Professionals

The LIJ Hearing and Speech Center provides the following services:

1. Failed newborn hearing rescreening
2. Diagnostic Hearing Testing Newborns through Geriatrics with a specific emphasis on pediatric testing
3. Vestibular Testing
4. ABR testing
5. Auditory Processing Evaluations
6. Hearing Aid Dispensary for Newborns-Geriatrics
7. Cochlear Implant Program

Advice from Dr. Wexler: 

"For Pediatrics I advise parents to 'name' everything in the environment for their child whether it is a sound or an object. The parent should always be talking as their child is developing speech and language. For Adults: They need to wear their processors at least 10 hours a day and be exposed to speech. They can listen to the news, podcasts, books on tape. They need to be exposed to speech."

"My name is Dr. Tanya Linzalone and I am the senior audiologist at Mill Neck School for the Deaf for over 20 years. I started my career path over 35 years ago when hearing aid technology was very basic and Cochlear Implants were emerging as a hearing option for individuals with a profound hearing loss. I would never imagine that the Cochlear Implant and hearing aid technology would be at the sophisticated level it is today! It’s truly miraculous!! 

My area of expertise is pediatrics and dealing with the emotional roller coaster of emotions from family members while making a life changing decision to implant their child. My role is to guide the family with knowledge and insight on the potential that the Cochlear Implant surgery will have on their child’s hearing and how it will impact their educational, social and emotional development. 

If anyone is interested in learning more about this breakthrough in technology or has any questions regarding hearing loss of any degree, I can be reached by email at Tanya.Linzalone@millneck.org or by phone at 516-628-4227." Click the button below to reach Dr. Tanya Linzalone by email!

"My name is Meredith Eskridge and I am a Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Special Education Teacher. I have been working in the field of Deaf Education for 20 years! I started my career right out of college and am blessed to have worked with incredible children, families, and professionals. I began my college education at Towson University where I received a BA degree in Deaf Studies. I fell in love with American Sign Language and Deaf Culture. Ultimately, I discovered a world I didn’t know existed. As a struggling student myself, I decided to continue my education journey and received my Masters Degree in Elementary, Deaf and Special Education. I started teaching at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf where I taught in both total communication sign language classrooms and auditory oral classroom setting in grades Pre K - 2nd. While teaching in an auditory setting I had the opportunity to collaborate with many school districts throughout Long Island, NY. My role was to prepare my students to go back to their home schools where they could be taught in the most least restrictive environments. I worked with students with hearing aids and Cochlear Implants, providing support and training to families as well. Within my career I have seen the technology of Cochlear Implants advance. I have seen the growth and progress in children with this incredible technology from early detection of sound to mastery of comprehension! It is incredible the capabilities of this amazing technology! Later in my career I became an Itinerant teacher of the Deaf in many different locations. I teach now at Eastern Suffolk Boces working with children in the mainstream setting who do not attend specialized programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 

What Is The Role Of The Itinerant Teacher Of The Deaf? 

The role of the teacher of the deaf can be broken down into three areas: 

Accessibility, language & auditory development, and self-advocacy. It is the role of the teacher of the deaf to educate and consult with the classroom teachers to provide an accessible learning environment for the student with hearing loss. Teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing support student's auditory skills and language development. The last big job of the teacher of the deaf is to teach self-advocacy skills. Students with hearing loss will typically live with a hearing loss their entire lives and will be required to advocate for themselves in school, college, the workplace, and in life. My favorite part of being an itinerant TOD is being able to provide exactly what a student needs, when they need it. When I am in their class, I am only thinking about their accessibility, their progress, and their goals. I love my job! I love the team of professionals I get to work with, my students and their families. The breakthrough in this technology is incredible and I am grateful to teach in such a specialized field. If you want to connect with myself or other children and families with hearing loss I can be reached by email, Meskridg@esboces.org."