The Listening Brain

Mary McGinnis is a teacher of the deaf and Listening and Spoken Language Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist. She is the former Director of the John Tracy Clinic Graduate Program, and continues to teach auditory-verbal courses for the JTC Graduate Program. She’s also a consultant for Aurea Lab in Mexico City, working with families and professionals, and helping to create assessment materials in Spanish. She has worked with children with hearing differences and their families for over 55 years, with experience teaching infants through adults, and families from around the world. She was a researcher and Director of the Fellowship Program at the House Ear Institute at the beginning of FDA trials for the single channel implant in children, and the first multichannel implant in children in North America. She has published and presented on a wide variety of topics, and is known for the world’s first published auditory skills curriculum for deaf and hard of hearing children. She continues to mentor professionals toward LSLS certification, and presents globally on various topics, from auditory skills, to speech, speech acoustics, pragmatics, reading, and family-centered education. Links: John Tracy Center: www.jtc.org John Tracy Center Graduate Program: https://www.jtc.org/services/masters-credential-program/ Mary’s email: MaryDMcGinnis@gmail.com _____________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Carly Sygrove is a hearing loss coach and a hearing health writer who has single-sided deafness. She writes about living with hearing loss at My Hearing Loss Story and manages an online support group for people with hearing loss. She is also the founder of the Sudden Hearing Loss Support website, a source of information and support for people affected by sudden hearing loss. In her previous career, Carly worked for 14 years as an Early Years teacher in various countries, including the UK, China, Thailand, and Spain, where she currently lives with her partner, Stuart. Outside of hearing health advocacy, Carly enjoys yoga, baking, and walking in the Spanish countryside. Carly's links: Coaching website: https://www.carlysygrove.com/ Facebook support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422427341250724 Personal blog: https://myhearinglossstory.com/ Podcast: https://www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/happy-hearing-podcast All links: https://linktr.ee/carlysygrove _______________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Erin Thompson, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVT has been working with the Children's Cochlear Implant Center at UNC since July 2004. She earned her Bachelors from Appalachian State University and her Master’s in Speech and Hearing Sciences from UNC-Chapel Hill. She completed her clinical fellowship year with Pediatric Speech and Language Services out of Greensboro and became a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in 2009. Erin conducts Listening and Spoken Language parent participation sessions, speech and language diagnostics for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, as well as co-treat sessions with families and audiologists. A passion has been mentoring students and professionals across NC, the US and abroad. Erin has been a member of the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss and has traveled to Vietnam on three occasions, and Mongolia on one occasion to help provide mentoring and training abroad. She also spent time coaching a team of Speech-Language Therapists in Auckland, New Zealand. Erinexpanded her interests in 2019 to 2023 to include the role of Family Care Coordinator for The Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. She helped manage, facilitate and coordinate cochlear implant consultation referrals, supporting all families going through the CI consult process at UNC. https://www.med.unc.edu/earandhearing/ ____________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Sydney Bassard, MSP, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in working with individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing and literacy. She owns The Listening SLP, her private practice and social media brand. Sydney creates graphics to promote healthy equity of information. The Listening SLP Website Free Downloads from The Listening SLP Instagram Facebook ________________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Paige Stringer, M.A., M.P.H -- Paige is the Founder and Executive Director of the Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss. Born with a severe to profound hearing loss, Paige benefitted from early identification and early intervention services as a baby to learn to listen and speak. In 2009, she established the Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss (GFCHL) to help young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and living in developing countries access the locally-based services that they need to listen, talk, and thrive. Prior to her current role as the organization’s Executive Director, Paige held various marketing positions for 15 years, including at Amazon.com and The Clorox Company. She served on the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Global Hearing Health from 2014 – 2016. Paige has been involved in committee work at the World Health Organization since 2015 to help raise global awareness for hearing loss, including in her current role on the advisory group for the WHO Resolution and World Report on Hearing. She lived for a few months in