speakers will include: John Briggs, Lorraine Gailey, Brian Lamb, Geoff Plant and adult CI users.

As the programme develops further details and speakers will be updated on our website

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who work with deaf children within the Primary School environment

Course Description:

The majority of deaf children are now educated within a mainstream setting and many will have the support of a learning or communication assistant. The children will be using the latest hearing technologies and learning alongside their hearing peers with a range of outcomes. The technology, however, does not replace normal hearing and a range of issues will arise that make it more difficult for the deaf children to access what is happening within the classroom. This course aims to raise particular issues that may arise and consider how a support assistant may address them.

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants and other technologies exploring expectations and limitations
~ Practical ideas for managing the classroom environment and technology
~ A discussion about language develop
ment for the deaf child
~ Practical suggestions to support language development
~ Opportunities to consider how to continue to provide the flexible support they need within the classroom.
~ Consideration of the role of the LSA
~ Case Studies
~ Time to consider the particular needs of your child/children

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists and other professionals supporting deaf children at secondary school

Course Description:

Secondary schools are finding that many more of their severe and profoundly deaf pupils are cochlear implant users. Increasingly these are youngsters who were implanted before starting school and have made excellent progress with their spoken language development. This group, combined with CI users who have additional difficulties and so making slower progress, are challenging how we have traditionally supported them within the secondary environment. This day will explore a number of the areas in which support needs have changed and look at practical suggestions as to how to work with this group to ensure they achieve their potential.

This course will give you:

~ An update on the current practice in this population and how this may change at secondary school.
~ Time to think about the challenges at secondary level and overview of issues with this age group.
~ Opportunities to explore issues around encouraging higher levels of language, including assessing ongoing progress at secondary school.
~ Practical ways to develop complex language skills.
~ Opportunities to think about the listening environment in the classroom.
~ An overview of what they are really hearing with their cochlear implants and other technology such as FM systems.
~ An update on a study looking at young People’s views about support at secondary school and their implants
~ Opportunities for group discussion and review of case studies.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with young people looking to prepare for or in post 16 education

Course Description:

An increasing number of post 16 young people with cochlear implants are moving into a variety of further education settings. Even though they are becoming more independent and are increasingly taking control of their own education path they may continue to need support to access course information. How this support looks, and tailoring it to meet the individual needs of this population is changing and requires commitment and flexibility. This day will explore some of the issues involved in supporting the post 16 deaf populations, with opportunities to hear from young adults themselves and the professionals supporting them.

This course will give you:

~ Update on expected outcomes and expectations in this post 16 population, including current research.
~ Time to think about the challenges and issues of post 16 education faced by young people with cochlear implants.
~ Strategies for addressing listening needs and developing language skills in this environment.
~ Opportunities to discuss the current practice and how this may need to flexibly change.
~ Insights from the young people themselves and experiences of the professionals working with them.
~ Opportunities for group discussion to share good practice and review of case studies.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists

Outside speakers/collaboration: Sue Lewis

Course Description:

In order to effectively provide for deaf children’s needs we must be clear as to their functioning across a range of language areas and as to how these levels will impact on their access and inclusion. This course explores a range of procedures currently in use with deaf children at secondary level and suggests ways in which linguistic progress should be tracked so that progress and achievement can be analysed meaningfully and priorities identified

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf teenagers and parents are welcome

Outside speakers/collaboration: Clare Sheridan (Cochlear)

Course Description:

While cochlear implants have made a huge difference in terms of language and speech development, young deaf people still have to face a variety of problems that other hearing students may not understand. Coping with these difficulties may lead to feelings of isolation and frustration which can prove particularly demanding on top of all the other issues that students of secondary school age have to face. This day will explore the range of emotions experienced by teenagers in relation to their deafness and cochlear implantation. The workshop will focus on practical strategies which can be used at school to support deaf young people and prepare them for life beyond school.

This course will give you:

• Strategies for developing independence
• Ways of promoting a positive deaf identity
• Strategies for dealing with stress
• Methods for coping with anger

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who work with deaf children within the Secondary School environment

Course Description:

The majority of deaf youngsters are now educated within a mainstream setting and many will have the support of a learning or communication assistant. The students will be using the latest hearing technologies and learning alongside their hearing peers with a range of outcomes. The technology, however, does not replace normal hearing and a range of issues will arise that make it more difficult for the deaf student to access what is happening within the classroom. This course aims to raise particular issues that arise within the secondary school setting and consider how a support assistant may address them.

