Jane Madell

Jane Madell, PhD, has a consulting practice in pediatric audiology. She is an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, and LSLS auditory verbal therapist, with a BA from Emerson College and an MA and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Her 45+ years experience ranges from Deaf Nursery programs to positions at the League for the Hard of Hearing (Director), Long Island College Hospital, Downstate Medical Center, Beth Israel Medical Center/New York Eye and Ear Infirmary as director of the Hearing and Learning Center and Cochlear Implant Center. Jane has taught at the University of Tennessee, Columbia University, Downstate Medical School, and Albert Einstein Medical School, published 7 books, and written numerous books chapters and journal articles, and is a well known international lecturer.

School Intro: I Have A Hearing Loss

Introduction When a child with hearing loss begins school, some families find it good to put together a book which can introduce the child to the school. It’s a friendly way to explain about hearing loss and what the child needs for success. The book can be written either from the point of view of the parents or written

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Back to School

Explain the effects of hearing loss to teachers and other school staff Most people think that once you fit a child with hearing aids the hearing loss should be cured. Hearing aids are not like eyeglasses. They help a lot but they do not solve all listening problems. Teachers need to understand that, even with the very best technology,

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What Is Mild About Mild Hearing Loss?

What is a mild hearing loss? Normal hearing for children is 0-15 dBHL. Minimal hearing loss (MHL) is 15-25 dB HL. Mild hearing loss is 24-40 dB, It doesn’t sound like a big difference but it is. 1/1000 newborns have mild hearing loss (although newborn hearing screening often misses mild hearing loss.) At school age, 3/1000 have MHL.

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Hearing Aids and Developing Spoken Language For Children With Hearing Loss

As we keep saying, things keep changing (for the better) for children with hearing loss. As we keep saying, “It’s not the same old deafness.” Prior to the initiation of newborn hearing screening the age of identification of hearing loss in children was around two years of age. As a result, babies were not fit with hearing aids until well

The LOCHI Studies And What They Teach Us

The National Acoustics Laboratory in Australia under the supervision of Dr. Teresa Ching has conducted the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study over a period of years. In Australia, all children with hearing loss are followed by Australia Hearing, so collecting data on performance of children with hearing loss is easier. All children receive evidence based audiology

Don’t Lose Skills During the Summer

Summer is here and every kid I know is excited about having the summer off. I remember that feeling well and see it in all the kids I know. However, it is really important that kids do not lose hard earned skills during the summer. What can parents do to help kids maintain skills? Who needs summer therapy? The

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The Spoken Language vs ASL Debate is Back

As I have said before, it’s not the same old deafness. Kids born today have different choices then those born 40 or 50 years ago, even 20 years ago. However, there are still some people out there who do not want to offer a choice to parents. When Nyle diMarco, a deaf model/actor, won Dancing With The Stars, there was

We Need Educational Audiologists

Last week I had the honor to give a full day workshop for the Educational Audiologists in Iowa. It was wonderful for a lot of reasons – not the least of which was the fact that there were 54 educational audiologists in Iowa who attended the conference. I am fairly sure there are not 54 educational audiologists in the state

It’s Better Hearing and Speech Month

Since I started in school studying speech and hearing (Emerson College, 1961), I remember hearing about Better Speech and Hearing Month. BHSM was started by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in 1927 , when they were known as the American Speech and Hearing Association. In 1986 Present Ronald Reagan issued a formal proclamation designating May as the official month to

Guide to Listening and Spoken Language

Today’s blog is written by Sherri J. Fickenscher M.S., and Elizabeth Gaffney. Sherri is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Certified Auditory Verbal Educator (LSLS Cert. AVEd). She is an Education Support Specialist as well as Early Interventionist for Clarke Schools for Hearing & Speech/PA. Sherri mentors professionals seeking their certification as Listening and Spoken Language Specialists. Elizabeth is a