Geneva in 2019 to lead the development of the communications strategy for the 2021 release of the WHO World Report on Hearing. She has been honored with several awards for her work in developing countries including the 2019 World of Children Health Award, the 2018 AG Bell Association Award for International Service and the 2014 Humanitarian of the Year Award by the American Academy of Audiology. Paige earned a full tennis scholarship to the University of Washington where she earned her Bachelor’s degree. She holds a Master’s of Arts degree from the University of San Francisco and her Master’s in Public Health, Global Health degree from the University of Washington. For more information about the Global Foundation: http://www.childrenwithhearingloss.org/ ________________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Wendy D. Visser, MEd, Dipl. AV Studies, is an Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Wendy has her Masters in Education, a Postgraduate Certificate in Auditory Verbal Studies and is an Auditory Skills Therapist. In addition to being a Content Creator at the 3C Digital Media Network, she is also a Course Consultant for SoundIntuition. With more than 25 years of teaching experience, Wendy has been a classroom teacher for grades 6-10, developed and taught Geography and History for high school ESL students, an itinerant resource teacher with a focus on autism spectrum disorder and her current role. Wendy has presented internationally and works with private clients all over the world in both French and English, including Auditory Skills Training (AST) for newly implanted adults and children older than 6 .11yrs. When she is not teaching, Wendy loves to travel with her husband, figure skate and scrapbook. email wendydawn@rogers.com AVT book - Contributing Author Visser, W. (2016) [Professional Partnerships and Auditory-Verbal Therapy]. Estabrooks, W., MacIver-Lux, K., Rhodes, E. (Ed.) Auditory-Verbal Therapy For Young Children with Hearing Loss and Their Families, and the Practitioners Who Guide Them (ch16). San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing, Inc. Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/wendancesresourcestpt 3C Digital - courses Theory of Mind and the Middle School Child https://www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/course/theory-of-mind La guidance parentale - Les avantages des stratégies auditives verbales https://www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/course/guidance-parentale-strategies-auditivesverbales Parental Guidance & the Advantages of Using Auditory Verbal Strategies https://www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/course/parental-guidance-avt ________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a conent creator and want to share your knowledge with others, please consider working with the 3C Digital Media Network. To learn more, please contact todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com .

Dr. Kathy Dowd worked in audiology settings for school systems, as state hearing impaired supervisor, ENT clinics and private practice for 36 years. Dr. Dowd is currently the Executive Director of The Audiology Project, a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness of the impact of chronic diseases, ototoxic medications and other medical issues affecting hearing. She was credited with helping the Centers of Disease Control to add audiology to their diabetes care model in 2021, with the support of Audiology professional organizations. Dr. Dowd’s work now is working to implement the CDC guidelines for a baseline hearing evaluation at the time of diagnosis and annually thereafter for persons with diabetes. In addition, Dr. Dowd is currently engaged with CMS on the issue of lack of hearing services in nursing homes, which is mandated by the federal law OBRA 1987. www.theaudiologyproject.com Diabetes and Hearing Loss | Diabetes | CDC Take Charge of Your Diabetes: Healthy Ears | Diabetes | CDC How to Promote Ear Health for People With Diabetes | Diabetes | CDC _________________________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a content creator and want to distribute your webinars, courses, podcasts, or blogs, please consider working with us at the 3C Digital Media Network. To learn more, contact K. Todd Houston, Founding Partner & CEO, at todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Jasmine Simmons was born in Columbus, Ohio and currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida. Her journey in the field of Audiology is marked by dedication, resilience, and a relentless commitment to inclusivity and advocacy. Dr. Simmons' educational path began at the University of Akron, where she obtained her undergraduate degree. Her determination for knowledge and passion for audiology led her to Central Michigan University, where she earned her Doctorate in Audiology, solidifying her expertise in the field. What makes Dr. Jasmine Simmons truly unique is her personal journey. Born profoundly deaf, she was implanted with a cochlear implant at the age of two. It provided her with a remarkable perspective on the world of audiology. She also faces the challenges of Usher's syndrome, which has caused progressive vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa. Her personal experiences have fueled her fierce commitment to inclusivity and advocating for quality healthcare and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Dr. Simmons firmly believes that every child should be able to see themselves in the pages of books, and she's actively working on her first children's book series, aimed at promoting awareness, acceptance, and inclusion. Her dedication to creating a more inclusive world extends to her public speaking engagements, where she passionately advocates for better healthcare and job opportunities for people with disabilities. My website which is drjasminesimmons.com and my instagram @drjasminesimmons. _________________________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a content creator and want to distribute your webinars, courses, podcasts, or blogs, please consider working with us at the 3C Digital Media Network. To learn more, contact K. Todd Houston, Founding Partner & CEO, at todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

