Perhaps what makes HASA stand out is its unique integration of high-quality audiology services and therapy and education for infants and children with hearing loss. Rather than trying to piece together audiology, education and speech therapy programs, parents come to the Hearing and Speech Agency’s Auditory/Oral Center so that their child can have constant monitoring by our expert audiologists, progressive therapy and education that can serve their language and cognitive development needs from birth to age five.
Our preschoolers receive daily hearing-device checks and can take advantage of their classroom’s FM systems, if needed. They can “grow up” in a consistent, loving environment where they will be supported and taught, where professionals will not hesitate to suggest more appropriate technology as the children grow and develop, and where they can build a peer group of children who face similar challenges.
Our Auditory/Oral Center clients are children from birth through age five with hearing loss who use amplification or cochlear implants. (Children older than five come to the Center for speech therapy.) Reliable research studies show that when children with hearing loss receive specialized services before six months of age, their communication skills and education may remain on par with their hearing peers.
Older children (age 3-5) are welcome to attend our Gateway School’s Auditory/Oral Preschool, “Little Ears, Big Voices.” Read below about this unique full- or half-day program designed to prepare young children with hearing loss for mainstream education.
Parent participation is an important factor affecting a child’s ability to learn to listen and to speak. Families and the staff work together to teach the children to listen and talk. Parents of infants and toddlers participate in family group sessions where they can learn to reinforce their child’s auditory learning and to create the best listening and speaking environment for the child at home.
Each of HASA’s enthusiastic professionals meets Maryland’s certification and licensing requirements and provide group and individual instruction. Youngsters learn from a teacher with expertise in oral-deaf education, and they receive therapy from a speech-language pathologist. An audiologist and a social worker help identify and meet the needs of each child and family.
Classrooms are state-of-the art, with sound-field systems and observation booths. Art and music, library, computer lab, and gym are visited daily, as is the playground when weather permits. Families have access to counseling services, a resource library, support groups, and other services
Applications are accepted year-round. Families are encouraged to apply for scholarships and financial assistance.
Contact the Hearing and Speech Agency to:
Hearing and Speech AgencyHarry and Jeanette Weinberg Building 5900 Metro Drive Baltimore, MD 21215 410.318.6780 hasa@hasa.org