Hear and Say is a multidisciplinary team of industry experts located across Queensland and working to create a better future for those impacted by hearing loss.
Amy has been a part of the team for six years having started with Hear and Say at the Brisbane Centre in 2014 and moved to Townsville in 2015.
Amy sat down with us to talk about what it’s like being a listening and spoken language specialist (LSLS).
Can you explain what a LSLS does on a daily basis?
Each day is so different. I work very closely with parents and carers to provide them with strategies to help teach their children to listen and speak. My clients include all ages, from babies to adults. My day ranges from using puppets and toys to elicit a sound from a young baby, to teaching language and literacy skills to families living many hours away via telepractice, to training adults to use a phone with their cochlear implant.
What are your top tips for a family who has recently found out their child had a hearing loss?
Know that they are not alone! I always encourage families to seek treatment and support as early as possible, that is based on their individual situation. Also, connect with other families on a similar journey.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
Being there when a child’s sound is switched on for the first time is amazing – and then helping to teach the child to say their first words, hear them talk and joke with their families and watch them being understood and appreciated by their friends makes the hard work all worthwhile. I feel so lucky to work as a LSLS and make a difference for children with hearing loss.