Research suggests that by providing early intervention and working with children during the first three and a half years of their life, the brain is in a state of maximum neuroplasticity and therefore most available to make critical connections.
As a result of newborn hearing screenings, infants with hearing loss are identified and fit with amplification within the first few months of life. Optimal benefit from amplification may only be achieved with consistent and appropriate hearing aid use.
Audiologists, Early Interventionists and parents collaborate and strive to increase daily device usage. The Early Interventionist applies adult learning theory as the family is coached and empowered in developing strategies to increase weartime during daily routines. According to Raab, Dunst and Trivette (2013) adult learning theory includes adults’ active involvement in the learning process, real-life experience as the basis for learning, learning that has immediate relevance, and learning that is practice-centered rather than content driven.
The following slides will explore effective strategies to increase daily weartime and reflect on the application of adult learning theory into the coaching model.