Learn and Connect

When you need information about cochlear implantation, turn to CIAF.  In this section of our Web site, you will soon find links to implant-related product info, implant centers, support groups, message boards and private sites dedicated to issues of hearing loss and implantation.

Hearing Pocket for your child's processor

Cochlear Implant T-Shirts for Children

Cochlear Implant Manufacturer Information

Insurance Help and Advocacy

Agencies/Organizations

Web Resources

Web sites that simulate listening through a cochlear implant
U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Cochlear Implants

Cochlear Implant & Hearing Aid Interface Systems

Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation Resources

Suggested Scales of Development and Assessment Tools:

Auditory Perception/Listening Skills

Speech/Intelligibility

Speechreading

Language
            Basic Concepts

Sign Language
Computer Software for Developing Spoken Language Skills 
Curricula/Training Programs
Books
Additional Resources

Manufacturer Information:

Cochlear implant manufacturers offer an abundance of free, promotional materials in various languages, as well as information on candidacy, services, research, and events. In addition, they offer the following videos and resources described below.

Advanced Bionics/Clarion System
Mann Biomedical Park
25129 Rye Canyon Loop
Valencia, CA
800-678-2575 (V)
800-678-3575 (TTY)
E-mail: hear@advancedbionics.com
Web: http://www.advancedbionics.com/

The Guide to Cochlear Implants for Parents and Educators (guide book and CD)
The guide and accompanying CD offers a comprehensive look at the way the cochlear implant functions. It describes ways educators, parents, and other professionals can check the system to ensure it is functioning optimally and how to use its many features effectively in helping a child acquire and use spoken language.

Cecilia's Story (video--open captioned, 47 minutes)
This documentary follows Cecilia and her family from birth through age 8 as they make communication and technology decisions related to Cecilia's deafness. Using Cecilia's story as a vehicle, this video covers many of the issues families face in making decisions for their deaf child related to communication choices and whether or not to consider a cochlear implant, as well as going through the implantation process.

Hearing Your Life (video--open captioned, 34:55 minutes)
This documentary follows the lives of four adults before and after receiving the Clarion HiResolution cochlear implant. Each individual discusses the impact deafness has had on their lives and how much they benefited from getting a cochlear implant. This video describes the process of hearing and impact of hearing loss as well as how the cochlear implant works.

“Loud and Clear” Rehabilitation Newsletter
Issue devoted to the topic of sign language and cochlear implants can be downloaded at: http://www.cochlearimplant.com/printables/L_CV4I2.pdf

Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS)
The IT-MAIS is a parent report checklist to document a young child’s use of sound in the natural environment. Ten questions with an accompanying rating scale are provided addressing such areas as “Is the child’s vocal behavior affected while wearing his/her sensory aid (hearing aid or cochlear implant?” and “Does the child spontaneously respond to his/her name in quiet with auditory cues only when not expecting to hear it?”. The scale helps document the small steps in development of listening skills. This scale is widely utilized and available at no charge through Advanced Bionics.

Tools for Schools: Helping Children with Cochlear Implants Succeed in School
Advanced Bionics created a new division called the Educational Division of the Bionic Ear Association (BEA-E). Their first initiative is The Tools For Schools Launch Kit. The Kit includes:
Tools for Schools literature series

        The Bionic Buddy movie on DVD or VHS

        A poster on how a cochlear implant works
The Educator’s Guide CD Presentations
The Guide for Cochlear Implants for Parents and Educators

        Services handouts
(To order contact: toolsforschools@advancebionics.com)

Online Training & Education Center
Advanced Bionics offers online training courses as well as live courses.  For upcoming and recorded online courses as well as a listing of live courses, go to:

http://www.audiologyonline.com/aointeractive/courses/courses.asp?pid=5

Cochlear Americas/Nucleus System
400 Inverness Parkway, Suite 400
Englewood, CO 80112
800-523-5798 (V/TTY)
303-792-9025 (FAX)
E-mail: info@cochlear.com
Web: http://www.cochlear.com/

Introduction to Cochlear Implants (video--closed captioned, 15 minutes)
This is a videotape developed in 2002 that provides an excellent overview of the anatomy and physiology of the ear, cochlear implants and how they work, the surgical procedure, and the post-surgical hook up. While specific to the Nucleus brand implant, this tape provides a general overview of implants regardless of the manufacturer.