You can also listen to this episode on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Donna Smiley, Ph.D., CCC-A is the Chief Staff Officer for Audiology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She works with the ASHA teams in Audiology Practices, Accreditation, Certification and Ethics. Prior to coming to ASHA, she was the coordinator for the Educational Audiology/Speech Pathology Resources for Schools (EARS) Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Smiley has practiced audiology for 33 years, co-authored a textbook about school-based audiology practice (Title: School-Based Audiology; Plural Publishing) and was named a Fellow of ASHA in 2018. She received her Ph.D. in Hearing Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Websites and contacts info: www.asha.org ASHA Action Center: Contact the ASHA National Office; OR by phone 800-498-2071 (members) and 800-638-8255 (non-members) Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Toolkit (asha.org) Demonstrating Your Value (asha.org) ____________________________________ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a content creator and have a story to tell or expertise to share, consider working with the 3C Digital Media Network. For more information, contact K. Todd Houston, Founding Partner and CEO, at todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com. We are looking for talented speech-language pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, educators, listening & spoken language specialists, early interventionists, early childhood educators, and others who would like to publish blogs, webinars, courses, and/or podcasts related to their disciplines and areas of specialty.

Tracy B. Pate, M.S., CCC-SLP, Listening and Spoken Language Specialist/ Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist, is the Program Coordinator for The Listening Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital. The Listening Center is an evaluation, therapy, and consultation program designed for the development of listening and spoken language skills for children and adults who are deaf and hard of hearing. For the past thirty years, she has worked exclusively with this population. Her responsibilities include working directly with families to educate and empower them on issues related to hearing loss. She consults with Early Intervention professionals and school districts statewide to educate them on intervention for students using cochlear implant technology. She provides direct speech language therapy and telehealth sessions to families as well. She also uses a telehealth format to consult and educate other professionals who are serving the deaf and hard of hearing population. She received certification to practice Auditory-Verbal Therapy in 1998, which places her in a group of highly qualified individuals specifically training to teach listening and spoken language to young children who are deaf and hard of hearing. https://www.archildrens.org/ https://www.archildrens.org/programs-and-services/audiology/Treatments/the-listening-center You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a content creator and have a story to tell or expertise to share, consider working with the 3C Digital Media Network. For more information, contact K. Todd Houston, Founding Partner and CEO at todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com.

Lillian Henderson, M.S.P., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert AVT, earned a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina in Speech Pathology and is a LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. Lillian is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Otolaryngology and Clinic Manager for Speech for The Children’s Cochlear Implant Center at UNC. She works with cochlear implant and auditory brainstem implant recipients providing therapy and assessments to children who are deaf or hard of hearing learning spoken language through listening. Lillian also provides training to professionals and graduate students throughout the United States. She is a consultant with the Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. Contact the Children's Cochlear Implant Center: https://www.med.unc.edu/earandhearing. Opportunities for future trainings including CSI and LSL Junction can be found here. SSD Studies out of UNC-Chapel Hill: Two year outcomes paper: https://journals.lww.com/ear-hearing/Fulltext/9900/Two_Year_Outcomes_of_Cochlear_Implant_Use_for.122.aspx# One year outcomes paper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9293149/ You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast If you are a digital storyteller and want to create new content (webinars, courses, blogs, or podcasts), please contact todd@3cdigitalmedianetwork.com. We are looking to add more content to our platform!

