Communication and connection with family and friends are key goals for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. We usually learn how these interactions work through watching and overhearing people chatting with each other. Children with hearing loss can miss out on this learning experience.
You can help them develop their conversational skills by teaching your child how to interact in different scenarios. These are some skills your child needs to become an effective communicator.
- Meeting others – Knowing when to smile, make eye contact and show interest in the other person.
- Paying attention – Listening or watching to what is being communicated.
- Turn taking – Knowing when it is their turn or someone else’s turn to talk or sign.
- Remembering – What the person said.
- Sequencing – Remembering the order in which a story was told.
- Comprehension – Understanding what the person had said.
- Responding – Replying appropriately to the other person when it is their turn.
- Pragmatics – Using the society’s rules to guide how to interact with other.
Download the Real Life Tips infographic.
More information:
- Conversation skills for children | raisingchildren.net.au
- Literacy Teaching Toolkit – Pragmatics | Victorian Department of Education
- Cochlear implant communication strategies/to help improve communication | Cochlear
- Conversation skills for your child with hearing loss | Medel
- A Back to School Guide for Parents and Teachers School Readiness Hints and Tips | Cochlear