Nucleus 24 Contour: The Shape of Things to Come (video--also available in Spanish)
This promotional/educational videotape highlights three families with an implanted family member: a mother of two teens implanted as an adult, a 3-year-old twin implanted at 15 months, and a 9-year-old boy implanted after having worn hearing aids from age 18 months; it also details Nucleus implant technology, how the implant is fitted, and how it functions.

Twins: A Cochlear Implant Study (video--open captioned, 30 minutes)
This videotape follows the language development of three sets of twins up to 4½ years of age (original tape followed the twins through age 3). Each set of twins has a deaf twin with an implant and a hearing twin.

What to Expect at a Child's Hook-up (video--closed captioned, 60 minutes)
An in-depth explanation of issues integral to fitting the external components of a cochlear implant in the weeks following surgery are included in this videotape. Contents include the initial hookup, programming of the speech processor, including selecting the speech coding strategies and setting levels individual to each child, the child's first listening experiences, expectations for the implant, and troubleshooting of the implant system. This video covers many of the nitty-gritty questions families may have related to what goes into the fitting and the use of an implant.

Start Listening: A Guide to Pediatric Rehabilitation (video--open captioned, 27 minutes)
This video includes a basic, easy-to-follow progression of auditory development narrated by an auditory-verbal therapist. This video provides information and ideas regarding how to facilitate the process of attaching meaning to sound, and provides a framework for developing listening skills, issues for consideration in developing listening skills, and strategies to promote listening regardless of whether a child is using an oral approach or a Total Communication approach. Strategies are provided related to promoting awareness of sound, providing an optimal listening environment, facilitating vocal play, integrating listening with language and cognition, as well as vocabulary and reading development.

Nucleus Accessories and Assistive Listening Devices (closed captioned, 35 minutes)
Narrated by a cochlear implant user, this video discusses the various accessories to maximize listening through a cochlear implant. Devices covered include those used to assist with: a) listening in background noise, b) using a traditional phone and cell phone, c) listening to music, d) troubleshooting the implant device, and e) use of FM systems.

Listen, Learn, and Talk (Auditory Habilitation Program)
See below under Curricula/Training Programs for further information. There is a fee for this product.

Hear We Go (Auditory Habilitation CD)
See below under Curricula/Training Programs for further information. There is a fee for this product.

Cochlear Implant Resource Guide: Meeting Children’s Needs at School
This Guide is for individuals who regularly work with children with cochlear implants regarding their needs in educational settings, including clinicians in cochlear implant centers and educational personnel in school settings. It consists of both new and existing materials that have been compiled and organized to correspond with typical issues relating to children’s needs at school. The guide is organized in a loose-leaf notebook to allow easy removal and copying of specific materials. The contributing authors have given permission for their materials to be copied and used in this fashion, to encourage maximum dissemination to school personnel, parents, and others. Cochlear Americas will update the guide periodically with revised and new content.(To order call Cochlear’s Customer Service at 1-800-523-5798. Part number: FUN528, Price $50.00)

Hear We Go (Individualized rehabilitation workbook for teenagers)
This CD contains an easy to install program that allows the therapist to access rehabilitation exercises and generate an individualized rehabilitation workbook for the Nucleus recipient. The workbook is built around 24 different topical interests for older children and teenagers and 3 different auditory skill levels within each topic. It also contains additional topics like Active Listening, Telephone Training, Communication Strategies, and more. It can either be printed or emailed to the recipient it has been designed for.

