When you’re working with a child with a language gap, the temptation is to just pour language into them like there’s no tomorrow… and the assumption is partially correct. Constant narration of daily events and stimulation in a language rich environment is crucial to helping our children “make up for lost time” and eliminate the disparities between their chronological age and their language abilities.
HOWEVER…
…there is such a thing as “too much of a good thing.” When we over-talk, we are bombarding a child with language without giving them proper time to process the incoming information. This leads to communication breakdowns and frustration for the child.
For example, consider the infamous “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel decide to go to work in a chocolate factory. At first, when the conveyor belt is running at an appropriate pace, Lucy and Ethel manage to keep up relatively well with the demands of their job. This is similar to when we give a child an appropriate amount of language stimulation — input that is rich in content, intonation, prosody, etc. and is delivered at an appropriate rate and level of difficulty for the child — simple enough so that he will understand, yet just difficult enough to challenge him to take his skills to the next level. This is the ideal.
When that breaks down, however…

…you’ve reached communication overload. The “conveyor belt” of your language input is going way too fast, and the child, instead of having time to digest the incoming information and produce an appropriate language output, is simple trying to keep his head above water as you barrage him with endless, not-so-helpful, suggestions.
So, chocolate factories aside, what should you do in real life? Consider the following two interactions, between “Joey” and his father.
NOT HELPFUL
DAD: Joey, what’s this? (points to a toy)
…waits 1 second
DAD: What is it?
…waits one more second
DAD: Joey, see this toy? What is this toy? What’s the name of this toy?
…waits one more second. Dad sees that Joey has a glazed-over look in his eyes and, even if he did know the name of the toy before, is so overwhelmed by the linguistic bombardment he has just experienced, that he certainly isn’t going to know the name now! Dad decides, incorrectly, to give Joey the name for the toy, and then have Joey repeat after him as Dad says the name of the toy four or five times. Dad leaves the situation assuming that he has just “taught” Joey about that toy. Joey leaves confused. All he wanted to do was play!
HELPFUL
DAD: Oh, look, Joey, what’s this?
…waits THIRTY SECONDS OR MORE for Joey to give an answer. At this point, he may give an answer, or, if not, Dad should provide CLUES to lead him in the right direction. The end goal is not that Joey repeats the word correctly, but that he builds a cognitive base for the concept of the referent (the actual toy) and the label (the English, or whatever language, word for that toy) in his brain. We are building BRAINS, not word robots, here! (See “Help Me But Don’t Tell Me” from THIS post)
Thirty seconds isn’t that bad, is it? Time yourself. For adults, who are processing language at lightening speed, this seems like an eternity. I’m impatient myself, I know it’s difficult… but it’s NECESSARY. Children, especially children with a language delay and/or very little hearing experience, do not process language as quickly as we do, and we need to allow them time to work on their language processing skills instead of compounding the problem with incessant restating and rephrasing of the question. Restating and/or rephrasing are GREAT skills, but only after the listener has been given time to “digest” the original message, and it is clear that he or she needs additional help or information.
So, yes, you should narrate, narrate, narrate EVERYTHING in your child’s environment, but you should also take time to stop, reflect, and LISTEN. When you give your child an opportunity to process language input, you just might be surprised by what the come up with in reply!
REMEMBER: When adults LISTEN, children TALK!
First of all, I’d like to say thank you to Cochlear Australia for providing me funds to speak in Adelaide, Australia, this past Sunday to the parents of deaf children with cochlear implants and parents of newly diagnosed deaf children about the benefits of bilateral implantation. According to the parents in Adelaide, bilateral implantation is not as common as it is in the United States and Europe. So, I came to Adelaide to give my voice about the benefits of having two implants verses one implant so that the parents could gain a better understanding. Most of the audience were parents who attend the Cora Barclay Center, an Auditory-Verbal center.

