“Hello, students. I am Yu Yachu, an auditory-verbal specialist from the Children’s Hearing Foundation(CHF). I have been serving at CHF for 17 years. Today, I want to share with you how CHF helps children with hearing loss learn to listen and speak…”
In a classroom in the administration building of Asia University, more than thirty students specializing in audiology and speech-language pathology are seated. They not only possess knowledge in their professional field but are also potential partners who can work alongside CHF to help children with hearing loss. Through these campus talks, we not only share practical experiences from early intervention in hearing and speech but also broaden the students’ horizons, showing them how social impact and professional collaboration can create a bright future for children with hearing loss.
Bridging the Communication Gap for Children with Hearing Loss
“When my child was born, he didn’t pass the newborn hearing screening. I was really anxious. Although he passed the rescreening later, I could deeply empathize with the parents’ feelings while watching the video.” After watching the ten-minute introductory video about the CHF, a first-year graduate student shared how the video reminded her own experiences and emotions as a mother.
Another student shared her experience of being a person with unilateral hearing loss. Because she wears suitable hearing aids, she has more freedom in choosing her seat in the classroom. She is not restricted to specific seats that are favorable for her hearing ear to receive speech information.
After listening to the students’ sharing, Ms. Yu responded by saying that CHF has found in practice that some children who pass the newborn screening may still experience delayed, progressive, or disease-related hearing loss. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor children’s hearing development in daily life. If there are any concerns, it’s crucial to seek assistance as early as possilbe. Effective hearing management is an indispensable foundation for auditory-verbal therapy, helping children with hearing loss learn to listen and speak. The goal is to enable these children to fully realize their potential, bridge the communication gap with the world, and choose and create their own life paths.
The Greatest Reward
When asked why she chose to serve at CHF after graduation rather than applying her special education training in other educational systems, Ms. Yu smiled and said, “Looking back, it must be because I enjoy interacting with people. I don’t just help a child with hearing loss; I work with an entire team—hearing specialists, social workers, school teachers, doctors—to support the whole family.” Participating in every step of a child’s growth and witnessing them reclaim the power to shape their lives is the greatest reward of this job.
After the talk, students eagerly came to the front to inquire about how to become auditory-verbal therapists, various practical techniques of auditory-verbal therapy, and information on the recruitment of auditory-verbal therapists. It felt as if we were already seeing more people joining us, using their professional skills to support social impact and together creating a bright future for children with hearing loss to learn to listen and speak.
Full Article Published in NO.45 of the Children’s Hearing Foundation Biannual Journal