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants and other technologies exploring expectations and limitations
~ Practical ideas for managing the classroom environment and technology
~ A discussion about language development for the deaf student
~ Practical suggestions to support language development
~ Research outcomes from a study exploring students views of the support they receive
~ Opportunities to discuss social and emotional issues
~ Consideration of how to provide the flexible support they need within the classroom.
~ Case Studies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children and parents are welcome

Outside speakers/collaboration: Chris Rocca (Advanced Bionics)

Course Description:

Hearing technologies are opening up a world of sound for young deaf children. Enjoying music together is one of the best ways of harnessing this enthusiasm for sound, capturing the imagination of the children we work with and nurturing their communication skills. Music Time is an interactive, fun-filled course which will leave you with a supply of new musical activities, ideas and renewed enthusiasm.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of how a musical programme could be developed and implemented in your everyday practice.
~ A range of ideas and materials from a music therapist, including a DVD of songs with practical examples of how to use these songs.
~ Practical work-shops with time to explore how you may use and adapt musical activities

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for:All professionals working with CMV deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Carmen Burton (CICS) and Simone Walter (GOSH), Chris Bones & Jayne Inscoe (NCIP)

Course Description:

Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is suspected to cause up to 30% of hearing losses in children. Many of these children will have shown no symptoms of CMV infection at birth, whilst a minority will have been very poorly and have severe and complex needs.
The effects of CMV are not always immediately obvious, and difficulties such as hearing loss and visual impairment can occur over time. This course will explore the issues and implicaions involved in working with CMV children.

This course will give you:

~ An update on CMV, including what we currently know and what we are still discovering.
~ An overview of the current research and expectations for children with CMV.
~ Opportunities to explore the diagnosis and medical management of children with CMV.
~ Opportunities to consider the issues involved in assessment and monitoring progress post cochlear implantation, including the range of differences observed.
~ Insights into a parent’s perspective who have a child with CMV, including a survey carried out on parents.
~ Opportunities to think about the practical support and management of children with CMV, including group discussions.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and other professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Chris Rocca (Advanced Bionics) and Sandra Driver
(St Thomas’ Hospital)

Course Description:

Children who have an autistic spectrum disorder and a hearing loss are faced with a wide range of challenges. This course will look at a number of issues that impact on this particular group and suggest ways to support and develop their language and communication. Specialists in the field will provide practical strategies for supporting such children developed in the course of their work. Sandra drive, Implant coordinator St Thomas’s Hospital will consider the difficulties around audiological assessment and implantation. Chris Rocca, AB and Mary Hare will suggest practical ways to use music to support them.

This course will give you:

~ A brief over view of Autistic Spectrum Disorder
~ Opportunities to consider and explore the audiological management of this group of children.
~ An overview of current research and practice involved in assessment and measuring outcomes
~ Opportunities to learn from expert practitioners, working with this unique population and their practical strategies.
~ Insights into the experience of parents who have a child with ASD, deafness and an implant: what outcomes are important to them?

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Rehab professionals working with children with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder

Outside speakers/collaboration: Glynnis Parker (Sheffield Children’s Hospital), Steve
Mason

Course Description:

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) is the new term recently adopted t cover a range of difficulties previously described as Auditory Neuropathy and Auditory dis-synchrony, and reflects the growing understanding of the condition. This one day course will draw on specialist expertise in this area and explore the most recent thinking about the condition, what we know and how to manage it. The course will outline in particular the complex issues when supporting and working with these children, the role of cochlear implantation and the implications for this group of children’s future management.

This course will give you:

~ An update on the current knowledge and understanding of ANSD
~ An update on current research
~ Discussion around the issues relating to and cochlear implantation ANSD and assessment
~ Outcomes of CI and ANSD
~ Practical ideas for supporting these
~ Detailed case studies presented by practitioner in the field
~ Opportunity for delegate questions to the panel

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and other professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Sally Hind and Dylis Treharne (Sheffield University)

Course Description:

Auditory Processing disorder, APD, is often described as the invisible disability and is a topic of ongoing debate and interest among a variety of professionals. This one day course, organized in collaboration with the Institute of Hearing Research, will provide the opportunity to shed some light on this intriguing subject. The course will explore the complex issue of APD and the current problems associated with assessment and management of children with APD, including deaf children. The speakers will give a breadth of the current research and development being undertaken in this field.