(To order call Cochlear's Customer Service at 1-800-523-5798. $25.00)

Sound and Beyond (interactive listening rehabilitation for adults)
This CD is a self-paced, interactive computer listening tool that offers: Pure Tone Discrimination, Environmental Sounds, Male/Female Identification, Vowel Recognition, Word Discrimination, Everyday Sentences and Music Appreciation. There are 5 different skill levels within each topic and over 10,000 sounds, words, and sentences. It reports tracking progress to view and share. One lisence can be shared with up to 3 different users at a time.
(To order call Cochlear's Customer Service at 1-800-523-5798. $290.00)

HOPE (Habilitation Outreach for Professionals in Education)

A comprehensive collection of products and services designed to assist educational personnel in addressing the unique needs of children with cochlear implants. HOPE includes online training for professionals, Cochlear products for professionals and parents, HOPE services, and workshops and seminars. For more information:
http://www.cochlearamericas.com/americas/support/291.asp.

MED-EL Corporation
2222 East Highway 54
Beta Building, Suite 180
Durham, NC 27713
888-633-3524
919-572-2222 (V/TTY)
919-484-9229 (FAX)
E-mail: implants@medelus.com
Web: http://www.medel.com/

How a Cochlear Implant Works (video--closed captioned, 15 minutes)
In addition to providing basic information about the MED-EL device and the testimonials of two adults and a parent of a deaf child discussing their choice to obtain a cochlear implant, this video provides a clear, animated segment on how a cochlear implant works.

Listening Is Fun Video Kit (guidebook and video)
This is a guide for parents and families of cochlear implanted children. The theme of the guidebook is learning to listen through everyday activities. There is a suggested range of activities which are designed to encourage the child to listen and have fun at the same time. Activities are grouped and color-coded. Each color group activity covers different levels of listening skills. The price is $25.00/set.

MED-EL hearLIFE Educator CD
This CD contains the following: Handbook for Educators; Handling and Troubleshooting the TEMPO+; HearSay Newsletter; Communication Options; FM Guide; and How a Cochlear Implant Works video. There is a Glossory of Terms and a dynamic table of contents in both the Handbook for Educators and Troubleshooting the TEMPO+. The video clips in Handling and Troubleshooting the TEMPO+ demonstrate some of the information presented in the guide. To obtain the Educator CD, contact, MED-EL Corporation at (888) 633-3524 or http://www.medel.com/.

Insurance Help:

www.ciafonline.org/insurance.html

Agencies/Organizations:

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-337-5220 (V)
202-337-5221 (TTY)
866-337-5220 (Toll Free)
E-mail: info@agbell.org
Web: http://www.agbell.org/

Helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Offers a bimonthly magazine, financial aid and scholarship programs, publications and educational workshops on childhood hearing loss.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
800-638-8255 (V/TTY)
E-mail: actioncenter@asha.org
Web: http://www.asha.org
Information on cochlear implants can be found directly at:
http://www.asha.org/press/cochlear_facts.cfm and http://www.asha.org/press/cochlear_quickfacts.cfm.

An article on cochlear implants and Deaf identity by Phil Aiello can be found at: http://www.asha.org/hearing/rehab/Aiellos.cfm.

Cochlear Implant Association, Inc. (CIAI)
5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 440
Washington, DC 20015-2003
202-895-2781
Fax: 202-895-2782
E-mail: lasinger@mindspring.com
Web: http://www.cici.org/

CIAI is a nonprofit organization for cochlear implant recipients, their families, professionals, and other individuals interested in cochlear implants. The association provides support and information to anyone interested in information about cochlear implants.

National Association of the Deaf
814 Thayer Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-587-1788
E-mail: nadinfo@nad.org
Web: http://www.nad.org/

The NAD position paper on cochlear implants can be downloaded from this site. This paper subscribes to the NAD's philosophy of the wellness model upon which "the physical and psychosocial integrity of deaf children and adults is based." Also available from this site is a special issue of the NAD newsletter, The NAD Broadcaster, January 2001, Vol., No. 1, that is dedicated entirely to the topic of cochlear implants.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892
800-241-1044 (V)
800-241-1055 (TTY)
E-mail: nidcdinfor@nidcd.hih.gov
Web: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/

A cochlear implant information packet can be obtained through this organization's Web site. Information can be directly downloaded on the topic of cochlear implants and many other topics specific to hearing loss.

