Rehabilitation: Tracking early development in children with hearing loss

MEDEL will be hosting this online webinar on 18th July 2026. It will help you to understand your child’s development journey.

Caring for a child with hearing loss can bring many questions, especially when it comes to development and what progress may look like over time. It is natural to wonder whether your child is developing as expected, what milestones to look for, and how best to support them along the way.

This webinar is designed to give you practical guidance, reassurance, and helpful tools to better understand your child’s development and feel more confident in supporting their progress.

During the webinar, you will explore:

• Hearing Age – what it means and how it can be used to understand your child’s developmental progress
• Key Areas of Development – an overview of the four main developmental domains and how hearing loss may influence them
• MED‑EL’s Parent Checklist – a free, easy‑to‑use tool to help track and support your child’s development from birth to 6 years old

Many parents tell us they feel anxious about whether their child is developing as expected, or they are unsure about what progress should look like, especially if they are considering, or preparing for, a cochlear implant. This session aims to help you feel more informed, more reassured, and more confident in recognising and supporting your child’s progress at home.

Webinar Details
Date: Saturday, 18th July 2026
Time: 11:00am – 12:00noon
Location: Online

To book your place on this course click on this link

There will be a live Q&A session with Dr Aneesha Pretto, who will be answering any questions you may have about your child’s development and the topics covered during the webinar.

About Dr Aneesha Pretto

Dr. Aneesha Pretto has been an Advanced Rehabilitation Manager at MED‑EL Headquarters since 2017, where she focuses on professional training in hearing implant rehabilitation and the development of online resources for professionals, implant recipients, and caregivers.

She is an ASHA‑certified speech‑language pathologist and has been supporting families of children with hearing loss since 2006. Dr. Pretto is also an AG Bell–certified Auditory‑Verbal Therapist and a fluent Cued Speech user.

Before joining MED‑EL, she worked across a range of settings, including community-based clinics, home-based support, and remote rehabilitation services, giving her broad experience in supporting children and families throughout their hearing journey.