As a bilateral cochlear implant user, I can certainly say that choosing to get a second implant when I was 17 years old was one of the best decisions that I could make because, with two implants, the sounds sound fuller and richer, my hearing in background noise improved tremendously, and my distance hearing also improved. Here are my booth test scores to see an example of how my hearing with two implants improved tremendously:
1 Nucleus 22 CI
Single syllable word test
Hearing in quiet: 90%
Hearing in 10 db signal-to-noise ratio, noise to unimplanted ear: 30%
Hearing in 5 db signal-to-noise ratio, noise to implanted ear: 0%
Bilateral Nucleus 24C CIs
Single syllable word test
Hearing in quiet: 88%
Hearing in 5 db signal-to-noise ratio: 64%
H.I.N.T. (Hearing In Noise Test) sentences
Hearing in quiet: 100%
Hearing in 5 db signal to noise ratio: 91%
My presentation not only included research studies, but also various personal stories of children and adults with bilateral implants. These are the people whom I’ve featured in my presentation:
Drew (Turn on My Ears)
Brook and Gage B.
Jeremy G.
Elliot and Oliver K.
Shelia M.
Will A.
Will T.
Erin Toes and Her Cochlear Implant Journey
Jessica, Jared, and Julianne H.
Belle and Hannah W.
Jessica, my sister.
I would like to thank to the parents of these children and these CI users for providing me stories, photos, and adorable video clips!
Thank you to all the parents of deaf children with cochlear implants or hearing aids and CI/HA users for giving me the permission to show the retirement tribute video that was made for Mary Ann, our incredible auditory-verbal therapist. Please give a few minutes for the video to load.
Transcript:
Music: I Am Your Child sung my Barry Manilow
I am your child
Wherever you go, you take me, too
Whatever I know, I learn from you
Whatever I do, you taught me to do
I am your child
And I am your chance
Whatever will come, will come from me
Tomorrow is won, by winning me
Whatever I am, you taught me to be
I am your hope,
I am your chance,
I am your child
Whatever I am, you taught me to be
I am your hope,
I am your chance,
I am your child
Music: Teach Your Children sung by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
You, who are on the road
Must have a code
That you can live by.
And so, become yourself
Because the past
Is just a goodbye.
Teach your children well
Their father’s hell
Did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks
The one you’ll know by.
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would die
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you.
And you (Can you hear and)
Of tender years (Do you care and)
Can’t know the fears (Can you see we)
That your elders grew by (Must be free to)
And so please help (Teach your children)
Them with your youth (You believe and)
They seek the truth (Make a world that)
Before they can die (We can live in)
Teach your parents well
Their children’s hell
Will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks
The one you’ll know by.
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you.
Music: Through Children’s Eyes sung by Jubals Belfry
Kittens, puppies, mother goose
Christmas, glitter, Dr. Seuss
Bear hugs, rainbows and butterflies
See the world through children’s eyes
Take the time to stop and share
Tell someone how much you care
It’s little things that mean so much
Help lift a friend and be their crutch
Moonbeams, candy, lemon pies
Stardust, mother, deep blue skies
Crayons, trains and bees that buzz
Can you remember how it was?
When you saw the world this way
Discovering magic every day
It’s not really hard at all it seems
In the realm of children’s dreams
And the horns go
Go
Moonbeams, candy, lemon pies
Stardust, mother, deep blue skies
Crayons, trains and bees that buzz
Can you remember how it was?