This course will give you:

~ An improved understanding of current state of knowledge on APD in UK
~ Access to information about some of the current research taking place in UK on APD
~ Hands on experience of using some of the existing testing/training methods
~ The opportunity to either consolidate your ideas or gain new ones on management of these children

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals who work with children with cochlear implants and who have attended an Introduction to Non Professional Counselling Course

Outside speakers/collaboration: Dr. David Luterman and Dr. Kristina English for their resources

Course Description:

Sharpening your Non Professional Counselling Skills is appropriate for all those working with deaf children, adults and families who have previously attended An Introduction to Non Professional Counselling Skills or similar workshop. The day will begin with the opportunity to reflect on the differences between professional and non professional counseling and the role of listening in our work before providing opportunities to experience some of the techniques.

This course will give you:
~ An overview of non professional counseling and its role in working with families
~ Discussions and thoughts about issues raised by David Luterman’s DVD
~ Discussions about techniques useful to use whilst “deep listening”
~ Opportunities for group listening
~ Activities to provide personal experiences of listening and being listened to
~ Insight from parents via DVD resources
~ Opportunities for personal reflection

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with or interested in deaf children and ethnic minority families

Outside speakers/collaboration: Birmingham Visiting Teachers Service

Course Description:

Many deaf children come from ethnic minority families’ backgrounds and the access to information for some of these families may be difficult. Following implantation assessing and monitoring progress in the development of spoken language may be complex and this course will explore these issues.

This course will give you:

~ An update on current practice in cochlear implantation
~ Opportunities to explore some of the perspectives of deafness and implantation for minority ethnic families
~ Time to discuss the range of information about cochlear implantation available in minority ethnic languages
~ Information about implications for learning spoken language after implantation, when English is not the home language
~ Discussions on how best to support children from minority ethnic families
~ Opportunities to discuss the challenges of assessing progress in this population including what outcomes to expect.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and other professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Ruth Swanwick (University of Leeds), Penny MacDonald

Course Description:

Children with cochlear Implants are given access to hearing and need encouragement as their spoken language skills develop. The challenge of achieving this an a Sign Bilingual setting will be explored, together with the roles that speech and language therapists and teachers of the deaf play to achieve these outcomes. Opportunities will be provided to explore the issues that face teachers on a day to day basis as well as consider the changing nature of sign bilingual education

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants
~ An update on sign bilingual education
~ Recent research of the impact of cochlear implants on literacy outcomes
~ Discussion and practical suggestions for recognizing monitoring and facilitating communication changes
~ Consideration of the future role of BSL and how to provide it
~ Workshops to share good practice

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Connie Mayer (Associate Professor at York University, Toronto) and Diana Burman (Oxford University)

Course Description:

Cochlear Implantation is enabling young deaf children to acquire the phonology of their language before coming to reading and is resulting improved literacy skills. However this is not the whole picture and there are both children who may not be making the progress we and others that may exceed our expectations. This course will explore the range of issues involved in promoting a young deaf child’s literacy skills.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of the implications of cochlear implantation for literacy development.
~ Information about the developmental routes to literacy
~ An opportunity to explore how to plan early literacy programmes for young deaf children, including principles and practice.
~ Time to discuss the practical implications of encouraging literacy skills.
~ Video case studies and written examples from deaf children to bring to life the theoretical discussions around literacy.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £95.00

Course suitable for: Audiology professionals

Outside speakers/collaboration:Kristina English (University of Akron)

Course Description:

Practitioners working with individuals with hearing loss are very familiar with the range of psychological and emotional difficulties that may occur as a result of communication disorders, but most report feeling underprepared in effectively supporting patients and families with these concerns. This presentation will describe counselling strategies designed to support patients through the help-seeking process, specifically “therapeutic listening,” defined as providing a troubled sender the opportunity to talk through a problem. Relevant skills include empathy, providing a supportive environment, and responding appropriately. Responding appropriately is especially challenging for clinicians, since the nature of our profession leads us to answer questions with data.

Participants in this workshop will be able to:

~ Define nonprofessional counselling
~ Define “professional boundaries”
~ Differentiate between informational and personal adjustment counselling
~ Describe “communication mismatch” as it applies to patient or parent interactions
~ Define therapeutic listening.
~ Demonstrate three counselling strategies
~ Describe “breaking bad news” guidelines

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £40.00

An informative one day seminar for Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists and other professionals working with Baha recipients, both adults and children. Given by Cochlear Europe the day will cover an introduction to Baha technology, current indications and selection criteria for candidates as well as an overview of the product, accessories and FM appliances. With Claire Ratcliffe

To register for this course please contact Sian Jones at Cochlear on 01932 871509, or sjones@cochlear.co.uk

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Howardian Centre, Cardiff
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with young, deaf children

Course Description:

As professionals and parents we look forward to the exciting time when we know that all the listening games and focus on enjoying communication has paid off, as our young deaf children, many of whom have been proficient signers begin to use spoken language to communicate. This day will give the opportunity to explore ways in which children at this stage can be encouraged to develop their communication skills. There will be a focus on the optimal use of technology and how the child’s temperament and their approach to language learning impacts on their path of progress.

