Give back to Listen and Talk by participating in our Alumni Family Giving Campaign. As a former student or family member of Listen and Talk, you know firsthand the incredible impact our organization has on children with hearing loss. Your support can help us continue to provide life-changing services and support to these children and their families.
Avy Dioguardi: A Story of Hope
in Johannesburg, South Africa for a U.S. government posting. Moving every two to
three years was a way of life for our family, but Seattle was home, so we decided
to return temporarily for Avy’s birth at University of Washington Medical Center.
It was here where Avy failed her newborn hearing exam and at two weeks of age,
was diagnosed with sensorineural high-frequency hearing loss.
Although living abroad was not new territory for our family, doing so with an
infant with bilateral hearing loss was and felt overwhelming.
Auditory Verbal Therapist, once again returning to Seattle when Avy was seven
months old to fit her for hearing aids. During that short visit, we reached out to
Listen and Talk and met with Kim Hamren, whom we set up weekly
tele intervention sessions upon our return. These sessions became an
important lifeline to our family as we navigated Listening and Spoken language
with a toddler and one of the most eagerly anticipated hours of our week.
When it was time to leave South Africa, we chose Seattle as our next post, and
Listen and Talk factored largely into that decision.
and Movement class. Romy attended Listen and Talk’s blended Pre-K program
and was one of four typically-hearing kids making up half her class that year
where she quickly became the family expert in hearing loss technology. The
following year, it was Avy’s turn to join Listen and Talk’s Pre-K program, which she
attended for two years prior to our next move. Listen and Talk became a part of
our family where we always felt supported and welcome, and still do to this day.
either of our children at school or where they were in their development. The
accessibility of staff and communication between parent and teacher was second
to none. The language-rich classroom and daily “picture pages” ensured that both
Romy and Avy were excited to speak in detail about their days and each girl
became inquisitive, good listeners, and fantastic story tellers. Avy learned to
speak up when she didn’t hear what was said – or ask for the meaning of a word
she didn’t understand. Most importantly, she learned to self-advocate for herself,
a life-long skill everyone needs, but is even more important for a person with
hearing loss.
The Dioguardi Family
Zane Ali – Advocacy in Action
Our son, Zane, now 8 years old, is deaf, bilaterally implanted and doesn’t stop talking. He loves to ski, swim, do judo, travel and listen to music and audiobooks.
Zane was late-identified with progressive hearing loss at the age of 3. Soon after the diagnosis, Zane started attending Listen & Talk in the pre-K class.
Our decision was to pursue listening and spoken language for our family and we couldn’t have found a better school than Listen and Talk. Zane’s language, receptive and expressive and comprehension grew leaps and bounds within the first year. But most importantly Listen and Talk provided him with a foundation for building social skills, learning about his hearing loss and advocating for himself. Moreover, the school further provided a community and support for our whole family.
Zane graduated two years ago and is in a fully mainstream class. He fondly remembers his time with his teachers and peers and we are regulars at alumni events. I invite you to support Listen and Talk so they can continue to have the life-changing impact for themselves their children and families like they did for us.
