By Peter Omopo
Kaduna | July 4, 2025 — Parents and guardians have been described as the most effective therapists for children with hearing impairments, according to experts at a recent family curriculum workshop held in Kaduna.
The event was organised by MED-EL Africa, in collaboration with the National Ear Centre, Kaduna, and Khalifa Medical and Hearing Limited, with the goal of equipping families of children with hearing loss—particularly those using cochlear implants and other hearing devices—with the tools to support their children’s communication and development at home.
Speaking at the workshop, Yvonne Kehinde, a Rehabilitation Specialist with MED-EL Africa, emphasized the crucial role of parents in the rehabilitation process, stating that consistent support from family members makes a lasting impact.
“Therapists may come and go, but family members are a constant presence,” she said. “That’s why this curriculum was created—to empower families, who are truly the best therapists, with the knowledge and tools they need.”
The event also featured hands-on training sessions in speech therapy techniques and practical home strategies delivered by a team of facilitators including Anna Vangerwua, Musbau Adeyemi, Rufai Abdulmumin, Haulat Yakubu Leko, and Kehinde herself.
A statement from the Public Relations and Corporate Communications Department of MED-EL, signed by Silke Artner, revealed that the curriculum also included training in basic first aid and inclusive practices tailored to the needs of children with hearing loss.
Speaking on the broader goals of the initiative, co-organiser Haulat Yakubu Leko noted that the workshop was designed to enable families to play a hands-on role in their children’s speech and language development.
MED-EL, a leading provider of hearing loss solutions in Nigeria, offers a range of technologies including cochlear implants, middle ear implant systems, electric-acoustic stimulation devices, auditory brainstem implants, and bone conduction systems.
The workshop marks a significant effort toward ensuring that early intervention and consistent parental involvement become central to hearing loss rehabilitation efforts in Nigeria.
