Auditory Verbal Therapy
Children with hearing loss can learn to listen and talk. Parents can be their children’s first and best teachers. We can show you how.
Does your child have hearing loss? Do you want him/her to learn to listen and talk? If so, Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) may be the right fit for your family.
What is AVT?
AVT is a listening and spoken language approach that helps infants, toddlers, and young children develop speech and language skills. We use a child’s residual hearing in addition to consistent use of hearing aids(s) and/or cochlear implant(s) to stimulate the brain and grow listening skills. According to the Alexander Graham Bell (AGBell) Academy for Listening and Spoken Language, AVT is defined as: “Auditory Verbal Therapy facilitates optimal acquisition of spoken language through listening by newborns, infants, toddlers, and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Auditory verbal therapy promotes early diagnosis, one-on-one therapy, and state-of-the-art audiological management and technology. Parents and caregivers actively participate in therapy.” AVT is a team approach. We work with the parents, audiologists, ENTs, and surgeons to establish a plan of care that best suits the child’s current abilities and the family’s goals for communication.
When should AVT begin?
The most important step after providing your child with access to sound through hearing aids, cochlear implants, or both is to begin auditory verbal therapy. Although your child is hearing sound, he or she still needs to learn to understand the sounds by learning to listen and then to translate that sound into spoken language. This type of therapy will help grow your child’s brain so that they may learn to listen and speak. With time, you will begin to see that your child can have access to a full range of academic, social and occupational choices throughout his or her life!
How is AVT different from other kinds of speech therapy?
Many speech therapists provide services to improve communication skills for children. However, few professionals are trained and certified as Listening and Spoken Language Auditory Verbal Therapists to facilitate and improve communication skills for children with hearing loss. These professionals are equipped to provide individualized therapy, parent training, and education needed to maximize the child’s use of hearing as a primary sense for speaking.
AVT concentrates on early intervention and developing the listening part of the brain rather than relying solely or partly on visual cues
AVT focuses on coaching the parents or caregivers of the child in use of Auditory Verbal strategies and techniques to incorporate into everyday routines/activities.
AVT is delivered by a certified Auditory Verbal Therapist, accredited through the AG Bell Academy.
Who provides AVT?
A Listening and Spoken Language Specialist is a person who is certified in supporting families and children with hearing loss to develop listening and spoken language skills through the use of appropriate amplification and early intervention. Listening and Spoken Language Specialists are designated as either LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Educators (LSLS Cert. AVEd) or Auditory Verbal Therapists (LSLS Cert. AVT). Auditory verbal therapy is a highly specialized approach which equips and empowers parents with the skills to maximize their child’s speech and language development through listening. The path required to get this certification sets professionals apart in their knowledge, experience and application of skills to change outcomes for children with hearing loss. Families who choose a listening and spoken language outcome should seek a professional who has this type of training.
To learn more about how auditory verbal therapy can help your child, contact us today!