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Auditory-Verbal Therapy Approach
Auditory-Verbal therapy (AVT) is an approach that focuses on infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families who desire a listening and spoken language outcome (without the use of sign language or lip reading). This type of therapy is expertly provided by Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS™). LSLS at the Auditory-Verbal Center (AVC) and parents/caregivers work together to maximize each child’s hearing and listening potential.
Auditory-Verbal therapy follows the progression of communication and development of a hearing child:
• Development of auditory skills
• Comprehension of spoken language
• Use of spoken language
• Clear production of speech, monitored by children listening to themselves
One goal of auditory-verbal therapy is to enroll the child in environments with hearing peers such as education, extra-curricular and family activities. The approach also focuses on giving the parents various techniques to teach their child to be a listening and speaking individual.
Auditory-Verbal therapy follows the progression of communication and development of a hearing child:
• Development of auditory skills
• Comprehension of spoken language
• Use of spoken language
• Clear production of speech, monitored by children listening to themselves
One goal of auditory-verbal therapy is to enroll the child in environments with hearing peers such as education, extra-curricular and family activities. The approach also focuses on giving the parents various techniques to teach their child to be a listening and speaking individual.
Even though I am deaf or hard of hearing, I can learn to...
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• Listen to sounds as soft as a whisper
• Understand and use spoken language (even more than one!) • Develop clear, understandable speech • Enjoy music and learn to sing, dance, and play an instrument |
• Succeed in a general education classroom with my hearing friends
• Talk on the phone • Play sports and participate fully in extra-curricular activities • Communicate independently in the hearing world |
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Foundation of the Auditory-Verbal Therapy Approach |
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The foundation of the auditory-verbal approach follows the international principles set forth by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language (AG Bell):
- Promote early diagnosis of hearing loss in newborns, infants, toddlers, and young children, followed by immediate audiologic management and Auditory-Verbal therapy.
- Recommend immediate assessment and use of appropriate, state-of-the-art hearing technology to obtain maximum benefits of auditory stimulation.
- Guide and coach parents to help their child use hearing as the primary sensory modality in developing listening and spoken language.
- Guide and coach parents. to become the primary facilitators of their child's listening and spoken language development through active consistent participation in individualized Auditory-Verbal therapy.
- Guide and coach parents. to create environments that support listening for the acquisition of spoken language throughout the child's daily activities.
- Guide and coach parents. to help their child integrate listening and spoken language into all aspects of the child's life.
- Guide and coach parents. to use natural developmental patterns of audition, speech, language, cognition, and communication.
- Guide and coach parents. to help their child self-monitor spoken language through listening.
- Administer ongoing formal and informal diagnostic assessments to develop individualized Auditory-Verbal treatment plans, to monitor progress and to evaluate the effectiveness of the plans for the child and family.
- Promote education in regular schools with peers who have typical hearing and with appropriate services from early childhood onwards.