Jennifer Wallace, M.S., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT is a speech-language pathologist and certified AV therapist at the Atlanta Speech School. She received her master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience providing listening and spoken language therapy in outpatient clinical settings, cochlear implant teams, and schools. She currently works in the Stepping Stones program at Atlanta Speech School serving children with speech/language and learning needs in a therapeutic classroom setting. eMail: JWallace@atlantaspeechschool.org Web: www.atlantaspeechschool.org You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Melissa Chaikof is a cofounder and Chair of Usher 1F Collaborative, a nonprofit foundation whose mission is to find a treatment to save or restore the vision of those with Usher syndrome type 1F. Usher syndrome is the leading cause of inherited deaf-blindness. With two daughters affected by Usher 1F, the cause is a very personal one to her, and she is determined to save her daughters’ vision. Prior to founding Usher 1F Collaborative, she worked for 14 years as Donor Research Analyst for Nonprofit Leadership (NPL), LLC. Prior to her work at NPL, Melissa was a contributing author on the topic of “English Language Acquisition of Children with Cochlear Implants” for the book written by Tom Bertling entitled Communicating with Deaf Children. She also worked as Outreach Coordinator for the Auditory-Verbal Center of Atlanta and as a systems analyst at the MITRE Corporation. She is currently a state champion for the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, past board member of the Gift of Hearing Foundation, Cochlear Implant Association, Inc. (CIAI), the Auditory-Verbal Center of Atlanta, and served as contributor and associate editor for Contact, the publication of CIAI, for six years. Melissa holds an M.S. in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in applied math. She lives in Boston and has three adult children, two with Usher Syndrome type 1F. To learn more about Usher 1F Collaborative and their work and progress toward a cure or to help, please visit https://www.usher1f.org. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Arlene Stredler-Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP provides consultation and technical assistance to programs working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing in the United States and internationally. She has graduate degrees in Speech/Language Pathology, Education of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and a doctoral degree in Special Education. Her recent research focuses on telepractice and the use of coaching strategies in the delivery of family-centered early intervention. Having worked many years in program administration and policy development, Dr. Stredler-Brown brings this skill set to her role as Director of the Colorado Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program. Common themes guiding her work are: inclusiveness, collaboration, evidence-based practice and a commitment to infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Mom to a cCMV Angel. After losing her 3-year-old daughter, Bella Dawn, to congenital CMV, Sarah Streeval set out to change things for future CMV families in Kentucky. Sarah became a Community Chairperson for National CMV Foundation. She helped to spearhead a focus group in her state that worked for two years toward implementing CMV policy. In April of this year, Kentucky became the 5th state to pass legislation providing CMV education to expectant parents and targeted CMV testing for Kentucky newborns. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Adam Chitta is a music educator in San Antonio, Texas, who has been wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids following the diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at age 7. For the past twelve years, he has been teaching band and orchestra in the North East Independent School District. In this podcast interview, Adam shares his experiences of growing up with hearing loss and his journey through music in learning how to play musical instruments alongside his “hearing” twin brother, Stephen. Since completing his master’s degree in music education from Texas State University in May 2021, Adam has been on a journey to promote advocacy and raise awareness of how to best teach and reach DHH students in the music classrooms. His past professional presentations include the Cambridge University Press Accessibility Champions Virtual Talk, ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers) Virtual University Press Redux Conference, Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic/Conference, and the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/ Convention. Adam actively seeks out newer techniques that can be utilized in the current music classrooms, of which include being a Teacher Affiliate for Soundbrenner Metronome products. Alongside being a music educator, Adam has a strong background in the marching arts. This includes his five years of being a brass performer for the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, and a visual instructor for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps, Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and Guardians Drum & Bugle Corps. He also worked with winter guard and indoor percussion in the Houston area as a visual instructor, drill designer, administrative assistant, and director. Adam serves as a role model and mentor to children and parents who may be facing challenges with their child wanting to succeed in their growth with music education. Anyone, including teachers, who would like to contact Adam for more tips, tools, or strategies for DHH students can reach him at adamchitta@gmail.com and can join his Facebook group, “Music is for ALL in our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community.” Qualifying for the deaf tuition waiver through the Texas Health and Human Services has helped Adam and his family with financial assistance through his higher education journey and he strongly recommends all DHH students in Texas to look into this program. