Rhode Island Chapter of Alexander Graham Bell Association

RIAGBELL has provided these resources to help deaf and hard of hearing people.

This resource list has been generated through suggestions, and is not in any order, and does not constitute an endorsement by RIAGBELL. To suggest a resource please contact us at riagbell@yahoo.com.

Table of Contents for Resources Page

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[Enjoy Movies with Subtitles]  [Online Exercises]  [Specialized Providers...]  [School Programs...]  [Audiologist]  [Family Support]  [State]   [Knowledge on Hearing Loss]

You should check out: http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/

• Speech/Language Development Checklist

  • Check out this NIDCD interactive site which has a speech/language developmental checklist

  • Please visit http://nidcd.cit.nih.gov/health/voice/speechandlanguage.asp 

• The Listening Room for Kids

  • FREE Activities and Resources

  • Please visit www.Hearingjourney.com

REGION 1:  (Portsmouth, Newport, Middleton, Little Compton, Tiverton)  

Mrs. Lydia Bredemeir, M. A. CCC-A, Teacher of the Hearing Impaired

1249 Anthony Road, Portsmouth, RI.  02871-6005

(401) 683-3799

REGION 2:    (East Providence, Taunton area, Barrington)

1. Ms. Kara Chapman, M. A, CCC-SLP

Morton Hospital, 88 Washington Street, Taunton, MA.

(508)- 828-7000

2. Mrs. Susan Gavitt, M.A. CCC/SLP

3 Windward Drive, Barrington, RI 02806-5036

(401)-245-9278

REGION 3:  (Providence, Kent County, East Greenwich, Coventry, Warwick, North Kingstown,)

1. Mrs. Nancy Cirka-Manock, M.S., CCC/SLP

179 Candlewood Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852-1623

(401) 886-5545

ncirka@tsoja.com

2. Dr. Laura N. Peterson, Ed.D., CCC/SLP, CED, Cert-AVT

Rhode Island Learning Options for Families of Children with Hearing Loss

80 Ann Drive, East Greenwich, RI 02818-1124

(401) 886-7755

hearlaura@cox.net

REGION 4:   (South County, Westerly)

1. Mrs. Christine Wade, M.A. CCC/SLP

50 Colony Road, North Stonington, Ct. 06359-1523

christinebw50@hotmail.com

1. Rhode Island Auditory-Oral Public School Program

Orchard Farms School, Cranston, RI

1555 Scituate Ave
Cranston, RI 02921
(401) 270-8726

Mrs. Donna Rizzo, M.A., CCC/SLP

Mrs. Sara Rosenberg, M.A., CED

• The Auditory-Oral Program (AOP) is a specialized program for children with hearing loss who benefit from the technology of hearing aids and cochlear implants to learn to listen and talk.  The program provides children intensive auditory, speech and language training and habilitation to develop the necessary readiness skills for successful mainstream experiences back in their home districts.  The program includes daily instruction with Oral Teachers of the Deaf in the classroom as well as daily auditory training with an auditory-oral speech language pathologist.  The AOP has inclusive early childhood and elementary classrooms currently located at Orchard Farms Elementary School in Cranston.  The early childhood program has hearing peer models who attend the program daily, while the elementary students have regular education mainstream opportunities in the classrooms at Orchard Farms.  The classrooms are acoustically engineered for optimal access to spoken language and teacher instruction.
• In addition, the AOP provides outreach services to childrenwith hearing loss back in their home district via classroom consultation, direct service, and professional development to staff working with children with hearing losses.
• The AOP is expanding to provide services and consultation for children from birth to three years.  In this capacity, the program can support families seeking an auditory-oral course of intervention.   A multi-disciplinary collaboration with Early Intervention will create the opportunity for parent-toddler groups to facilitate best practice in auditory-oral habilitation.  

 

2. Rhode Island Learning Options for Families of Children with Hearing Loss

Dr. Laura N. Peterson, Ed.D., CCC/SPL, CED, LSLS CERT-AVT

c/o 80 Ann Drive

East Greenwich, RI. 02818-1124

(401) 742-3783; (401)886-7755

hearlaura@cox.net

• RI Learning Options is the only listen, learn and talktreatment program for  infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with  hearing loss in the state of Rhode Island that provides the option of auditory-oral and auditory-verbal therapy certified by the National Academy for Listening and Spoken Language. The provider is an Aural Habilitation Specialist (LSLS-CertAVT); Speech-language Pathologist (ASHA-CCC/SLP) and Teacher of the Deaf (CED).The program is located in a well equipped home-like office of the RI Listen and Talk Center of East Greenwich. Other learning options provided include “transitional learning” (from Signed English/ ASL to spoken English, Cued speech to spoken English, Spoken Spanish to spoken English), academic support, and speech/language habilitation for with cochlear implants and/or hearing aids. All options have the goal of achieving national standards of proficiency and independence in listening comprehension, language development, reading, and spoken language at a level on par with hearing peers, as developmentally appropriate. Families’ goals for their children include direct placement into well-supported, inclusive educational settings as appropriate to an individual child’s development.

