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Show How to help kids suffering 'mother deafness ' I have health insurance, but I'm not sure it's going to cover the type of hearing aids my children apparently ap-parently require. my boys every morning about the importance of bringing their math books home each night, and still get the same blank stare every afternoon after-noon when I ask them where their books are. "When did you tell me to bring my math home? ' I can report that banging my head on the wall, while quite entertaining to my children, has not produced an answer to this dilemma. Actually, I've decided it's not hearing that's the actual problem. It's listening. And the cure isn't found in the doctor's office. Radical as it may seem, children must be taught to listen. First, we must become good listeners ourselves. When your child talks to you, give him your attention. at-tention. Turn down the television. Stop your work. Make eye contact Respond to what he is saying. Recognize that children who can parrot back our instructions, are not necessarily listening. Ask children to summarize our restate instructions instruc-tions in their own words to check for comprehension. Plan listening activities. Use stories on tape. Play music. Do a "story round where someone begins to make up a story, pauses at a cliffhanger and turns the story over to the next person to continue, with the story passing from person to person. (This one is especially helpful on long trips when you've mistakenly left behind the Family Game Boy and there's nothing fun to fight over.) In short, before you rush your child to the doctor with the clear and certain belief that he or she is deaf, try teaching listening skills. Even if it's not covered by your health insurance. Children & School by Lily Eskelsen Kids have the most selective hearing in the world I can lecture to |