Updated: February 24, 2006

Investigators:

Scott Bally, Ph.D.
Matthew H. Bakke, Ph.D.

Purpose of this study:

To identify Peer Mentor candidates for the Gallaudet University Peer Mentoring Certification Program, and to guide them in the development of skills which will enable them to provide consumers, family members, their significant others and peers, with practical strategy approaches to support speechreading skills, including both auditory and visual receptive ability, the use of hearing assistive technology and successful adaptation to the psychosocial effects of hearing loss.

Project Description:

The Peer Mentor Certification Program will train lay persons with hearing loss to help others adapt to hearing loss by providing them the needed skills and support under the supervision of licensed professionals. The RERC will design, develop, initiate and evaluate the peer training program which will include 1) a 2 year distance learning 13-credit curriculum leading to a peer mentor certificate based at Gallaudet University and 2) detailed on-line course curriculum and training materials for each of the six courses to be included in the curriculum.

Project Progress:

The first 3-credit course in the online peer mentoring certificate program, Hearing Loss in America: An Overview, was taught fall semester 2005. All 12 students participated actively. The second course, Psychosocial Aspects of Hearing Loss, is being taught spring semester 2006. The third course is currently under final curriculum development and review. A tutorial for this course will be offered at the Hearing Loss Association of America annual convention in June 2006.

For more information, contact Scott Bally, Ph.D.