The Communication Corner
In the non-stop life of tweens and teens, academic and social success depends on one thing: communication success. Good communication is not a basic skill – it is a life skill because it affects every area of junior high and high school life, from orientation to graduation. And for people with hearing loss, mastering that skill can sometimes be difficult. At Cochlear, we are passionate about empowering tweens and teens to grow in their communication skills and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals.
View Program Description
Good communication is important for all of us, especially when our hearing isn’t at its best. The Communication Skills program is designed to help you improve areas of communication vital to success in life. This innovative, 3-part program will address:
The activities in this program require you to have a communication partner. This person should be able to follow the instructions in presenting the material to you, and to evaluate the accuracy of your response.
Whether you completed one of the sample activities in this section or all three, we trust that the sample activity was what you were seeking to help you improve your conversation skills. We have many other exciting activities and resources for you. Let’s start with a short assessment so that we can point you in the best direction to improve your conversation skills.
GET STARTED HEREIf your goal is to improve your ability to break down what you are hearing in everyday conversation, try this activity:
Syllable Counting: Your communication partner reads two words while pointing to them. Then he repeats one of them. Identify which word he said based on the number of syllables you hear. For instance, “man” and “magnificent”.
If your goal is to improve your ability to put together pieces of information in order to understand what is being said, try this activity:
Fill in the Blank: Have your communication partner read a sentence with three options for the last word. While looking at the printed version of the sentence and the alternatives, you identify which word your partner said to fill in the blank. For instance, “I like milk in my ____.” Alternatives are “coffee, tea, cereal”.
If your goal is to improve your ability to identify and control factors in the communication situation in order to increase understanding, try this activity:
Context understanding: You will ask your communication partner a question. Your partner will respond. You will write down their response as much as you can. Example: You ask, “Why haven’t your parents left on their trip?” Your partner responds, “They found out their flight was cancelled.” You write down what you heard and your partner scores your response.