We know that language development directly impacts brain development, right? It is early childhood “science. Language development happens from the incidental language in a child’s environment; lots of language=large vocabulary, lower language levels=weak vocabulary. What is less known is how much even a “little” hearing loss slows typical language development.
Want to hear how hearing loss sounds? Listen to this and think--how does a child hearing that learn language?
Since identification of hearing loss is so important during the critical time between birth and kindergarten, we have partnered with the Division of Early Care and Education (which is part of the Department of Social Services) and the SC Inclusion Collaborative to provide hearing screenings and education in child care programs.
We provide hearing screenings, on-site training, and technical assistance and consultation--ALL FOR FREE!
OUR MISSION
We provide services to families and professionals around South Carolina. Beginnings SC is shining light on the impacts of hearing loss on children and their families. We are making the invisible visible.
DONATE TODAY!
Hearing Screenings
Linkage between hearing loss, language acquisition, literacy, and socialization is well-documented. Timely screenings and identification of hearing problems in young children is critically important to their successful overall growth, development, and school performance. A child who is deaf or hard of hearing is only disabled when she doesn’t have access; to language, to connections with others, to the knowledge found in educational programs
Discovering a child is deaf or hard of hearing during the early and preschool years allows a comprehensive team work together to provide appropriate interventions to ensure success. Read more about our hearing screening program here.
Technical Assistance + Consultation:
Do you suspect a child in your center has a hearing loss?
Is anyone wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants?
Is anyone communicating with American Sign Language?
Are you unsure how to involve parents who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing?
Are you interested in how language develops?
Do you have children receiving speech therapy services?
If any of these sound like you and your child care program, contact us to receive free information on location or in-home!
Trainings
Beginnings SC provides free, SC Endeavors-certified training to child care providers across South Carolina. These trainings are provided at your center at a time that works best for your staff. We offer different training options (see descriptions below) – you may select one or more!
2.0 Hour Training
Title of Training: Beginnings with Beginnings SC: Have you Heard the Big Ideas in Brain Development?
Topic Area of Training: Special Needs/Other
Hours of Training: 2.0 hour
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- Identify 3 risk factors of a child with a hearing loss.
- List 3 ways to incorporate children of all ages with a hearing loss in daily activities.
- Explain the importance of, and how to address, a concern about a possible hearing loss/language delay with a child’s parents.
- Identify 2 resources that are available to assist in obtaining optimal development for children with hearing loss.
Why Take This Training?: One in 100 children have a hearing loss between the ages of 3 and 18 and in a classroom with 15 children, 13 might have an ear infection meaning 4-5 cannot currently hear. Understanding not only the impact of hearing loss but the frequency with which it can impact young children, will improve the outcomes for all children but specifically those with hearing loss. Providing care child providers and teachers with more tools to encourage and support language development improves outcomes for all children.
1.0 Hour Training
Title of Training: Language and Learning: How Hearing Loss Changes the Game
Topic Area of Training: Special Needs/Other
Hours of Training: 1.0 hour
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- List 3 risk factors/warning signs of hearing loss.
- List 3 ways to make language more accessible to children with permanent or temporary hearing loss.
Why Take This Training?: One in 100 children have a hearing loss between the ages of 3 and 18 and in a classroom with 15 children, 13 might have an ear infection meaning 4-5 cannot currently hear. Understanding not only the impact of hearing loss but the frequency with which it can impact young children, will improve the outcomes for all children but specifically those with hearing loss. Providing care child providers and teachers with more tools to encourage and support language development improves outcomes for all children.
2.0 Hour Training
Title of Training: Building Brains…and how to support children who are deaf or hard of hearing 2.0.
Topic Area of Training: Child Growth & Development
Hours of Training: 2.0 hour
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- Identify the impact of early learning experiences on brain development
- Explain how hearing loss also impacts brain development
- Identify teaching strategies to use to provide access for a deaf or hard of hearing child
Why Take This Training?:
Building Brains is an interactive workshop where participants "play" the Brain Architecture Game and discover how experiences shape a young child's brain, and life. That knowledge will be used to discover how hearing loss impacts further impacts the brains of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
2.5 Hour Training
Title of Training: Building Brains…and how to support children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Topic Area of Training: Child Growth & Development
Hours of Training: 2.5 hour
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:
- Identify the impact of early learning experiences on brain development
- Explain how hearing loss also impacts brain development
- Identify teaching strategies to use to provide access for a deaf or hard of hearing child
- Identify resources in the community to increase positive outcomes for children.
Why Take This Training?: Building Brains is an interactive workshop where participants "play" the Brain Architecture Game and discover how experiences shape a young child's brain and life. That knowledge will be used to discover how hearing loss impacts further impacts the brains of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Discover SC resources to help families and children that have not had optimal brain-building experiences.
Language Labs
As an exciting part of our Education and Awareness Program, we are also producing FREE Language Labs! Share with your families.
Books with Beginnings
Our video series to share information about how to increase language for children who are deaf or hard of hearing using BOOKS!
Blog Posts
Read the latest from the Beginnings SC blog including guest posts, posts from our Executive Director Cara Smithwick, updates, and more!