News and Stories
Anywhere out in the sunshine or with saltwater in her hair is 13-year-old Emily’s self-declared happy place. From surfing with her friends and sisters, to Nippers at the local lifesaving club, to Netball with her school team at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, to bushwalking with her family – even amidst pandemic lockdowns, it’s a full life for the active Year Seven student. Crediting physical education as one of her favourite school subjects therefore comes as no surprise, but it’s not only in the great outdoors where Emily shines. For the past two years Emily has also ...
It’s a common scenario: you get caught in a downpour; someone jumps into the pool nearby and causes a big splash; you forget you’re wearing your hearing aids and take a dive in the ocean. If your hearing aids get wet and face a quick soaking, don’t panic. Hearing aids are measured against a classification system called the International Protection (IP). This demonstrates the degree to which they are protected from liquids and other fine matter. “Most modern hearing aid models have an IP68 rating, meaning they can withstand dirt, dust, sand and being submerged in water. In fact, ...
Australian surgeon, Professor Graeme Clark successfully performed the world’s first cochlear implant surgery – marking a new era of opportunity for people with significant hearing loss. Like most technology, the cochlear implant has rapidly transformed since its early iterations. Gone are the long cords or battery packs that users were once required to wear, now replaced with barely-visible processors and even Bluetooth streaming. Hear and Say Head of Audiology, Julie Decker works in a team which oversees hundreds of children who use cochlear implants to hear and speak. She sat down ...
Since some of the earliest days of Hear and Say’s history, telepractice appointments have meant children can access specialist speech therapy services regardless of where they live. Telehealth means that families don’t just come from around the centres’ physical locations in Ashgrove, Varsity Lakes, Nambour, Toowoomba and Townsville. As Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Emma Heberlein explains, the past three decades have seen Hear and Say supporting children to listen and speak in towns everywhere from Weipa to Barcaldine to Tully; across the globe; and hundreds of places ...
A peek into a speech therapy room at Hear and Say often reveals an appointment in action filled with lots of toys, singing songs and imaginary play. It might look like just fun and games, but behind the scenes is an individually-tailored plan which works to develop a child’s specific, age-appropriate speech and language goals. Eleni Michael, Listening and Spoken Language Specialists at our Gold Coast centre, explains. Books: A great way to expose children to lots of different sounds, language and speech is through reading. We recommend parents/carers aim to ...
Research plays a critical role at Hear and Say, helping us bridge the gap between science and better hearing outcomes for people affected by any type of hearing loss. One of our recent projects specifically looked into the benefits of cochlear implants for children with hearing loss in only one ear, which is known as unilateral or single-sided deafness. Left untreated, single-sided deafness can significantly impact a child’s development, listening and learning. It also reduces the ability to identify the location of a sound source or person speaking, particularly with background ...
Make no mis-steak: the longstanding partnership between an iconic Brisbane butcher and Hear and Say has generated far more than just an opportunity for beefed up puns. For over five years, Billy Gibney and the team at Meat at Billy’s have rallied together with their stores’ local communities to raise incredible awareness and over $34,000 in donations for Hear and Say, across a range of projects and campaigns. Such dedication has seen Billy take a brave plunge off the Goodwill Bridge (dressed as a bull, no less); staff dressed in their brightest outfits for Loud Shirt Day; ...
This edition we say a big farewell and heartfelt thanks to Chris McCarthy, who recently handed over the reins as Chief Executive Officer. Hear from Chris as he reflects on an incredible journey over almost 15 years. “At Hear and Say we acknowledge the rare opportunity it is to watch, guide and support a family to help their child grow through their hearing journey. I also know how uniquely fortunate I have been to be part of Hear and Say growing and flourishing, to have seen many children in our programs turn into young adults, and to have celebrated births, graduations, marriages ...
When the weather’s heating up, keeping cool often means taking a dip in the pool. For children with hearing loss learning to swim, there are some extra considerations for parents and instructors to take note of to keep everyone safe and having fun in the water. Teaching swimming to kids with hearing loss – 10 top tips Keep hearing devices on: If possible, ensure kids’ hearing devices are kept on during swimming lessons. Cochlear implants can be worn in the water with a waterproof accessory; most hearing aids can’t be worn swimming unless waterproof. Families should ...
At the core of Hear and Say – as with all First Voice centres – is the importance of connection and communication. With the world having reached the unenviable milestone of over 18 months since the pandemic began, Hear and Say’s Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) team is now a well-oiled machine when it comes to supporting families through a lockdown. Although in thankfully shorter-lived phases as compared with southern counterparts, this unprecedented era of physical Hear and Say centres having to temporarily close has necessitated swift action and innovation to avoid compromised ...
Maia’s Story
At 9.10pm on 24 October 2013 our beautiful daughter Maia was born.
The moment of elation was short-lived as we immediately noticed her left ear was missing. I frantically looked to the medical team around me for answers but received none.
Panic set in as we waited 4 days in hospital for an ENT to explain her condition, by which point we already had all the answers from Simone, who runs the Microtia and Atresia Program at Hear and Say.
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