Network of Educators of Children with Cochlear Implants (NECCI)
Dr. Mary Ellen Nevins, Cochlear Implant Center
Lenox Hill Hospital
186 East 76th Street
New York, New York 10021
212-434-6650 (V)
Web: http://www.childrenshearing.org/custom/necci.html

NECCI is an organization primarily composed of educators, audiologists, and speech- language pathologists. It publishes a newsletter several times a year. NECCI provides a curriculum workshop about cochlear implants for professionals that also includes a special parent component of the program.

Educational Audiology Association (EAA)
13153 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Suite 105
Tampa, Florida 33618
800-460-7322
E-mail: EAA@L-TGRAYE.COM
Web: http://www.edaud.org

The Educational Audiology Association is an international organization comprised of audiologists and related professionals who deliver a full spectrum of hearing services to all children, particularly those in educational settings.

Hands & Voices

http://www.handsandvoices.org

Hands & Voices is a nationwide, parent driven, non-profit organization that provides unbiased support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Support activities and information may include, outreach events, educational seminars, advocacy, lobbying efforts, parent to parent networking and a newsletter.

National University Center for Human Advancement
Institute for Persons Who Are Hard of Hearing or Deaf (IHHD)

http://www.cha.nu.edu/IHHD.html

Affiliated with the National University for Human Advancement, the IHHD serves the hard of hearing and deaf community, early childhood and regular educators, related professionals, vocational rehabilitation counselors, employers, advisors, and administrators who provide education, healthcare, and service delivery for persons who are hard of hearing and deaf and their families. The IHHD is funded by the U.S. Congress to provide personal preparation, education, career, and leadership training opportunities for the 28 million children and adults who are hard of hearing or deaf.

Web Resources:

Cochlear Awareness Network
http://www.c-a-network.com

The Cochlear Awareness Network is a group of Volunteers each of whom have lived deaf but have had their hearing returned through technology. They have chosen to be members of the Network to tell their stories, raising awareness for these wonderful changes in their lives. All members are available to discuss their experiences.

Live, Love, Hear

http://live-love-hear.org

Live, Love, Hear was created to help raise COCHLEAR IMPLANT AWARENESS in the Berks and Lehigh County area in Pennsylvania.Their mission is to help raise funds for the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation.  This foundation provides information, resources, support and financial assistance to persons who may be eligible for this life changing technology.

The Children's Hearing Institute
http://www.childrenshearing.org/home.html
The Institute provides funding for research, educational support, and other programs related to the restoration of hearing for infants and children with hearing loss or profound deafness.

Hands and Voices Web site
http://www.handsandvoices.org/
Hands and Voices is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the professionals who serve them.

Illinois Families for Hands and Voices Web site
http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/
This is a state chapter of the Hands and Voices National.

The Listen-Up Web site
http://www.listen-up.org/

The Listen-Up Web is an excellent Web site with extensive links to other sites about cochlear implants.

Sound and Fury Web site
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/soundandfury/index.html

This is a Web site surrounding a documentary on cochlear implants called Sound and Fury.This film addresses the decision and struggle of two branches of a family as they decide whether or not to implant their children. This site includes discussion of the debate surrounding implantation of young children and the Deaf cultural perspective on cochlear implants. Lesson plans are provided to teach middle and high school students about hearing, cochlear implants, and communication. Links are provided to a variety of resources on cochlear implants, Deaf culture, and sign language.

