Bolesta Center at USF

02/25/2025

🎉 Happy Cochlear Implant Day! 🎉

Today, we're celebrating cochlear implants (CIs) and the life-changing impact they have on children who are deaf or hard of hearing! 🌟

These amazing devices provide direct access to sound by stimulating the auditory nerve, allowing the brain to hear all the sounds of speech.

CIs open up a world of possibilities, empowering children to learn to listen, talk, and connect with the people around them. 💙

Let’s also celebrate the amazing families, audiologists, and professionals who make these listening journeys possible.

Share your cochlear implant success stories with us! What’s been your favorite hearing milestone? 💬👇

05/22/2023

12/21/2022

Thank you to Sarah Gonzalez, an amazing young lady and supporter of the Bolesta Center. In addition to being a third year biomedical sciences student at the University of South Florida, every year she runs a race and raises funds for our children at the Bolesta Center at USF! Click the link below to read her story!

I’ve lived a pretty amazing life so far. No lie. There are many reasons why this… Sarah Gonzalez needs your support for Hear Us Run - Bolesta Center at USF

02/07/2022

Thank you to Cameron Trentham and the amazing Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program of Hillsborough County for hosting a fun day for our families and community! We are blessed to work with such a great team.

08/04/2021

Let’s pack our backpacks! These auditory memory games are designed to help your child who’s deaf or hard of hearing work on sequencing.

1️⃣ Pack Your Backpack (Kindergarten and up): This game uses the LSL Strategy “It’s Your Turn.”

Have your child begin, saying: “In my backpack, I have paper.”
Parent then adds an item: In my backpack, I have paper and an apple.”
And child continues: “In my backpack, I have paper, an apple, and markers. You can continue adding items for more practice.

2️⃣ Pack Your Backpack (Preschool): This game uses the LSL Strategy “Hear It Before You See It.”

Parent: “Will you get your paper and glue?” (Child completes task.)
Parent: “Great, now get your markers, scissors, and crayons!” (Child completes task.)
Parent: “Perfect! Will you get your lunch, tissues, hat, and wet wipes?“

08/02/2021

Remote Microphone is a catch-all term for FM/Mini Mic/Roger Mic/Roger Pen/etc.

Where to use remote microphones for school aged kids and teens:

🚲Bike ride with friends or family
🛍The mall/while shopping
🍔Eating out/at restaurants including fast food and coffee shops
🚇Public transportation
🏀Sports practice/games
🎟Field trips- indoor or outdoor
🥾 On a hike

All of these activities can make for difficult listening situations because of noise, distance, and reverberation. Remote microphones can minimize the impact of these issues.

Who wears the remote microphone or where it is placed will depend on the situation and may take trial and error, but once you figure out a good set up these can be game changers!

Difficult listening situations like these can cause people with hearing loss to withdraw and feel isolated. Remote microphones can improve audibility and keep the DHH person in the conversation.

Thank you to the Hillsborough County school district who gave me this idea today during a talk I gave about remote microphones! I had so much fun nerding out over one of my favorite topics with you all.

I want to normalize tech and remote microphones outside of the classroom!

06/28/2021

Living LSL is a free and flexible way for families to dive into LSL and grow your skills. We’ve got 5 upcoming webinars just for you! Learn more here: hearingfirst.org/LivingLSL.

04/15/2021

Beyond excited for one of our little superHEARos and FIRST unilateral CI patient! 🗣🧠
https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2021/03/31/sweet-sounds--bay-area-toddler-receives-cochlear-implants

It's a melody to the ears of a 2-year-old.

03/01/2021

Monday motivation 🗣🧠

08/03/2020

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to understand that other people’s thoughts, desires, motivations, and preferences are not the same as our own. Babies begin life seeing everyone in the wo…

07/13/2020

Do you have a child with hearing loss ages 8-12 who would like to join our online Bolesta bookclub? It will take place Wednesday evenings for 3 weeks 7/22 through 8/5 before school starts. Please excuse the typo below and notify Ms Gabby by 7/16* NOT 11/16😂

07/10/2020

The whole world is a classroom, and they learn from it every day (so don't stress about those worksheets).