Professional Services
Counseling for Deaf and Hard-Of-Hearing Individuals
Hearing loss affects individuals in various ways, each with their unique issues from the newly diagnosed child to the adult who has lost hearing as a result of a brain tumor to the senior citizen who has hearing loss as a result of aging. Even within the parameters of childhood hearing loss, there is a wide range of educational opportunities from mainstreaming to the self contained classroom. Parents must deal with the often overwhelming array of choices in educational methodologies such as cued speech, total communication, auditory-verbal training and ASL only classrooms.
Adults with late onset hearing loss from illness, accidents or hereditary factors must deal with the grief and the loss of control that often comes with it. Many symptoms of hearing loss in older people can often be confused with Alzheimer’s such as disorientation (due to balance problems), depression, isolation, forgetfulness (due to not hearing the original information), and social withdrawal. Families with aging parents often don’t know whether to speak louder, or enunciate more or, worse, assume that the person has become senile or is showing signs of dementia.
Whatever the challenge may be, counseling can help individuals and their families learn to adjust to how hearing loss affects them in more positive ways.
For mental health professionals
Psychological and educational testing with a professional who is knowledgeable about deafness and/or is fluent in sign language is vitally important in making appropriate educational and mental health decisions. Due to language delays, an appropriate test battery needs to include many non-verbal measures to prevent misdiagnosis. Each assessment is individually tailored to the needs of the person requesting it. Oftentimes, I am able to utilize assessment measures that other school psychologists or professionals don’t have.
Specific to trauma work in therapy, I offer a service where I work adjunctly with you in helping your deaf or hard of hearing client deal with issues of abuse or trauma utilizingEMDR.
Parenting Support
Parental involvement is crucial for successful academic and positive mental health for your child. I am a strong believer in the power of family support and see parental empowerment as a long term investment in your child’s future as a capable and independent person.
I can help you make the appropriate educational placement for your child.
