Eddie's story
Eddie Bird, 5, has bilateral cochlear implants, and is using technology as part of therapy he attends at the Hear and Say Centre.
Auditory-verbal therapist Kirsty Gibson works alongside Eddie's mum, Stephenie, during lessons. Eddie uses a tablet PC to help him with his learning and communication. The device is integrated alongside other tools, like books and toys, as part of the sessions.
You can watch Kirsty using a tablet PC during a lesson with Eddie at the Hear and Say Centre.
You can read personal stories from families with children who participate in the classes. You can also watch a video of a team-building and grounding exercise, with trainers, occupational therapists and class members Kai, Archie, Ella and Max using a colourful parachute.
Video transcript
Description: Kirsty, an Auditory-Verbal Therapist at the Hear and Say Centre, is using an iPad app with Eddie Bird, a client at the Hear and Say Centre, as part of a lesson that involves auditory rehearsal.
Transcript:
Kirsty: Good.
Voice on iPad: Remember. You can touch this to hear me again.
Kirsty: You don't need to hear it again. You hear it once.
Voice on iPad: Now look. Yellow sock, yellow sock. Your turn. Drag the other socks into the boxes to match them.
Kirsty: What's that one?
Eddie: Black... blue one.
IPad beeps.
Kirsty: Blue what? Blue sock or blue hat?
Eddie: Blue hat.
Kirsty: It's not a hat. What is it?
Eddie: A sock.
Kirsty: Yeah, a blue sock.
Eddie: A blue sock.
Kirsty: And what's this? (points at the screen)
Eddie: A pink sock.
Kirsty: A pink sock (gives emphasis to words and talks in Eddie's ear). Good try. Easy.
Voice on iPad: Now drag the shoes into the boxes to match them.
Eddie starts moving items on the iPad.
Kirsty: What's that?
Eddie: A shoe and a match thing.
Eddie's mum: What colour is it?
Eddie: Pink
Kirsty: A pink shoe. Then what? What is it?
Eddie: Um, a green show and a match.
Kirsty: A starry shoe. Yeah, that's where it matches, and?
Eddie: a green shoe and match.
Kirsty: Yes, that is where the green shoe matches. Well done.
iPad voiceover: Next match these.
Kirsty: You know these ones.
Eddie: The star goes there
Kirsty: Yeah, the star goes there.
Eddie: And the ball goes there
Kirsty: M-hmm (nods).
Eddie: And the flower goes there (moving items on iPad)
Kirsty: And now how many flowers are there?
Eddie: Um...three.
Kirsty: Yep. And the star goes there...
Eddie: And the ball goes there (moving items on the iPad)
iPad voiceover: Drag these to the boxes to match them.
Kirsty: How many birds are there?
Eddie: Two bird.
Kirsty: See-look at all of them. How many birds are there?
Eddie: Three bird.
Kirsty: Well, what if I move one to here, how many will be left?
Eddie: One.
Kirsty: Good boy. How many fish are there?
Eddie: Two.
Eddie's mum: All together?
Eddie: Three (holds up fingers).
Kirsty: Good counting. Good boy. Match them up. Good work.
(Eddie starts matching up items on the iPad)
Kirsty: And the fish goes there, and the bird goes there. And what goes at the bottom?
Eddie: Hmm?
Kirsty: What goes at the bottom?
Eddie: Frog.
Change of perspective.
Eddie: Night-time.
Eddie's mum: Night-time.
Kirsty: So which one looks like night-time? (Eddie points at the iPad). Yep. Got it. Good boy. Alright. What about if I go (uses iPad) hot goes with which one? Which is the opposite of hot?
(Eddie uses iPad).
Kirsty: Cold... Can you see it (points at iPad). It is cold because its got ice cubes. Off goes with?
Eddie: Night.
Kirsty: On.
Eddie: On.
Kirsty: Yep. Good. Upside down goes with?
Eddie: Upside down...
Kirsty: Upright.
Eddie: Upright.
Kirsty: Right goes with?
Eddie: Right.
Kirsty and Eddie's mum: Wrong.
Kirsty: That's a cross (points at iPad). That means wrong. Well done.
How Eddie uses a tablet PC
Eddie uses a tablet PC at home, as well as during therapy, to help him with his communication and learning.
‘It's been really great for him,' says his mum, Stephenie.
Stephenie views audio books on YouTube with Eddie, and uses it in other ways as well.
‘It helps me help him, because it is so interactive and easy to use,' she says.
‘There are so many choices. We have songs. We have a big focus on music as he loves to sing. We have flash cards and games.'
She says he likes listening to the device, and that ‘it keeps his interest'.
‘He can control it himself,' says Stephanie.
‘It is not complicated.'
Keeping it in perspective
Kirsty, Eddie's Auditory-Verbal Therapist, says parents have an important role to play in supporting children with hearing loss with learning through reinforcement.
Having presented in Parent Education classes at the Hear and Say Centre, she says parents and caregivers need to consider different factors in establishing if a technology is suitable for a child. ‘Technology is one tool in your bag of tricks,' she explains.
‘Everything in moderation is the way your child is going to be stimulated in every sense.'
She recommends asking the following questions before considering using any technology:
- Is it free?
- Is it interactive?
- Is it visually appropriate?
- Is it educationally appropriate?
- Would my speech therapist recommend it?
More information
You can find out more about the Parent Education classes that are offered for parents and caregivers at the Hear and Say Centre by calling (07) 3870 2221 or visiting the Hear and Say Centre website. You can also email mail@hearandsaycentre.com.au and request more information.
You may also like to find out more about tablet PCs in education settings, and how devices like iPads are being used to support students with a disability in different learning environments.
