Parent and Professional Partnerships

Understanding The Parent and Professional Partnership

In the LSL approach, the relationship between you and the professionals you work with should be respectful, supporting, trusting, and collaborative. Each person attending the intervention sessions with your baby needs to actively participate. At different times during your intervention sessions you and your interventionist will take turns leading and following in order to practice the skills with your baby.

You are an equal partner in LSL intervention. You share in the responsibility to help your baby achieve their goals. You are your baby’s first teacher, and as the parent, you are the decision-maker and the one to speak and act on behalf of your child.

Your LSL Professional As A Guide And Coach

Your LSL professional is your personal coach in the journey to teach your baby to listen and talk. Just like any effective coach, your interventionist should have training and experience in parent coaching and can share information in the ways you learn best. Your interventionist will help grow your confidence and competence to help you reach the goals you have for your baby. You'll become empowered to be your baby’s first teacher.

It’s important to make sure the professional you work with is able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills to help you and your baby achieve LSL goals.

Your Role as a Parent in LSL Intervention

As the parent, you make magic happen with your little one. With appropriate guidance, you are the one who makes the dreams for your child come to life. That’s what family-centered intervention is all about – supporting you and your family to reach the goals you have for your child. Therefore, it’s important that you clearly understand your role in LSL intervention.

Remember, in LSL practice you are considered your baby’s first and most important teacher. After all, you know your baby better than anyone, and you are the one that your baby spends the most time with.

Creating A Positive LSL Partnership

As a parent, you are the most important member of the LSL team. You’ll interact with many professionals on the LSL journey including audiologists, LSL interventionists, and all the others you may need, such as childcare workers, teachers, doctors, and nurses. All of these team members are important professionals who will work hard to help you achieve your goals. It’s important that all of the professionals work with you and work together to provide information, help you learn new skills, share responsibilities, and respect one another. Strong teams aren’t built overnight. Here are some tips to consider when building and maintaining a strong team for your baby:

• Commit to helping your baby learn to listen, talk, and read.
• Recognize the unique roles of all team members.
• Communicate with professionals about how you like to learn new information.
• Develop a communication plan so that all team members will know the most important and up-to-date information about your baby.
• Attend meetings prepared to share and participate by writing down questions and concerns ahead of time and taking notes in the meeting.