This course will give you:

~ Implantation and time to consider what it is like to live with a cochlear implant.
~ Discussions and information about children’s temperament, and learning style
~ Opportunities to consider the role of parents and the range of communication choices made by families for their deaf children
~ Practical ideas for helping children to extend their listening and develop spoken language beyond the first word level.
~ Group discussions and ideas for running listening and language groups

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £95.00

Course suitable for: ENT Trainees

Outside speakers/collaboration: Shahed Quraishi

Course Description

Cochlear implantation is a rapidly growing intervention for profoundly deaf adults and children. This course will provide trainees with current information on the surgical aspects of:

This course will give you:
~ Patient selection
~ Current audiological criteria assessments: medical, surgical, radiological, electrophysiology
~ Communication, education and family issues
~ Surgical methods
~ Rehabilitation methods
~ Long-term care
~ Current and future technologies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

AvMA’s Annual Clinical Negligence Conference (ACNC) is the event that brings the clinical negligence community together to learn and discuss the latest developments, policies and strategies in clinical negligence and medical law.

This year the full conference programme is available earlier than before and we are offering greater discounts for registering early and for group bookings, as well as, for the first time, a 30% discount for junior solicitors and barristers to attend the conference.

As ever, it will be an event not to be missed, with the usual high standard of plenary presentations and focused breakout sessions that you would expect from this event, ensuring that you stay up to date with all the key issues and providing 10 hours CPD (SRA, Bar Council and APIL).

For more information please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children and young people

Outside speakers/collaboration: Representatives from the main FM and Cochlear manufacturers

Course Description:

This course will provide hands-on experience with the entire range of processors available, including practical advice about the day- to- day management in the classroom. Using FM radio aid systems in conjunction with these speech processors will be covered. All the major implant and FM system manufacturers will be practical workshops throughout the day.

This course will give you:

~ A general overview of how a cochlear implant system works with current research outcomes and future technological developments.
~ Opportunities to consider the challenges of managing and improving classroom acoustics
~ An overview of current sound field and FM systems.
~ Opportunities to hear from each of the three manufacturers of both implant systems and radio aids about their specific devices and current updates.
~ Time to get hands on with all the devices in practical workshops run by the professionals, including time to ask questions.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists and other professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Helen Starczewski, Hazel Lloyd-Richmond, Nottingham Cochlear Implant Programme

Course Description:

This course will explore SNAP Dragons, an innovative, child centered assessment which provides a wonderfully enjoyable way of looking at a child’s developing awareness of books and story-telling. SNAP uses picture based stories, written and illustrated specifically for pre-school children. Two modules, both of which must be completed, provide an exciting opportunity to develop skills in eliciting and analyzing children’s narratives.

SNAP Dragons has been found very useful in assessing deaf children’s narrative abilities through time. It takes into account the range of communication modes a deaf child can use, enabling a child to succeed in which ever mode they prefer.

This course will give you:

~ A working knowledge of SNAP with explanations of the transcription and story grammar codes with practice samples and small group work.
~ A perspective on the development of narratives and how to use the SNAP Dragons Rating.
~ Opportunities to take away and share some ideas on improving narrative skills.
~ How to look at the semantic analysis of stories with opportunities to practice on video samples.
~ A perspective on the up to date research outcomes using SNAP and narratives in general.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists and other Early Years professionals

Outside speakers/collaboration: Dee Dyar (Royal School for the Deaf Derby)

Course Description:

This course will explore the PALS profile, a criterion referenced procedure that monitors a deaf child’s ability to use spoken language, effectively, in every day environments. The PALS profile looks at the child’s rate of progress at five inter-related linguistic levels: social and pragmatic skills, receptive skills, expressive skills, voice skills, and speech skills.

