The Philosophy of Auditory-Verbal Practice

Philosophy

The Auditory-Verbal Approach is based on proven theory that most children who are deaf or hard of hearing have some residual hearing ability which can be utilized. With hearing aids this hearing can be sufficiently stimulated early on in life so that speech, language, and listening can be naturally developed. This also applies to children who listen with cochlear implants. The key is to detect hearing loss as early as possible and begin the therapy process immediately. With the passage of the Newborn Screening Bill, hearing impairment is detected at an earlier age and more infants have the opportunity to learn to listen using Auditory-Verbal Therapy Parent Guidance Therapy.

Studies show that Auditory-Verbal Parent Guidance therapy works well for families who have children with all levels of hearing loss: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. The brain is naturally wired for learning language through hearing.

The Auditory-Verbal Therapist guides the parents to emphasize hearing as the primary means for their child to acquire the natural ability to speak. The brain is naturally tuned to process spoken language through the sense of hearing. This occurs with consistent hearing aid and/or cochlear implant use along with intensive experience in listening. Parents and Auditory-Verbal Therapists may spend several years working together, developing language skills, social skills, and refining the speech of the child through lessons and activities performed at the center and at home. Therapy at the Auditory Verbal Communication Center is diagnostic and demonstrative. Parents are active participants in the sessions and are required to do “homework” in between each session. Parents are encouraged to record the weekly goals and the daily progress towards that goal. Parents and therapists keep an “Experience Book” for the child to review important language used at home and in therapy.

Natural language emerges from the child without the use of instruction in lip reading and/or sign language. Auditory-Verbal professionals agree that sign language and lip reading at an early age inhibit the child’s dependence on LISTENING to acquire language. The goal is to teach children that sounds have meaning, to lock hearing into a child’s personality. Children progress through inclusion in regular neighborhood schools from early childhood onwards. The Auditory- Verbal Therapist may continue as part of the child’s educational team.

Because parents are active participants throughout the therapy process, they become the primary teachers for their children. With support and direction from the Auditory-Verbal Therapist, parents become effective advocates who understand their children’s needs.