What is taught and practiced in rehabilitation therapy sessions can provide improved hearing and speaking abilities faster after implantation if these skills are also routinely practiced at home between sessions. This article introduces The Essential Strategy Cards, a free set of cards to assist caretakers and parents as they help young hearing implant recipients develop between therapy sessions.

Children who receive cochlear implants late are unique. This article briefly describes hearing loss diagnosis and treatment guidelines for babies and young children, what is known about why some children are diagnosed or treated later as well as the impacts of unaddressed hearing loss. After that, we provide some rehabilitation recommendations for supporting this unique population of patients with cochlear implants.

Play sounds can not only be used capture young children’s listening attention. They can also be a highly effective way to help children learn to process auditory information. By integrating them into your auditory rehabilitation practice, you can help kick-start their listening and language development while having fun.

Aural rehabilitation is essential after cochlear implantation, but it can also benefit young children with hearing loss while they are still waiting to receive their cochlear implant. Parents and caregivers can use strategies and activities at home to help these babies begin to develop communication skills.

What factors affect communication outcomes in pediatric cochlear implantation? Research has revealed that age at implantation, family environment, additional disabilities, communication mode, and technological and surgical factors can all influence outcomes.

From checking that students' devices are working properly to creating an environment that makes hearing easier, teachers of children with cochlear implants, hearing aids, and other hearing devices can make many small adjustments to facilitate learning.