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If you’re looking for an engaging toddler group for deaf or hard-of-hearing children that bring families together in a fun, play-based setting, you have found the place!
Toddlers learn to listen and talk through purposeful, play-based language activities in a fun, dynamic learning environment, where they get to play alongside other friends wearing hearing technology, just like them! That’s why Spokane HOPE provides weekly toddler groups at our facility in Spokane, Washington, guided by a certified Teacher of the Deaf (TOD), a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) trained in listening and spoken language, and a music educator.
Together with a parent or caregiver, your toddler will learn to listen and talk through play, music, and peer interaction.
During each session, children build language and social skills, while parents connect with others who are navigating a similar journey with hearing loss.
Every Tuesday morning starts with 30 minutes of purposeful play in a language-rich environment—think constant, descriptive talk and listening and spoken language strategies woven into every activity. While children zoom cars or feed toy animals, staff model the “Hear it before you see it” Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) strategy—“vroom, vroom… car!” Linking sound to meaning boosts early auditory brain-building. (hearingfirst.org)
While toddlers continue learning with our Teachers of the Deaf (TODs), parents are invited to gather for a parent connection group, where they receive support and coaching from another parent who has firsthand experience raising a child with hearing loss.
Circle time includes reading books, singing songs, and engaging in LSL strategies such as auditory-first activities and auditory bombardment. American Sign Language (ASL) may also be incorporated as a visual support to enhance comprehension and language access for individual children, as appropriate. These structured routines help increase toddlers’ attention span, promote social skill development, and lay the foundation for a successful transition to preschool. Consistent auditory access during these routines predicts stronger speech outcomes at age 3. (PubMed)
A credentialed music educator leads 30 minutes of songs, rhythm games, and instrument play with the parent and child. Shared music improves prosody perception and auditory memory skills, directly linked to clearer speech and better reading long-term (Frontiers). We also have the kiddos take turns on the drums or use the shakers to teach them social timing and build confidence among deaf and hard-of-hearing peers.
We end each session with a familiar “Goodbye” song, reinforcing routine and providing repeated listening opportunities that help children learn and remember the lyrics over time. Before families leave, parents receive a photo-rich take-home letter outlining the day’s Learning to Listen sounds, featured books, and songs to revisit at home. This kind of carryover practice at home significantly boosts language development, as demonstrated in parent-implemented early intervention programs.
Interested in having your deaf or hard-of-hearing child join our toddler groups? Get in touch with Spokane HOPE to learn more and get signed up for the next event.
The Spokane HOPE Preschool services aim to help your child smoothly transition toward preschool. Here are the core objectives we focus on.
Most families join our toddler group while they are enrolled in early intervention (Birth-to-3) services. In those one-on-one sessions, parents, Teachers of the Deaf, and SLP’s focus on listening and language goals at home.
Our toddler group allows children to practice these emerging skills in a small, classroom-like setting.
For example, a child who responds to their name in the quiet of their own home can begin to generalize that skill by practicing in a more stimulating environment—like a toddler group where other children are playing nearby.
By pairing ongoing one-on-one therapy with guided small-group experiences, we help solidify communication skills so they truly stick.
Language is social at its core. For children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, meeting peers who also use Hearing Assistive Technology can be a game-changer.
It helps them realize they’re not alone and reduces any feelings of isolation. In our group, your toddler gets to laugh, play, and communicate with friends who also wear hearing technology such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and BAHAs.
According to experts, peer friendships provide deaf or hard-of-hearing children with opportunities to develop social and emotional skills that might be harder to learn in isolation. (academic.oup.com)
Parents often form friendships here too, finding support and camaraderie.
One of our key goals is to increase each child’s sound awareness—helping them notice new sounds, turn toward voices, and recognize important auditory cues in their environment. We support this development through fun and intentional activities, such as the “I Hear That!” game, where we draw attention to everyday sounds like a knock at the door or a ringing timer, building listening skills through real-life experiences.
We also ensure optimal auditory positioning, meaning we arrange the physical environment and use strategies to give your child the best possible access to sound.
Our staff is trained to understand how a child’s ability to hear can be influenced by things like background noise, room setup, and how far away a speaker is. By being mindful of these factors, we help toddlers learn to respond to their name from across the room, notice both quiet and loud sounds, and become more aware of the sounds in their environment. This growing auditory awareness lays the foundation for learning to listen—an essential first step in learning to talk. (hearingfirst.org)
The structured weekly music time helps reinforce auditory skills in a way toddlers love.
By the end of the music program, many children have favorite songs and can recognize familiar words or actions within them—showing how much they’ve learned through listening.
Music also lays the groundwork for literacy and reading skills by training the brain in patterns and phonemic awareness.
There is a strong connection between musical activities and language development – songs and rhythmic play can significantly boost young children’s speech and language skills (hearingfirst.org).
“HOPE has been one of our greatest resources after my daughter's deaf diagnosis. Angela, the teachers, and the other employees are simply wonderful. They have taken the time to get to know my child and go above and beyond to help her thrive. My daughter (2.5 years old) absolutely loves going to HOPE. She is always excited to see we've arrived for another Toddler Time, and we can't wait for her to eventually enter the preschool classroom there!”
You don’t have to be an “LSL-only” family to join our toddler program. We believe in parent choice and embrace all communication modalities beyond Listening and Spoken Language; you choose what’s best for your deaf or hard-of-hearing child!
Families learning ASL are welcome to join if they see value in incorporating our specialized listening and spoken language therapy education. We’re here to help give your child abundant, accessible language—spoken or signed.
Note: To ensure our program is inclusive, we continually educate our staff and families on cultural sensitivity. We embrace Deaf culture and hearing technology culture alike – all with the unified goal of helping your child thrive.
We intentionally keep our toddler groups small—just 4 to 6 children—because research shows that deaf and hard-of-hearing children benefit from more individualized cueing and reduced background noise, both of which are linked to stronger language development. (PMC)
Yes—you sit on the floor, model turn-taking, and actively practice the strategies we coach, all while receiving real-time feedback to strengthen carryover at home. Research on early intervention graduates consistently shows that parental involvement leads to stronger vocabulary, early literacy skills, and social-emotional growth in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. (Oxford Academic)
Routine matters—children with consistent schedules show stronger self-regulation and language growth—but life happens. If illness or travel keeps you away, just let us know; we’ll email the Daily Letter and home activities so your child stays on track. Occasional absences never jeopardize your place.
The flow is: 30 minutes of language-rich purposeful play, circle time, a short craft, a social snack, and 30 minutes of music and movement. Every part of Toddler Group is thoughtfully designed to support language and social development. Teachers routinely check every child’s hearing technology to ensure equipment is working optimally and the child has good access to sound.
Absolutely. While activities emphasize Listening & Spoken Language, staff integrate ASL to supplement language learning; families mixing LSL and ASL (Total Communication) see additive language benefits.
Our mantra: more language = more brain connections, whatever the communication modality!
At Spokane HOPE, we’ll help you navigate everything to support your toddler who is deaf or hard of hearing. Simply fill out this contact form to join the Toddler program or request to schedule a tour of our facility.