When you saw the world this way
Discovering magic every day
It’s not really hard at all it seems
In the realm of children’s dreams
Music: Can You Feel the Love Tonight sung by Elton John
There’s a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of a rolling wind can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
There’s a time for everyone if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There’s a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours
And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it’s laid to rest
It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
Music: Everything Grows sung by Raffi
Everything grows and grows
Babies do
Animals too
Everything grows
Everything grows and grows
Sisters do
Brothers too
Everything grows
A blade of grass
Fingers and toes
Hair on my head
A red, red rose
Everything grows
Anyone knows
That’s how it goes
Yes, everything grows and grows
Babies do
Animals too
Everything grows
Everything grows and grows
Sisters do
Brothers too
Everything grows
Food on the farm
Fish in the sea
Birds in the air
Leaves on the tree
Everything grows
Anyone knows
That’s how it goes
Yes, everything grows and grows
That’s how it goes
Under the sun
That’s how it goes
Under the rain
Everything grows
Anyone knows
That’s how it goes
Yes, everything grows and grows
Babies do
Animals too
Everything grows
Everything grows and grows
Sisters do
Brothers too
Everything grows
Mamas do
And papas too
Everything grows
Music: What I Did for Love sung by Broadway case of A Chorus Line
Kiss today goodbye,
The sweetness and the sorrow.
Wish me luck, the same to you.
But I can’t regret
What I did for love, what I did for love.
Look my eyes are dry.
The gift was ours to borrow.
It’s as if we always knew,
And I won’t forget what I did for love,
What I did for love.
Gone,
Love is never gone.
As we travel on,
Love’s what we’ll remember.
Kiss today goodbye,
And point me t’ward tomorrow.
We did what we had to do.
Won’t forget, can’t regret
What I did for
Love
What I did for
Love
What I did for…
Love
Love is never gone
As we travel one
Love’s what we’ll remember
Kiss today goodbye.
And point me t’ward tomorrow.
Point me t’ward tomorrow
We did what we had to do.
Won’t forget, can’t regret
What I did for love.
What I did for love.
What I did for love
Love
Elizabeth: I’m Elizabeth Claussen. Thank you for helping me learn how to read lips and talk.
Sandy: Thank you Mary Ann for teaching me how to listen and talk. You’ve been such a great inspiration to me, and I would like to continue working with children that have disabilities, and I want to teach them that their disability doesn’t have to be a handicap. I’ve been through college. I’m almost finished, and soon enough I’ll be a teacher, but it’s not like I’m already doing that anyway with horseback riding lessons and working in the afterschool program. Have a happy retirement, and I really am grateful forever for all the work that you did with me.
Channing: Hi Mary Ann. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for you. You are truly special to me. So I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. I love you.
Rachel: Hi Mary Ann. I just wanted to thank you for having been one of the most wonderful therapists you could have been. You have really greatly impacted my life as you were able to teach me how to hear and to speak and also to be an independent person in the hearing world. During the past four months, I traveled all throughout Europe, including France and Italy. And, I’ve traveled on my own by trains, and I visited my French friends and stayed with host families where I was able to improve French, my second language, and also to study abroad in Provence. And, the experience has been the incredible opportunity of my life. And, not only have you been a wonderful therapist but also a wonderful family friend. You were truly part of my life by attending my 7th birthday party, my bat mitzvah, the technology fair when I was in 8th grade in Macon, Georgia, also to my high school film festival, to my high school graduation, also to my siblings’ bar/bat mitzvahs, and I just couldn’t have asked for more, and, as you know, I always think of you as if you were my aunt. So, thank you.
Savannah: Hi Mary Ann. Thanks for all the hard work you’ve done. I appreciate it. Here I am now. I work, school and cheer. Thank you!
Catherine: Thank you for teaching me and being patient with me. So I just want to say happy retirement.
Caitlin: Hey Mary Ann. Thank you for being really patient with me and for being such a great teacher. And, I’m at Georgia Tech and majoring in biomedical engineering because of you, and I want to thank you for that.
Chad: Hey. I’m 15. Thanks for teaching me how to hear and talk.
Stephanie: Hello. My name is Stephanie Synowsky. I’m 18 and a senior at Peachtree Ridge. There’s not much I can remember. All I can remember is that Mary Ann was my therapist when Astrida was not there. I am thankful for AEC and Mary Ann because the Auditory-Verbal approach has greatly changed my life. Our entire family believes that it was good for us, and, although it took years and countless of hours of therapy sitting in the high chair, I would not be where I am today. So, thank you Mary Ann.