Navigating a Forest of Information: One Tree At a Time…
http://clerccenter2.gallaudet.edu/KidsWorldDeafNet/e-docs/CI/index.html

This E- document is designed to assist parents and educators in navigating the extensive forest of information available on cochlear implants. The site is divided into modules on specific topics related to cochlear implants. It provides information within each topic and directs the reader to additional resources. This site is easy to navigate and provides information on topics often not covered via other websites (education and communication, role of sign language). The site is also available in Spanish.

Children with Cochlear Implants Who Sign: Guidelines for Transitioning to Oral Education or a Mainstream Setting

http://web1.tch.harvard.edu/cfapps/oto/transition.pdf

This E-document contains guidelines that were developed from round table discussions among audiologists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and teachers of the deaf who were convened by the Boston Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and the Cochlear Implant Center of Children’s Hospital of Boston, MA. These guidelines are intended to facilitate discussion and decisions by families and professionals regarding appropriate educational settings for children with cochlear implants. It provides checklists for two age groups: young children under 5 years of age and students 5 years of age and older to evaluate competencies for transition from manual to oral instruction.

A Website For Teenagers
http://www.ci-4teenz.com/

This interactive and fun website is designed for teenagers. It offers teen testimonials as well as useful information on hearing loss and cochlear implants.

Web sites that simulate listening through a cochlear implant:
http://www.bsos.umd.edu/hesp/zeng/simulations.html
http://www.utdallas.edu/~loizou/cimplants/
http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/hesp/Simulations/simulationsmain.htm
http://hei.org/research/depts/aip/audiodemos.htm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Cochlear Implants:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/cochlear/

The FDA regulates manufactures of cochlear implants. The purpose of this website is to describe cochlear implants, link to FDA approved implants, tell the benefits and risks of cochlear implants, and provide news about cochlear implant recalls and safety issues. There is also information on what educators of implant users need to know, what happens before, during, and after surgery, and where to report problems.

CI HEAR
http://www.cihear.com

CI Hear began as an internet listserv created to support anyone interested in cochlear implants. The website still provides a listserv but also offers links to CI Stories, Bilateral CI information, Medical Information, Implant Manufacturers, Auditory Therapy, Resources, Support, and Surgery.

ADA and Cochlear Implants
http://www.cochlear.org/sys-tmpl/adaandcochlearimplants1/

This website provides individuals with a free resource for questions about third party health insurance reimbursement for cochlear implants and related services. It is a privately-owned site and the owners receive no compensations from manufacturers or providers.

Cochlear Implant & Hearing Aid Interface Systems:

Company that manufactures cochlear implant accessories (custom cables, telephone adapters, microphone systems, stethoscopes, and FM interface). To order contact:
Robert Mendoza
4404 Hollingsworth Ct.
Rohnert, CA 94928
Phone: 707-585-0609
E-mail: robm_94928@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.cihais.com

Help Kids Hear.org
http://www.helpkidshear.org/resources/devices/cochlear.htm

This website was founded by Tony & Alisa Hake, the parents of two hard of hearing children. It is designed to help parents of hard of hearing and deaf children by providing users with the latest news, commentary, and resources. There is also a discussion forum where parents can read and post questions about hearing loss across a wide variety of categories. The section on cochlear implants provides information on how a cochlear implant works, getting a cochlear implants, and links.

Cochlear Implant Rehabilitation Resources:

http://www.cochlearrehab.com/resources.htm

Provides resource links to Manufacturers, Organizations, Informational Sites, Email Groups, Assistive Devices, Hearing Dogs, and Accessories/Miscellaneous.

The Children's Hearing Institute (CHI)

http://www.childrenshearing.org/home.html

The Children's Hearing Institute (CHI) is a private, non-profit foundation that was established in 1983 by Simon C. Parisier, MD, a pioneer in hearing loss and cochlear implant research and surgery. The CHI web site is available in English and Spanish. It features information on cochlear implants and hearing loss, an In The News section, and an extensive Patient and Family Resource Guide highlighting organizations, web sites, educational resources, emotional/social development, support groups, insurance information, online articles, advocacy resources, recommended books/videos/CD's, online tools, annotated research articles, and online forums related to cochlear implants and hearing loss.

Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation (CIAF)
http://www.ciafonline.org/index.html
The Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation provides information, resources, support, and financial assistance to individuals who may be eligible for a cochlear implant. The financial assistance program is not intended to cover the medical procedure itself, but rather to assist families with costs that are not traditionally covered by insurance (i.e., hotel or other travel expenses, childcare, etc.) or expenses which exceed the limits of health care coverage. For more information visit the CIAF website.

Hearing Loss Association of America

http://www.hearingloss.org/
The Hearing Loss Association of America is the nation’s largest organization for people with hearing loss. HLAA exists to open the world of communication for people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.

League for the Hard of Hearing
http://www.lhh.org/

The League for the Hard of Hearing was founded in New York in 1910 and is the oldest and foremost hearing rehabilitation and human services agency in the world for infants, children, adults and seniors who are hard of hearing, deaf and deaf-blind, and their families. Over the years we have seen to the needs of over 1,250,000 people with hearing loss.

Deaf Resouce Center

http://www.deafbiz.com/

This site has multiple resources for the Deaf and hearing-impaired.

Suggested Scales of Development and Assessment Tools:

The following scales of development and assessment tools are provided as a reference. They have been categorized by Auditory Perception/Listening Skills, Speech/Intelligibility, Speechreading, Language, Basic Concepts, and Sign Language. A brief description of each scale/tool and information on availability is provided.

Auditory Perception/Listening Skills

Auditory-Verbal Ages and Stages of Development (Levels I-VIII) in Cochlear Implants for Kids
Available through: Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This checklist outlines the development of listening from sound awareness to auditory comprehension including; discrimination, identification, localization, auditory memory and sequencing, listening from a distance, and listening in noise.

St. Gabriel’s Curriculum for the Development of Audition, Language, Speech and Cognition
Available through :Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This program contains a hierarchical order for the development of auditory awareness and auditory memory progressing from closed set to open set.

Cottage Acquisition Scales For Listening, Language, and Speech
Available through :Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This developmental checklist is for assessment and planning for diagnostic therapy. The listening section progresses from sound awareness to comprehension of paragraphs including phonetic listening skills.

Early Speech Perception Test (ESP) for Profoundly Hearing-Impaired Children
Available through Central Institute for Deaf (CID). Contact Dianne Gushleff at dgushleff@cid.wustl.edu or 314-977-0133 or 314-977-0016 (fax)

The ESP test battery is a test of speech perception for profoundly deaf children as young as 3 years of age. The ESP may be used to establish objectives and to measure the effects of a hearing aid or cochlear implant in terms of their impact on the child’s speech perception ability. The kit includes a manual, response forms, box of toys, full-color picture cards and audiocassette.

Functional Auditory Performance Indicators (FAPI): An Integrated Approach to Auditory Development
Available on line at: http://www.csdb.org/chip/resources/docs/fapi6_23.pdf

The FAPI assesses the functional auditory skills of children with hearing loss. It examines seven categories of auditory development: sound awareness, sound is meaningful, auditory feedback, localizing sound source, auditory discrimination, short-term memory, and linguistic auditory processing. A profile of a child’s functional auditory skills is generated after administering all items on the profile. The categories are hierarchical; however, it is appropriate for a child to be working on many skills at the same time. By working on multiple skills from different categories, the child will be learning an integrated approach to auditory skill development.

Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS)/Infant-Toddler: Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS)
Available through: Advanced Bionics Corporation, 12740 San Fernando
Road, Sylmar, CA 91342, 800-678-2575 (V) or 800-678-3575 (TTY)
E-mail: info@advancedbionics.com Web: http://www.cochlearimplant.com

These scales were developed for children who have a profound hearing loss and designed to be administered to parents by an audiologist. The parent is asked questions regarding use of amplification/cochlear implant and auditory behaviors regarding environmental and speech sounds.

