By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ), through the Hearing and Speech Clinic at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and in collaboration with the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, held a workshop titled “Auditory Rehabilitation and Listening and Spoken Language Development for Children Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” under the patronage of the Dean of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Prof. Lara Al-Khlaifat.
The session was led by Rana Barghouty, a speech-language pathologist and certified auditory-verbal therapist at Stanford Children’s Health in California, who shared insights from her professional experience with specialists, faculty members, and students in the field of hearing and speech rehabilitation.
Barghouty presented modern strategies in auditory rehabilitation and discussed various communication options for children with hearing loss, emphasizing the importance of empowering parents to make informed decisions about the most suitable communication approach for their children.
She highlighted the vital role of early intervention, explaining that timely access to auditory stimulation and therapy significantly improves speech and language outcomes. “The earlier intervention begins, the faster children can bridge developmental gaps,” she said.
Barghouty also noted the growing role of teletherapy in supporting families across regions, describing it as an effective way to overcome barriers of distance and time while ensuring consistent, high-quality care.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on strengthening early hearing detection and promoting the inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing children, reflecting UJ’s commitment to community engagement and enhancing children’s well-being.