  The 900 square foot office is well-equipped for testing, therapy, and learning. There is a natural setting for infants and toddlers, including living room, kitchen facilities, and bathroom, play areas, seating area, and changing facilities. For young children, there are learning centers and spaces for structured interactions.  For older children there is a separate office and library, with computer and internet access.  Provision of services at the child’s home, school, or day care is also considered and practiced if the team agrees the child will receive benefit in these environments.

  RI Learning Options is a network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and all its subsidiaries, and is applying for Neighborhood Health Plan. Patient’s health insurances will be considered if the patient’s plan includes coverage for aural habilitation and speech-language therapy. Private payment is provided on a sliding scale for families who find it difficult to pay, contingent on proof of income.

1. Dr. James Healey, CCC/A, AuD.  (Statewide)

Audiology Rehabilitation Services/ Kent Hearing Center
95 Tollgate Rd. ,Warwick, RI
Cell: (401) 461-3965
Office: (401) 738-3411

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 8999
Warwick, RI 02888

* The audiologist list will be updated as information becomes available specifically of those clinicians who participate in academic and assistive listening support for children choosing auditory-oral options.

Contact the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

RICDHH's main office videophone number: (401) 222-1205 or IP address: 158.123.13.68

Sign Language Interpreter Referral Service's videophone number: (401) 222-5301 or IP address: 158.123.13.116

Please note that RICDHH's office has a communication booth intended for public use such as videophone, TTY, VCO, telephone and internet.  

If you have questions or concerns, please contact CDHH@CDHH.RI.GOV

• Knowledge is Best Tool in Managing and Treating Hearing Loss
  By: Dr. Herman Jenkins
  
  Across the country, approximately 28 million Americans are living with some sort of
  hearing loss. Ten million Americans have suffered irreversible noise-induced hearing loss;
  30 million more are exposed to dangerous noise levels each day that may cause hearing
  loss eventually. Hearing loss is the most common birth defect, affecting 12,000 children
  born in the United States each year.
  
  There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Disease or damage to
  the ear canal, eardrum or middle ear results in a conductive loss. Depending upon the
  cause, conductive losses are usually treated either medically, or surgically. Damage to the
  sensory organ of the inner ear, the cochlea, produces a sensorineural loss. This type of
  hearing loss is often referred to as nerve deafness. There are a variety of causes for
  sensorineural hearing loss such as exposure to loud noise, infection, as well as deafness
  genes.
  
  The usual treatment for sensorineural hearing loss has been external hearing aids. For
  many people, a hearing aid restricts motion and activities, as it must be removed before
  participation. It is not possible to use hearing aids during sleeping, showering, swimming
  or perspiration producing activities as aerobics, or active sports, such as basketball or
  tennis. In short, a hearing aid often interferes with the simple, enjoyable things in life.
  
  An aging, yet physically active, population is looking for alternatives. Fortunately, an
  investigational, fully implantable hearing device is now being evaluated in a new clinical
  research study. Unlike traditional hearing aids, this device is implanted totally under the
  skin. Nothing is worn in the ear canal and no part of the device is visible externally.
  Because the Otologics Fully Implantable Hearing Device is completely protected from the
  external environment, the wearer is able to participate in activities without worrying about
  the device being damaged or getting in the way.
  
  Like many other health conditions, knowledge is the best tool with which to manage and
  treat hearing loss. Knowing the treatment options available is the key to managing this
  common impairment, thus ensuring a healthy and productive life.
  
  To learn more visit www.thehearingstudy.com.
  
  Dr. Herman Jenkins is an otolaryngologist with the University of Colorado Denver School of
  Medicine. This investigational, fully implantable device is currently being tested in 11
  different states. Call 1-866-394-7320 for more information.
  
  Here is a list of the places the trial is being conducted. They are:
   
  • Arizona Otologic Associates, Phoenix, Arizona
  • California Ear Institute, Palo Alto, California
  • University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado
  • Atkins Surgical Hearing Institute (Florida Ear and Balance Center),
  Orlando/Celebration, Florida
  • Florida Ear and Sinus Center (Silverstein Institute), Sarasota, Florida
  • Mercy Hospital, Miami, Florida
  • University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
  • University of Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Center for Hearing and Balance Disorders, St. Louis          , Missouri
  • St. Johns Clinic Ear Nose and Throat, Springfield, Missouri
  • St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Ear Specialty Group, Berkley Heights, New Jersey
  • Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Houston Ear Nose and Throat Clinic, Houston, Texas
  • University of Washington, Tacoma, Washington
  Anyone interested in finding out more about the trial should call 1-866-394-7320.