Test of Auditory Comprehension (TAC)
Available through: Foreworks Publications, Box 82289 Portland, OR 97282, 503-653-2614

The TAC is designed to test the speech reception skills of young children on a linguistic rather than phonetic level. It provides information about the following hierarchical auditory skills: ability to discriminate between linguistic and non-linguistic sounds, word identification, comprehension of speech phrases varying in complexity, comprehension of stories in quiet, and comprehension of stories against competition. Test stimuli are on an audiocassette. The child must fail two consecutive subtests to stop testing.

Test of Auditory Comprehension of Language-Third Edition (TACL-3)
Available through: AGS Publishing, 4201 Woodland Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796 phone 800-328-2560
Order and inquiries: customerservice@agsnet.com

The TACL-3 measures a child’s auditory comprehension skills including word classes and relations, grammatical morphemes, and elaborated sentences. The child is presented with a picture and points to the phrase or sentence that matches what he/she hears.

The Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk (S.I.F.T.E.R.) /The Preschool S.I.F.T.E.R.
Available through: The Educational Audiology Association, 13153 N. Dale Mabry, #105, Tampa, Fla. 33624/ 800-460-7322 Web: http://www.edaud.org

The S.I.F.T.E.R. is used by the teacher to rate the child in comparison to other children in the classroom on 15 items. The responses are plotted on a chart which indicates pass, marginal or fail for each of the five areas of academics, attention, communication, classroom participation, and school behavior. If a child fails in a specific area, they should be referred for further evaluation. The Preschool S.I.F.T.E.R. was developed to be used with preschool children and is similar to the S.I.F.T.E.R.

The Lexical Neighborhood Test (LNT) and the Multi-syllabic Lexical Neighborhood Test (MLNT)
Available through: AUDIOTEC of St. Louis, 2515 South Big Bend Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63143/ 800-669-9065 or 314-781-8890/ 314-781-4946 (fax) Web: http://www.auditec.com

The Lexical Neighborhood Test (LNT) and the Multi-syllabic Lexical Neighborhood Test (MLNT) were developed by Indiana University in 1995. The LNT and MLNT are two new open-set tests of word recognition. These tests include words that the child repeats, and have been used to assess recognition of individual words and phonemes in children who are cochlear implant candidates. The LNT and MLNT are based on the lexical characteristics of word frequency and neighborhood density, and include words found in the vocabularies of children age three to five. Results from these tests with pediatric cochlear implant users have shown that their lexicons appear to be organized into similarity neighborhoods, and these neighborhoods are accessed in open-set word recognition tests. Studies have shown that normal hearing three- and four-year old children are able to recognize all the words from these two open-set speech perception tests at very high levels of performance. Therefore, these results have been used as a benchmark for children with hearing impairments.

The Listening Inventory for Education: an Efficacy Tool (L.I.F.E.)
Available through: The Educational Audiology Association, 13153 N. Dale Mabry, #105, Tampa, Fla. 33624/ 800-460-7322 Web: http://www.edaud.org

The L.I.F.E. is designed to determine amplification benefit and considers input from both the student and the teacher. The protocol also provides suggestions for intervention accommodations designed for the specific situations that are identified as problems.

Speech/Intelligibility:

The Arizona Articulation Proficiency Scale-Third Edition
Available through: Pro Ed, Inc. 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78757-6897, 800-897-3202 or 800-37-7633 (fax) Web: http://www.proedinc.com

The Arizona-3 is a tool designed to identify misarticulations and total articulatory proficiency. The stimulus pictures show children in more current clothing styles and activities. The test materials also include more ethnic diversity. The instrument has been restandardized on a sample of over 5,500 individuals, representative of the U.S. population according to geographic region, ethnicity, and parents' education level. Gender-specific norms are provided for the early childhood years. The kit includes an examiner’s manual, picture cards, and 25 test booklets.

