CNN Money recently published an article called, Reaching deaf babies with implants, iPads and therapy, which describes a join effort, BabyTalk, with Stanford and the Weingarten Children’s Center.
The goal of this free program is to link families with deaf children, under the age of three, who have or will be getting cochlear implants, with a remote team of professionals who can help the child learn to listen and speak.
“Our whole program is based on the notion that we can intervene with technology, developing listening and cognitive skills,” said Kathy Sussman, Weingarten’s executive director.
Through the use of an iPad, children and parents are able to take part in speech therapy and parent education that is crucial for the development of speech in young children with hearing loss.
With the help of Stanford and eager parents, BabyTalk is exploring the practicality of telemedicine, especially for high-risk, low-income families who live far from specialized medical professionals. In its third year, the team is exploring new avenues for future funding, but they hope it’s just the beginning.
