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Clinical Services

speech and language

Establishing and building on a good language base is the number one goal of the entire staff of the Omaha Hearing School. In addition to working on this goal, the speech pathologists work toward making that language intelligible. This is the basis for effective communication in school and in the community.

Hearing loss can have significant effects on spoken communication. Listening skills are emphasized to improve performance in a mainstream setting. Visual and kinesthetic feedback become primary reinforcers. Once a child has mastered a specific sound system through articulation therapy, speech services continue in order to maintain these systems.

The number and length of sessions assigned to each child reflects the extent of the child's need for speech services. The majority of the children are seen individually so their specific needs can be addressed. Groups are formed when peer interaction is advantageous.

Learning about sounds and their position in words serves the children at the Omaha Hearing School well when they are learning to read. The ground work has been laid for associating sounds and letters.

Speech Pathologists work closely with the classroom teachers to ensure consistency of expectations for speech production. Our primary goal is for deaf and hard of hearing children to develop speech and listening skills that will enable them to speak intelligibly and be effective communicators in the day-to-day situations they encounter.

assessment

The children enrolled in our program are evaluated annually. Standardized test measures are used in the areas of receptive and expressive language, speech development, auditory skill development, and academic skills. Through the use of such measures, the children can be tracked for their progress over time as well as their progress when measured against their hearing peers. Additionally each child's spontaneous language is monitored through the use of language samples taken at regular intervals (at least quarterly), and analyzed through the use of a computer program.

hearing screening

For over fifty years Omaha Hearing School has prided itself in serving children and their families. Through a partnership with Children’s Hospital and the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, OHS began providing hearing screenings free to the children in the greater Omaha metropolitan community in January 2005. In 2008-2009 we were able to continue our Campaign for Healthy Hearing to the community by a grant provided by the Parker Family FDN and The Knight of Aksarben FDN. We have known for a long time that it is important to have a child’s vision periodically checked. Through research, we now know that it is important to check a child’s hearing as well. Trained staff travel to area childcare facilities, preschools, Head Start programs, and health fairs. As the Campaign approaches it’s fifth year anniversary OHS is proud to have provided screenings for over 6,000 young children, with some children being referred for medical management and audiological follow-up. For more information about hearing screenings please contact: Jennifer Hadenfeldt, Coordinator 402/558-1546 x217.