The Goldman Fristoe: Test of Articulation 2
Available through: AGS Publishing, 4201 Woodland Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796 phone 800-328-2560
Order and inquiries: customerservice@agsnet.com

This test assesses a child’s articulation ability by sampling both spontaneous and imitative speech production. Pictures and verbal cues are used to elicit single word answers that demonstrate common speech sounds. It measures the articulation of speech sounds and identifies and describes the types of articulation errors produced by the child.

The Phonetic-Phonologic Speech Evaluation Record: A Manual
Available through: Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This tool is used to assess the segmental and nonsegmental aspects of speech at both the phonetic and phonologic levels. The phonetic level responses are obtained through imitation. Phonologic level responses are obtained from spontaneous language samples.

Identifying Early Phonological Needs in Children with Hearing Impairment
Available through: Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This is a standardized test used to assess how young children with hearing loss spontaneously use first-level phonological patterns. It numerically rates whether the child’s patterns are missing, emerging, or mastered.

St. Gabriel’s Curriculum for the development of Audition, Language, Speech and Cognition
Available through : Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This curriculum outlines the development of early speech, the development of early auditory feedback skills, and an order for the acquisition of vowels, diphthongs, and consonants. It also provides a developmental checklist of phonological processes.

Cottage Acquisition Scales For Listening, Language, and Speech
Available through :Alexander Graham Bell Association, 3417 Volta Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-337-5220 (V/TTY) Web: http://www.agbell.org/

This curriculum provides a developmental checklist for assessment and diagnostic planning for therapy. The speech section tracks objectives from Phonetic-Phonologic Speech Evaluation Record and also links these objectives to phonetic listening development.

Spoken Communication for Students Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Available through: Butte Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Hillsboro, OR 97123-1328, 866-312-8883 (V/TTY), 866-412-8883 (FAX), 503-693-9526 (Direct) E-mail: service@buttepublications.com Web: http://www.buttepublications.com

This curriculum includes a Student Speech Record (SSR) which is used to evaluate the following: non-verbal communication (attention, turn taking, eye contact, and breath support) and suprasegmentals, vowels and diphthongs, and consonants at the phonetic, phonologic, and pragmatic levels. The SSR also includes an oral peripheral examination form.

The Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) Picture Speech Intelligibility Evaluation (SPINE)
Available through: Central Institute for Deaf (CID). Contact Dianne Gushleff at dgushleff@cid.wustl.edu or 314-977-0133 or 314-977-0016 (fax)

The SPINE uses colorful pictures to evaluate speech intelligibility in children as young as 6 years of age. The assessment package includes 300 full-color picture cards, a test manual, and 25 response forms.

Paden-Brown Phonological Kit
Available through Med-El. Contact Linda C. Johnson at ljohnson@medelus.com, 919- 314-1272 or 888-633-3524

This tool is designed to assess spontaneous use of first level phonological patterns in children with hearing loss. It utilizes a list of 25 words that are typically within the speaking vocabulary of young children with hearing loss. The word list provides at least five opportunities for the child to demonstrate how well he/she spontaneously targets each basic consonant feature, such as manner, place, and voicing, as well as each of the primary vowel areas, diphthongs, and basic word patterns. Numerical scoring o f the test reveals whether the child’s patterns are missing, emerging, or mastered. Results can be used for developing auditory and speech goals for the child. The test kit includes an instructional manual, 10 score sheets, and 25 picture cards.

Speechreading:

Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES) Preschool Auditory and Speechreading Skills Inventory
Available through: The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet University, Office of Support Services, KDES 800 Florida Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002-3695 (202) 651-5045
Web: http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu

This inventory is used to informally assess a child’s listening (speech & environmental sounds) and speechreading readiness and ability to understand words and phrases (familiar/functional and phrases containing 2 and 3 critical elements).

Language:

The Bzoch-League Receptive-Expressive-Language Test (REEL-2), 2nd. Ed.
Available through: Pro Ed, Inc. 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78757-6897, 800-897-3202 or 800-37-7633 (fax) Web: http://www.proedinc.com