Elizabeth: Hi Mary Ann. I just wanted to say thank you so much for training me and teaching me how to communicate the way I can now. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to go to the school that I go to or be able to search for colleges and have this many choices. You deserve this wonderful retirement, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for teaching me and training me and doing all the things that you did.
Dara: Hey Mary Ann. I’m wishing you a great retirement. I have some great memories with you. One of them is that we made a gingerbread man together, and that was a lot of fun, and you worked very hard with me, and I appreciate it a lot, and you have no idea, and it has paid off very well. I love ya!
Jenna: Hey Mary Ann. This is Jenna Bartlett, and I’m 13 years old, and I am attending Wesleyan School right now. And I just want to thank you for all the hard work that you went through with me when I was younger, and it really paid off. So I just wanted to thank you because, if you hadn’t worked really hard with me, I wouldn’t be where I am right now in my speech and my hearing. So, I just wanted to thank you, and I’m able to talk to friends at school and so sports. I’m pretty thankful for that.
Jessica: Hi Mary Ann. It’s me Jessica Chaikof. I’d like to say thank you for all those years you have taught me. You are very special to me, and I always will remember you, and I would not have been who I am today without you, and you are very special to me, and thank you, and I love you.
Grace: Hi Mary Ann. It’s me Grace. I’d like to thank you for what you did like when I was in with you. Well, first of all, you helped me when it was hard saying things like the word bus when you were teaching me that word, and then I couldn’t say it and I had to do it many times but, well, until I got it right. I even ride the bus at my school now! Well, anyway, thank you for just helping me for whatever you did for me. I really like it what you did. Bye.
Sydney: Hi Mary Ann. I’m playing hockey. Hi Mary Ann. I’m playing hockey, and I’m really sad that you’re retiring because you helped me so much, and I wanted you to do some – I wanted you to help other kids. That’s really nice of you to have volunteered doing this. Thank you. Bye.
Laney: Hey Miss Mary Ann. I’m just teasin’! This is Laney Jane. Thank you for teaching me how to talk and listen. I will always remember you. I love you! Bye.
Emilee: Thank you Miss Mary Ann for helping teach and for all the fun we did and helping me have a special week every day, and we hope you have a wonderful life. You’re the very best teacher – person who helped me speak and stuff. And thank you for all the stuff you’ve been teaching me. And we always love you and I will always remember you. Bye.
Makenzi: Mary Ann and Me. I’m going to straighten the book up. I was just a baby with a new cochlear implant. She taught me how to listen to things around me. When I was older, she taught – Did I read this, that one here? - When I was older, she taught me about the seasons, spring, summer, fall, winter. She taught me how – about words and sentences. Mary Ann, my mom and dad sent me to you. Thank you Mary Ann.
Katie: I’m a fan of Mary Ann. She helped me hear so give her a cheer. Thank you Mary Ann.
Will: Hi May Ann. I really love you so much for helping me with my cochlear implants, and I appreciate you for doing that. And, take care of yourself.
Grant and Will on swings – Singing Old MacDonald Had a Farm together suggesting different animals.
Grant: (singing) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. No more know dear how I love you. … sunshine away. (Mother talking- Very nice, do you want to sing again?) You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. No more know dear how I love you. Please don’t sunshine away. Hi!
Belle: Mary Ann. I love – Thank you. I love you. Thank you for helping me to learn how to listen.
Hannah: (singing) Twinkle twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are. Up a … in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.
Belle and Hannah: Thank you Mary Ann!
Music: Keep on Dancing sung by Bay City Rollers
Keep on dancing
Keep on doin’ the jerk
Shake it, shake it baby
Come on and show me how you work
Now you’re in motion
I’m gonna do the locomotion yeah
Well don’t you hurry me away
Shake it shake it till the break
of day.
Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’
Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’
Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’