This course will give you:

~ An introduction to PALS, along with the written criteria in the context of assessing communication and language before and after cochlear implantation
~ An exploration of how PALS can be used to establish a baseline linguistic measure for deaf children before fitting hearing aids for cochlear implants.
~ An exploration of how PALS can be used as a middle and long term measure of linguistic benefit as well as monitoring a child’s progress in the first 12 months after implantation.
~ Practical sessions, including video as showing participants examples of worked PALS profiles of children at different stages of linguistic ability.
~ Participants with a number of presentations of the different aspects of research that has been done in this area, including children from multi-lingual backgrounds.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £125.00

Using the RDLS to assess and monitor deaf children’s language levels

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists

Outside speakers/collaboration: Sue Lewis

Course Description

This two-day course will train participants in the use of these scales and explore issues specific to their use with deaf children. The RDLS is a closed test but teachers of the deaf may use it providing that they have been trained on this or similar courses. Sue Lewis is an NFER approved trainer for RDLS and specialises in its use with deaf children. The course is suitable for teachers of the deaf and speech and language therapists who wish to explore the test itself, issues and challenges in its use with deaf children and the interpretation of results

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £125.00

Using the RDLS to assess and monitor deaf children’s language levels

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists

Outside speakers/collaboration: Sue Lewis

Course Description

This two-day course will train participants in the use of these scales and explore issues specific to their use with deaf children. The RDLS is a closed test but teachers of the deaf may use it providing that they have been trained on this or similar courses. Sue Lewis is an NFER approved trainer for RDLS and specialises in its use with deaf children. The course is suitable for teachers of the deaf and speech and language therapists who wish to explore the test itself, issues and challenges in its use with deaf children and the interpretation of results

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : Free

An informative one day seminar for, Audiologists, Teachers of the Deaf, Speech and Language Therapists who work with children,
adolescents and adults.

This day is presented by MED-EL the Hearing Implant Company and
will introduce the MEI and EAS technology, current and the latest
paediatric indications for the suitability of this group of patients.

To register for the course please contact charles.mitchell@medel.com

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £95.00

Course suitable for: All professionals who work with children with cochlear implants

Outside speakers/collaboration: Dr. David Luterman and Dr. Kristina English for their resources

Course Description:

A high degree of specialist technical knowledge is essential nowadays when supporting children with hearing losses. However professionals also need emotional intelligence to support the families as they come to terms with the identification of deafness in their child. And this often means that we are called upon to use non professional counselling skills on an almost daily basis.

This one day course does not claim to train you to be a counsellor; instead we aim to explore the skills and strengths needed for non-professional counselling. Using resources developed with The Ear Foundation by some of the world’s leading experts in the field.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of the issues faced by course delegates in their current practice
~ Discussions and thoughts about the issues raised by Dr. David Luterman in his DVD
~ Approaches to non professional counselling as laid out by Dr. Kristina English and the relationship between professional and child, adult or family.
~ An explanations of the difference between professional and non professional counselling
~ Time for self reflection to possibly change or finely tune your current practice.
~ Opportunities for discussion of case studies and how to apply principles of non professional counselling to these everyday situations

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who have little or no experience of working with deaf children

Course Description:

Deaf children are increasingly being educated in mainstream settings and supported by a Learning Support Assistant, Teaching Assistant or Communication support worker. This course is for those who havelittle or no experience of working with a deaf child. It aims to provide an understanding of deafness and how this impacts on a child’s learning and social development and begins to explore some of the ways in which to support them. Ways which will enable them to enjoy school and achieve well.

This course will give you:

~ An introduction to the impact of deafness on learning and language development
~ A brief history of deaf education
~ Information about the technology available to assist deaf children
~ Discussion about different communication methods
~ Practical suggestions as to how to support a child in school
~ Opportunities to consider the role of the LSA

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for:Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and all professionals working with young, deaf children

Course Description:

Although the outcomes for cochlear implantation in terms of speech perception, production and spoken language development have surpassed expectations, there are significant numbers of children who do not do as well as expected. Research indicates that up to 40% of these children will have additional needs. With increasingly early implantation these may well not be identified or indeed become apparent until after implantation. This day will consider the needs of this group in terms of monitoring and assessment look at some of the possible causes of slow progress and suggest practical strategies for working with these children.

