Listen Little Star Program Guide eBook

Customer Reviews

A message from the mother of Claudia Rose Review by Tina Worland

Star rating

You have boarded the train, and as it pulls out of the station you realize your
destination is via another town and not the express route you hoped for. This is
Auditory-Verbal Therapy on route to speech via deafness. Welcome to your journey.
This book is your map to your destination. All Aboard the Auditory-Verbal Express.
When we signed up for parenthood, I don’t think any of us saw this fork in the road,
but here we are.
My journey began four years ago when our first-born son, Darcy, was diagnosed
with profound hearing loss at 8 1/2 months. We experienced the expected feelings
of grief and anger that come with such shocking news, but luckily we found Dimity’s
program immediately and began AV Therapy, which set us on our way with a new
map in hand. We were going to take the longer route. Our estimated time of arrival
was now delayed. Darcy is now four years old and has learned to listen and speak as
well as his hearing friends. His success gave us the courage to have another child and
she, too, was born deaf. But we had this great, clear map this time.
Deafness for my family is part of my parenthood journey. Unfortunately, I didn’t
get to experience one without the other, and for me it was hard to separate the two
(parenthood and deafness). I reflect now on life B.C. (before children/before cochlear
implant) and think it was rather two-dimensional. The teaching methods of
AV Therapy helped me to be the mother I wanted to be.
The wonderful thing about Auditory-Verbal Therapy and the Listen Little Star
program is that anyone can do it – it is so achievable. It has been daunting at times,
but we have come through with beautiful life experiences. The rewards are so great,
as successful graduates speak for themselves. Each child is a star as he or she
achieves language despite disability. If ever you feel overwhelmed, remember that
many parents have walked this path before you. We, too, have felt defeated at times,
but as they say, nothing worth having in this life comes easy.
Our endless gratitude to Dimity for choosing this career path, ensuring that
hearing-impaired children achieve their potential, and dedicating this manual to our
Claudia Rose. I can truly say I have seen how love makes the world go ‘round and
that angels walk among us.
Thank you,
Tina Worland (Posted on 13/03/12)

Listen Little Star offers a beautifully presented, helpful guide... Review by Alison King

Star rating

Review of “Listen Little Star”
By Alison King, Principle Audiologist, Paediatric Services Australian Hearing.
"Listen Little Star" is a resource for families of hearing impaired infants who are using the
Auditory Verbal Therapy approach. It provides a structured, lesson-by-lesson approach, written
in parent-friendly language, and is laid out in an attractive and easy-to-access format. A baby
response checklist at the end of the Program Guide should be very helpful for parent education,
and should also provide information that will assist professionals who work with the child.
Audiological information is provided in simple terms to supplement each lesson. It is important
that families who use this resource discuss their individual child's hearing with their audiologist,
so that the general expectations provided in the parent book can be interpreted in light of the
child's own residual hearing and ability to detect speech sounds when using amplification.
Listen Little Star" considers the hearing impaired child in the context of being part of a whole
family. The program also emphasises the importance of enjoying time with the baby and points
out that parents of hearing impaired infants need to look after their own well-being in addition to
the baby's hearing needs. Families are encouraged to develop support networks of family, friends
and professionals to help their child.
Overall, "Listen Little Star" offers a beautifully presented, helpful guide to working with hearing
impaired children during the early stages of hearing experience. It will be particularly helpful for
families who are unable to access regular intervention visits, such as those who live remote from
the nearest service. Naturally, families will derive even greater benefit when it is used as a
supplement to regular contact with an early intervention agency and with their own audiologist.” (Posted on 13/03/12)

It is a wonderful positive program... Review by Message from a mother

Star rating

For the first few months of knowing that my two children were hearing impaired I struggled to
come to terms with the whole idea. As soon as I started the “Listen Little Star Program” my life
became normal again. It is a wonderful positive program and at last I could have fun and just
play and talk to my children again.
My son Lachlan (5 months old) straight away started listening and after only a month is starting
to respond and vocalise. My two year old daughter Ashleigh is also benefiting from the lessons,
as she only received her hearing aids the same time as Lachlan. The lessons are clear and easy to
follow and I manage to fit them into my routine almost every day.
Thank you for all the help with my children. (Posted on 13/03/12)