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At the earliest stages of life, hearing is crucial for proper development. It connects children to their environment and builds the foundation of their verbal communication skills. While hearing loss is commonly associated with older patients, it can be present in young children and impact their ability to develop appropriate receptive and expressive language skills.
A hearing test and devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, can help children diagnosed with hearing loss, but their communication skills can benefit from the next stage in their hearing care: auditory-verbal therapy.
Call 704-295-6237 to Schedule an Auditory-Verbal Therapy Consultation
Also known as AVT, auditory-verbal therapy is a systematic habilitation approach to developing listening and spoken language skills with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It is a continuation of their audiology care following the acquisition of hearing devices and typically performed with children during their formative years.
The key principles of AVT include:
Our auditory-verbal therapist works closely with families to create customized therapy plans. Sessions are interactive, engaging, and focused on real-life communication.
You and your child can expect:
While AVT is intended as an early intervention for children at the age of birth up to five years, there are other services associated with this therapy for patients who may be older. This can include:
For an older child (approximately six years of age and older) with single-sided deafness, isolated listening practice with one cochlear implant may be performed. The intended goal is to build the listening skills with the listening device so the patient can have functional benefits. Similar to AVT, the family members of the patient joins the session, the cochlear implant is streamed directly with to a computer or device, and a hierarchy of listening goals are established.
Similar to aural rehabilitation for pediatric patients with SSD, this therapy is performed with adults who have single-sided, bimodal, or bilateral deafness. The patient works with the AVT to follow a hierarchy of listening skills based on their word and speech understanding abilities. It is recommended that a communication partner attends the aural rehabilitation sessions with the patient to understand how daily practice can be performed outside of sessions.
Auditory-verbal therapists play a key role in a child’s hearing and speech development by working closely with other professionals to ensure coordinated care.
Children suspected of hearing loss begin with a hearing test conducted by an audiologist. At the same time, an otolaryngologist (ENT specialist) evaluates the child to rule out temporary causes of hearing loss, such as:
If hearing loss is confirmed:
Once a child begins using a hearing device, families who wish to pursue spoken language development through listening may be referred to an auditory-verbal therapist. The AVT is informed of the child’s diagnosis and device history to tailor therapy accordingly.
Auditory-verbal therapists collaborate with a range of professionals to support the child’s progress:
AVT is most effective for:
Early intervention is key—children who begin AVT before age 3 often show the most progress.
The immediate benefits of auditory-verbal therapy are greater listening and spoken communication skills, which provide more success in school, better interactions with peers and adults, and improved self-esteem for older children. By performing this therapy among family members, these patients can grow these skills in a realistic manner.
CEENTA proudly offers AVT services to families in the Charlotte area.
To schedule a session with Tegan DeMarcus, MS, CCC-SLP, CEENTA’s certified auditory-verbal therapist at our SouthPark office, call 704-295-6237.