This course will give you:

~ An outline of expected progress after implantation
~ Consideration of the role and type of assessments that will help identify difficulties at the earliest opportunity
~ An exploration of some of the possible causes of slow progress
~ Practical strategies for working with these children
~ Case studies.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children

Course Description:

Bilateral implantation is increasingly becoming the routine audiologic management for severe to profoundly deaf children. There is a growth in both simultaneous and sequential bilateral implantation. This one day course will consider and explore the benefits of binaural hearing.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of the current research and expectations for children receiving bilateral implantation.
~ Opportunities to consider the issues involved in assessment, tuning and balancing the two systems being worn.
~ Opportunities to think about the practical support and management of children with bilateral cochlear implants.
~ Time for group discussion to consider the long term implications of having a bilateral cochlear implant
~ Insights into the experience of parents who have a child with bilateral cochlear implants
~ An overview of the current practice in Sweden and Belgium and the outcomes they have obtained with regards to bilateral implantation.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Learning Support Assistants, Speech & Language Therapists

Course Description:

There is an abundance of research to show that young children with cochlear implants are learning to listen and talk. But, as schooling progresses, language requirements become more and more complex. How can we help children with cochlear implants cope with the level of abstract language and reasoning that is needed as they grow up? This workshop will look at how to increase the opportunities for developing these skills within the curriculum, including time for group discussions. and video feed back.

This course will give you:

~ An update on the current cochlear implantation research, including expectations and limitations
~ Information on managing the listening environment and the technology in the classroom.
~ Discussions about language development within the whole school curriculum
~ Practical suggestions for how to support language in the curriculum.
~ Discussion about supporting social and emotional development
~ Case studies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Parents, LSAs and other professionals working with deaf children

Course Description:

Does deafness change behaviour and our options for managing it? This day will focus on the issues for parents and professionals concerned with behaviour management in children aged 11 and under at home and in school. It will consider some of the reasons for different behaviours and possible strategies for managing them. There will be the opportunity for discussing specific cases within a solution based framework.

This course will give you:

~ An understanding of behaviour issues involved in deafness and its links to language
~ An overview of some of the differences in behaviour between deaf and hearing children.
~ An opportunity to explore and review the course developed by the NDCS for parenting a deaf child including research outcomes
~ A practical understanding of the techniques for behaviour management
~ An open forum in which delegates may raise specific behaviour management issues that they have experienced with the opportunity for exploring possible strategies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Howardian Centre, Cardiff
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and all professionals working with young, deaf children. Parents also welcome

Course Description:

Increasingly deaf children with a range of additional and complex needs are being considered for, and receiving, cochlear implants. The benefits and assessment criteria for this particular group need careful consideration. A number of experts in the field will explore different issues around assessment, monitoring and working with this special group of children

This course will give you:

~ An update on assessments used in this population for cochlear implantation.
~ Opportunities for group discussion about the issues of assessment
~ An overview of current research and practice involved in assessment and measuring outcomes in complex children with cochlear implants
~ Insights into the experience of parents who have a child with complex needs and an implant: what outcomes are important for them?
~ Examples of how to use music when working with these children.
~ Practical suggestions for communication development

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Medics, Audiologists and Clinical Scientists working with children with ANSD

Outside speakers/collaboration: Kaukab Rajput (Great Ormond Street Hospital),
Steve Mason (Nottingham Cochlear Implant
Programme) and Martin Driscoll (Manchester
Cochlear Implant Team)
Course Description:

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) is the new term recently adopted t cover a range of difficulties previously described as Auditory Neuropathy and Auditory dis-synchrony, and reflects the growing understanding of the condition. This one day course will draw on specialist expertise in this area and explore the most recent thinking about the condition, what we know and how to manage it. The course will outline in particular the complex issues when assessing these children for cochlear implantation and the implications for future management

This course will give you:

~ An update on the current knowledge and understanding of ANSD
~ An update on current research to recent research
~ Discussion around the issues relating to and cochlear implantation ANSD and assessment
~ Outcomes of CI and ANSD
~ Electrophysiology and ANSD
~ Detailed case studies presented by practitioner in the field
~ Panel discussion of delegate questions

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Learning Support Assistants

Course Description:

Young deaf children in primary school have access to the latest technologies including cochlear implants which enable them to access the full range of speech. This has significantly improved their opportunities to acquire phonological awareness and improved literacy skills. In order to maximize their potential it is necessary to give careful consideration to how phonics and literacy programmes are implemented both at school and supported at home. This day will give an overview of current research as well as exploring practical solutions for enhancing literacy skills across the curriculum. There will also be a focus on how using phonics in the developing literacy skills of deaf children.

