How Auditory-Verbal Therapy Can Help Your Child Communicate

Listening and responding are at the heart of communication, with most people verbally expressing their needs and wants. Hearing loss, especially in childhood, can stifle communication and lead to frustration, confusion, and misunderstandings.

Through a collaborative effort between pediatric ENT physicians and audiologists, a child with hearing loss can begin the first steps of connecting with the world. Even though hearing devices such as hearing aids or a cochlear implant are crucial to that process, the next step in the patient’s journey can further establish their communication skills: auditory-verbal therapy.

What is auditory–verbal therapy?

Auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) is a continuation of audiology care for pediatric patients who are deaf or hard of hearing with specific emphasis on building listening and spoken language skills. Play-based activities with parents or family members are central to AVT and are based on routines that are familiar to the child, such as:

• Eating dinner
• Recognizing sounds like dogs barking
• Sharing and playing with toys

During these sessions, an auditory-verbal therapist will model how the family member should use wait time, listening, and responding when interacting with the child. From there, the specialist will slowly integrate themselves out of the session to let the family member and child interact on their own. This “I do, we do, you do” approach to teaching is done so that language learning can continue outside of AVT sessions.

According to Tegan DeMarcus, MS, CCC-SLP, CEENTA's auditory-verbal therapist, "Caregivers are a child's first and best teachers. When they know AVT strategies and techniques, they can make all parts of their child's day an opportunity to listen and learn."

How does auditory-verbal therapy compare to speech therapy?

Speech therapy is a broader approach to teaching communication skills and can be recommended for patients of all ages who struggle with disorders. By contrast, auditory-verbal therapy is intended for patients with hearing loss who are newborn up to age five when spoken language skills are best developed. In fact, multiple institutions such as the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (or NIDCD) point to a narrow window where verbal communication can be learned compared to other methods such as American Sign Language.

In addition, while speech therapy at large is focused on the verbal aspect of communication, AVT is geared towards the interplay between listening and responding, tying in the child’s newfound hearing from their device.

Where does auditory-verbal therapy fit into a child’s hearing care?

From beginning to end, your child’s pathway to AVT may look like this:

1. After suspecting that your child may be deaf or hard of hearing, your child will be given a hearing test by an audiologist to see the extent of their hearing loss.
2. They will also be seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist to determine if their hearing loss is due to temporary conditions like ear infections or excessive wax or present from birth.
3. Once hearing loss is established, your child will either be fitted for a hearing aid by the audiologist or considered a candidate for cochlear implantation performed by a surgeon. With either option, the audiologist provides ongoing programming and support for the device.
4. If you desire your child to communicate with listening and talking, auditory-verbal therapy would be recommended.
5. You and your child will meet with the auditory-verbal therapist, who will lay out the play-based scenarios you will use during your sessions and at home. The auditory-verbal specialist will keep track of your child’s progress and adjust as needed.

As Mrs. DeMarcus sums it up, “Your child’s hearing care can all be coordinated here at CEENTA.”

Auditory-verbal therapy is an excellent option for pediatric hearing loss patients who need extra support for communicating. By combining specific talking, listening, and responding exercises performed by family members, children with hearing loss can become more comfortable and confident when interacting with others.

If you believe your child is a candidate for auditory-verbal therapy, schedule a consultation with Tegan DeMarcus, MS, CCC-SLP, today by calling 704-295-6237.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician.