Her latest book was reviewed by Sheila E. Shea, Co-founder and President, Capital Region Parents Association for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children. Following are excerpts from that review.

"Hearing loss became the dominant issue in my life in February of 1994, when I discovered that my son, then just eighteen months old, could not hear. A mere six months later, my second son was born and he, too, was deaf. It was not long before I learned that my children were among the millions of people in the United States who have some form of hearing loss. I also quickly came to the sobering reality, however, that hearing loss has special implications for children, particularly for those children who are born deaf or lose their hearing before the acquisition of language.

"As a parent, I have read countless articles, publications and books about hearing loss and deafness, and I have closely followed the medical research and technological advances in the field. Because I am raising two children with profound hearing loss, my research and learning never end. That is why I am so excited to have discovered a new and valuable resource in Hearing and Learning: A Guide for …

"As stated by Dr. Wayner, the goal of (this book) is to enhance the learning experience for all children. Toward this end, she observes, ‘creating a careful learning environment and applying effective communication techniques will maximize learning and socialization to the benefit of a child’s overall development. Such efforts in the early formative years will make a difference in each child’s future, laying the groundwork for success.’ As a parent, I share in Dr. Wayner’s sentiments. For my own children, I have found that early intervention and proper academic support are indeed the key ingredients needed to foster language acquisition, social development and academic success. This book is designed for parents, educators, speech pathologists, educational support personnel and all those who are concerned about the welfare of children …

"From my perspective as parent, I most appreciated Dr. Wayner’s treatment of the implications of hearing loss. Most of us know that the legendary Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, came to the conclusion that ‘… to be deaf is a greater affliction than to be blind ... to be cut off from hearing is to be isolated indeed.’ Dr. Wayner cogently observes in her work that in all aspects of our life ‘communication connects us.’ She has included in her publication reactions from adults who have experienced hearing impairment since childhood. Those observations mirror, in some cases, the isolation described by Ms. Keller. One person recalled that he ‘felt totally alone ... it was a nightmare that I had, yet no one knew.’ Comments from another person reflected the insensitivity that is sometimes directed to those with hearing loss – ‘the statement you hear only what you want to hear was a common complaint.’

"Hearing and Learning: A Guide for Helping Childrenis an important contribution to the field of education because it recognizes the implications of hearing loss in the life of a child and provides a specific blueprint for creating an accessible educational environment where the child with hearing loss can thrive both academically and socially…"