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March 1, 2006
Benefit to aid hearing center
Fridays are fun days for students of the Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking Center. Most of them cannot hear, but they head to the Rancho Santa Fe branch library to check out books, tapes and CDs. The field trip is part of a curriculum that incorporates early intervention techniques with parental education to teach children who are deaf or hearing impaired to listen, speak and communicate.
“We have an incredible opportunity for kids to be involved in the community,” said center director Karen Affinito.
In the morning, the children visit a grocery store and buy supplies for a snack they can make the following week. Later, they head to the library to check out materials.
Most students at the school wear hearing aids or have cochlear implants, a technology approved for children as young as 1 who are diagnosed with hearing impairment.
Through special training and individualized speech therapy at the center, students are able to sing songs and play musical instruments, Affinito said.
The ultimate goal of the program is to teach students to understand sounds and language so they can matriculate in schools in their districts, she said.
The Children's Choice for Hearing and Talking Center is in Encinitas. It's certified to teach children as old as 8. Programs are offered for infants through first-graders.
Linda Hahn, of Rancho Santa Fe, said that since her 5-year-old granddaughter has attended the center, her communication skills have improved dramatically.
“Her speech is, I think, perfect,” Hahn said. “She is already reading and writing – usually stuff you'd be doing well into kindergarten.”
Hahn's granddaughter was diagnosed with hearing loss in preschool and was enrolled at the center.
This year, Hahn will head the fifth annual golf tournament, the Ultimate Golf Safari, to raise funds for scholarships.
The center is private and receives funding through a variety of means, Affinito said.
“We work really hard to not turn students away,” she said.
The tournament will be March 14 at The Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe.
The “ultimate” auction item is a two-week safari for two to East Africa valued at $13,000. Other items include an extreme makeover package, founders tickets to the Long Beach Grand Prix, a trip to Alaska and a one-year entertainment package for two. Tickets to the tournament cost $395.
For more information, call the center at (760) 634-7953 or go to www.cchatsd.org.
By Amanda Daniels
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20060301-9999-m1m01tfrsf.html
Posted by 4HL on March 1, 2006 3:09 AM
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