This course will give you:

~ An overview of the implications of cochlear implantation for literacy development.
~ Information about phonics and resources available
~ An opportunity to explore how to plan effective literacy programmes within the curriculum for deaf children, including principles and practice.
~ Time to discuss the practical implications of encouraging literacy skills with ideas to implement.
~ Opportunities to think about how to link with parents to help support their child’s literacy development at home.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists

Outside speakers/collaboration: Sue Lewis

Course Description:

In order to effectively provide for deaf children’s needs we must be clear as to their functioning across a range of language areas and as to how these levels will impact on their access and inclusion. This course explores a range of procedures currently in use with deaf children at primary level and suggests ways in which linguistic progress should be tracked so that progress and achievement can be meaningfully analysed and priorities identified

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Communication Support Workers

Course Description:

This course is suitable for Learning Support Assistants who work with Deaf children in the early years, either in the home or in the Foundation stage. With more and more deaf children entering mainstream school, learning support assistants play a vital role in helping these children to flourish and enjoy their early school experiences.

This course will give you:
~ An update on the process of cochlear implantation and the opportunity to look at the various systems that are available
~ An opportunity to discuss their child’s specific needs and the challenges they face in supporting the child in the classroom
~ Opportunities to hear about and discuss communication development and expectations in pre-school deaf children
~ Information and discussion around supporting the family
~ General tips and guidance around managing children’s behaviour in nursery

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for:Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Parents, LSAs and other professionals working with deaf children

Outside speakers/collaboration: Dirk Flower (Educational Psychologist)

Course Description:

Does deafness change behaviour and our options for managing it? This day will focus on the issues for parents and professionals concerned with behaviour management in teenage children at home and in school. It will consider some of the reasons for different behaviours and possible strategies for managing them. There will be the opportunity for discussing specific cases within a solution based framework.

This course will give you:

~ An understanding of the general issues involved with teenagers
~ An exploration of specific issues for deaf teenagers linking language and behaviour.
~ An overview of some of the differences in behaviour between deaf and hearing teenagers
~ Case studies, including strategies for managing different behaviours
~ A understanding of a range of techniques for behaviour management
~ An open forum in which delegates may raise specific behaviour management issues that they have experienced with the opportunity for exploring possible strategies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The National College for School Leadership
Cost : £140.00

The Ear Foundation’s fifth annual State of the Art conference, the day will provide a unique forum where the current issues in all the areas involved in paediatric implantation will be explained. In one day you will receive the most up to date information given by international experts.

For all those working with deaf children and needing to be up-to-speed with the latest thinking in cochlear implantation, parents

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who work with deaf children at the school age.

Course Description:
This day will explore issues of behavior which concern parents and support assistants, both at home and at school, the impact of deafness on behavior and practical ways of dealing with deaf children

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for:Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who work with deaf children within the Primary School environment

Course Description:

The majority of deaf children are now educated within a mainstream setting and many will have the support of a learning or communication assistant. The children will be using the latest hearing technologies and learning alongside their hearing peers with a range of outcomes. The technology, however, does not replace normal hearing and a range of issues will arise that make it more difficult for the deaf children to access what is happening within the classroom. This course aims to raise particular issues that may arise and consider how a support assistant may address them.

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants and other technologies exploring expectations and limitations
~ Practical ideas for managing the classroom environment and technology
~ A discussion about language development for the deaf child
~ Practical suggestions to support language development
~ Opportunities to consider how to continue to provide the flexible support they need within the classroom
~ Consideration of the role of the LSA
~ Case Studies
~ Time to consider the particular needs of your child/children

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £65.00

Course suitable for: Learning Support Assistants, Teaching assistants and Communication Support Workers who work with deaf children within the Secondary School environment

Course Description:

The majority of deaf youngsters are now educated within a mainstream setting and many will have the support of a learning or communication assistant. The students will be using the latest hearing technologies and learning alongside their hearing peers with a range of outcomes. The technology, however, does not replace normal hearing and a range of issues will arise that make it more difficult for the deaf student to access what is happening within the classroom. This course aims to raise particular issues that arise within the secondary school setting and consider how a support assistant may address them.

This course will give you:

~ An update on cochlear implants and other technologies exploring expectations and limitations
~ Practical ideas for managing the classroom environment and technology
~ A discussion about language development for the deaf student
~ Practical suggestions to support language development
~ Research outcomes from a study exploring students views of the support they receive
~ Opportunities to discuss social and emotional issues
~ Consideration of how to provide the flexible support they need within the classroom.
~ Case Studies

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Audiologists and all professionals working with young, deaf children. Parents also welcome

Outside speakers/collaboration: Wendy McCracken, Manchester University, Chris Rocca, Advanced Bionics and Mary Hare School

Course Description:

Increasingly deaf children with a range of additional and complex needs are being considered for, and receiving, cochlear implants. The benefits and assessment criteria for this particular group need careful consideration. A number of experts in the field will explore different issues around assessment, monitoring and working with this special group of children

