Your First Step Starts with First LSL Lessons

Your journey begins with First LSL Lessons – designed to equip parents with the knowledge and confidence needed to help their child with hearing loss learn to listen and talk, all in one easy-to-access place.

As you start exploring First LSL Lessons, a few questions may come to mind:

• What exactly is First LSL Lessons?
• How will it support me and my child?
• Can I fit this into our busy schedule?

First LSL Lessons: Your Top Questions Answered

Consider this article your one-stop guide to everything you need to know about First LSL Lessons – so you can jump in feeling informed, supported, and ready to make the most of your experience!

Every first matters, and First LSL Lessons is here to empower families from the start. Inside First LSL Lessons, you’ll find clear, actionable steps to support your goals for your child with hearing loss to learn to listen and talk, delivered in a way that’s easy to follow and easy to fit into the busiest of days.

With quick, bite-sized sections, families can learn tips that fit into their everyday life. The best part? The free lessons are self-paced and ready to use anytime, anywhere!

Let’s get those questions answered – use this article as your guide to all things First LSL Lessons!

Who are these lessons for?

First LSL Lessons is designed for parents and caregivers of babies with hearing loss, as well as the professionals who support them. Whether you're just starting the journey or you're looking for fresh ways to strengthen your child’s listening and spoken language skills, these lessons offer ready-to-use tips for practicing LSL during your daily life. The lessons can be completed by families on their own or in partnership with their Listening and Spoken Language early interventionist.

Professionals can also use the lessons in their practice as tools for coaching and counseling families during intervention sessions or as additional information to help families on their Listening and Spoken Language journey.

My child was recently identified with hearing loss and we’re waiting on hearing devices. Can these lessons still help me and my child?

Of course! You don’t have to wait to get started. These lessons offer easy, clear, actionable steps that can be used right away – even before your baby has hearing devices. The strategies and tips inside First LSL Lessons fit into everyday life and help you support your baby's listening and talking from the very start.

If you’re ready to get started, try Lesson 1: Start with the Brain to begin building a strong foundation, or get ready for your baby’s hearing devices with Lesson 2: Get to Know Your Baby’s Hearing Devices.

Why should I take First LSL Lessons?

You’ll walk away from each lesson with an extra boost of confidence and competence for the LSL journey ahead. Developed by certified Listening and Spoken Language specialists, each lesson offers key knowledge, proven strategies, and simple ways to help families support their child on their journey to listening and talking with Listening and Spoken Language.

You'll gain:

• A solid foundation of knowledge to help your child listen and talk
• Simple, clear, actionable steps – all in one, easy-to-access place
• Tips and resources families can use right away at home or on the go

Do I have to go through Lessons 1-12 in order?

All of the lessons are available for you to explore in whatever order works best for you and your family! If a certain topic jumps out or speaks to a question you’ve been wondering about, go ahead and start there.

Not sure where to begin? Lesson 1 is a perfect starting point. The lessons were designed to build on each other, step by step, to guide families through the information they need to best support their child.

Can I keep track of my progress?

Yes! Create an account for a Hearing First site membership. You can log in to track your progress and bookmark sections so that you can easily pick up where you left off.

Can I learn at my own pace?

Absolutely! The lessons are designed so that you can learn when it works for you – gradually or all at once.

How long does each lesson take?

Each lesson takes 20 minutes or less and is broken into bite-sized sections, making it easy to learn at your own pace – whether on a walk, while waiting for an appointment, or during your baby's naptime.

Parents are busy, and between work, commutes, appointments, and more, it can be difficult to find time for anything else. That’s why First LSL Lessons meets families where they are – offering ready-to-use strategies in a clear way, helping you support the goals and dreams you have for your child.

What topics are covered?

You’ll find a wide range of relevant topics, with each building on the last. A small sample of topics covered within the lessons includes:

1. Hearing Devices and Wear Time
2. How to Talk and Read to Your Baby
3. Building Language Through Daily Routines
4. Understanding The Audiogram
5. Helpful LSL Strategies

...and more!

I’m a professional – how can I use the lessons?

Professionals can use First LSL Lessons in their practice to help families know what to do to help their baby learn to listen and talk. With trusted LSL resources delivered in an orderly and engaging format while following best practices in adult learning, the carefully curated lessons equip parents with the knowledge they need as they start the LSL journey. As professionals counsel and coach families to reach the goals they have for their baby, First LSL Lessons can serve as another tool to deliver the right information, in the right way, at the right time.

How do I get started?

You can begin anytime by visiting HearingFirst.org/Lessons and choosing your next lesson. Each lesson is structured to guide you step-by-step, providing encouragement and practical tips along the way, to support you as you help your child learn to listen, talk, read, and thrive!