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Ellen Thomas is a senior speech-language pathologist and LSLS Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist at the University of Michigan where she provides direct intervention to children with hearing loss using an auditory-verbal approach. She is a part of the University of Michigan Cochlear Implant Program. Ellen has published articles in Otology & Neurotology and has given numerous presentations nationally and internationally related to the development of listening and spoken language in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Since its beginning in 2004, Ellen has worked on the outreach grant Sound Support throughout the state of Michigan to bridge the medical and educational needs of children with hearing loss. In addition to her work at the University of Michigan, Ellen is the co-director of and an instructor for the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training’s Auditory-Verbal Practice Course. Ellen received her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She completed her certification in Auditory-Verbal Therapy in 2000. Ellen has had the privilege of serving on the Michigan EHDI board and the A.G. Bell Academy board. She is passionate about helping children learn to listen and talk so that hearing loss does not drive their choices in life. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Carol Flexer, PhD, CCC-A, LSLS Cert. AVT, received her doctorate in Audiology from Kent State University in 1982. She is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Audiology, The University of Akron. An international lecturer in pediatric and educational audiology and author of more than 155 publications including 17 books, Dr. Flexer is a past president of the Educational Audiology Association, the American Academy of Audiology, and the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language. You can listen to this episode wherever you stream podcasts and at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast

Sylvia Rotfleisch, MSc(A), CCC/A, BSc(OT), LSLS Cert, AVT, is a certified Auditory-Verbal therapist, educator, and audiologist. She has devoted her career to providing therapy to families with children with hearing loss and teaching and mentoring other professionals. Trained at McGill University with Dr. Daniel Ling, Ms. Rotfleisch worked at Montreal Oral School for the Deaf, House Ear Institute, and Echo Horizon School before starting Hear to Talk (hear2talk.com), her own private practice. In addition to working with hundreds of families over more than 35 years, Ms. Rotfleisch has taught at University of Southern California, California Lutheran University, and led international master classes. She lectures, consults and mentors for school districts, helping to update their professional staff and mentors for LSL certification. She has presented at a wide variety of workshops and conferences. Ms. Rotfleisch has also served a variety of committees, including for AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language and the task Force on Principles of Auditory-Verbal Therapy. Maura Martindale, EdD, LSL Cert. AVEd, is a certified Auditory Verbal Educator. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California in 1999. She is the founder and director of the Master’s Degree of Science in the Education of the Deaf and Credential Program, and is an Associate Professor, at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She has provided guidance and support to families of children with hearing loss in listening and spoken language at No Limits for Deaf Children centers in Southern California for over 15 years. Throughout her 40-plus years teaching at numerous universities, Dr. Martindale has prepared hundreds of teachers of the deaf for schools and programs throughout the US. She was a teacher and Director of Educational Services at the John Tracy Clinic in Los Angeles California for 26 years. You can listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast You can get Sylvia's and Maura's book at www.pluralpublishing.com

Kathryn Wilson Linder M.A., CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT is a speech-language pathologist, teacher of the deaf and Auditory-Verbal therapist, with more than 40 years of experience as an educator, therapist, and consultant in public school, private practice, home-based, and clinical settings. From 2014 until 2018, Kathryn held the position of Coaching and Mentoring Leader for Hearing First, This followed a position as Director of FIRST YEARS at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Kathryn is a founding member of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, has been a member of the Coordinating Committee for the American Speech and Hearing Association Special Interest Group, Hearing and Hearing Disorders in Childhood and has served on the Board of Directors for The CARE Project. Kathryn has contributed to the professional literature as an author of several articles on a variety of topics. She provides professional learning opportunities both nationally and internationally and mentors professionals pursuing certification in Listening and Spoken Language practice. You can listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or at: www.3cdigitalmedianetwork.com/the-listening-brain-podcast