This course will give you:

~ An update on assessments used in this population for cochlear implantation.
~ Opportunities for group discussion about the issues of assessment
~ An overview of current research and practice involved in assessment and measuring outcomes in complex children with cochlear implants
~ Insights into the experience of parents who have a child with complex needs and an implant: what outcomes are important for them?
~ Examples of how to use music when working with these children.
~ Practical suggestions for communication development

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Trouble-shooting Cochlear Implants including Day to Day Management and FM Systems
Mon 6 Dec

Course suitable for: All professionals working with deaf children and young people

Outside speakers/collaboration: Representatives from the main FM and Cochlear manufacturers

Course Description:

This course will provide hands-on experience with the entire range of processors available, including practical advice about the day- to- day management in the classroom. Using FM radio aid systems in conjunction with these speech processors will be covered. All the major implant and FM system manufacturers will be practical workshops throughout the day.

~ A general overview of how a cochlear implant system works with current research outcomes and future technological developments.
~ Opportunities to consider the challenges of managing and improving classroom acoustics
~ An overview of current sound field and FM systems.
~ Opportunities to hear from each of the three manufacturers of both implant systems and radio aids about their specific devices and current updates.
~ Time to get hands on with all the devices in practical workshops run by the professionals, including time to ask questions.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £125.00

Course suitable for: Audiologists, Speech & Language Therapists, Medical Doctors with good audiological experience. Expertise in paediatric audiology is an advantage, but it is not a prerequisite.
Outside speakers/collaboration:Paul Govaerts and Kristin Daemers (The Eargroup,
Antwerp)

Course Description:

The Auditory Speech Sound Evaluation (A§E ®) is a psycho-acoustic test suite with supraliminal auditory tests. It is conceived to test children and adults with no or very limited functional speech, but it can also be used for other persons with hearing problems. It is speech- and language independent allowing analytical assessment of the supraliminal auditory capacity. A§E2009 contains 5 modules:
(1) A§E classics: phoneme detection, discrimination and identification
(2) A§E prosodic tests: sentence intonation and word stress pattern
(3) A§E synthetic sounds: harmonic complexes, harmonic intonating sounds and disharmonic intonating sounds
(4) A§E loudness scaling
(5) A§E localization test (13 angles of 10°) with only two-loudspeakers
This course will give you:

~Hands-on training organized by the developers of A§E®
~ Opportunity to use the (A§E ®) is a software package
~ A free trial license for 6 months

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £40.00

Cochlear Europe Workshop - Baha Information Day
Wed 8 Dec

An informative one day seminar for Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists and other professionals working with Baha recipients, both adults and children. Given by Cochlear Europe the day will cover an introduction to Baha technology, current indications and selection criteria for candidates as well as an overview of the product, accessories and FM appliances. With Claire Ratcliffe

To register for this course please contact Sian Jones at Cochlear on 01932 871509, or sjones@cochlear.co.uk

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Educational Audiologists and Audiological Scientists

Outside speakers/collaboration: Chris Durst (MEDEL)

Course Description:

Do you know what your deaf child is really hearing through their hearing aid or cochlear implant? What can you expect in terms of speech perception, understanding and intelligibility? This popular one day course will explore some of these issues, including the importance of considering classroom acoustics, the implications of developing spoken language and the ever changing issue of assessing the curriculum.

This course will give you:

~ An understanding of what issues are involved in speech acoustics
~ An opportunity to explore how the speech signal is processed in both hearing aids and cochlear implants.
~ An overview of current research trends and outcomes to guide you in what can you expect in terms of speech perception, understanding and intelligibility in children who use hearing aids and cochlear implants.
~ A practical insight into classroom acoustics as well as tips for improving acoustics.
~ Access to information about a range of assistive listening devices
~ Time to explore the consequences of deafness on the development of speech production

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here

Ear Foundation

Venue : The Ear Foundation
Cost : £85.00

Course suitable for: Teachers of the Deaf, Speech & Language Therapists, Learning Support Assistants
Outside speakers/collaboration: Sue Lewis & Roz Pither (Mary Hare School)

Course Description:

This course is focused on strategies for promoting and monitoring the development of higher order and independent thinking and learning skills in deaf children at KS2, 3 and 4. It uses recent research, but also national strategies, to explore the ways in which those supporting deaf children can incorporate such strategies into their lessons and interactions with the children to secure their learning optimally, including the encouragement of the voice of the child and of children taking responsibility for their own learning.

For more details of this and other courses at the Ear Foundation, please click here