1. Auditory-verbal therapy (AVT) is an approach that uses techniques to promote optimal language acquisition through listening for children with hearing loss using hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other technology. It emphasizes speech and listening development. 2. AVT includes early identification of hearing loss, fitting of amplification devices, guidance for parents, and one-on-one therapy to help children learn to listen and communicate through spoken language. 3. The goals of AVT are to help children develop auditory skills like sound awareness and processing of language to facilitate natural communication development and inclusion in mainstream classrooms.

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Listening and learning
Auditory-Verbal Therapy
Presented by-
Pargat Singh Sidhu
pargatsingh0007@gmail.com
Coo-coordinator / lecturer
Tapan Rehabilitation Society
Karnal haryana

2. (Joanna Stith)
“How will I communicate with my child?”
“How will my child communicate?” “How
will I find a program that will prepare my
child academically and socially?”
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3. Introduction
• Auditory verbal therapy practice is the application of
techniques, strategies, condition & procedures which promote
optional acquisition of spoken language through listening ,
which becomes a major force in nature the development of the
child personal, social, & academic life.
• Children with appropriate hearing aid, cochlear implant &
other sophisticated technology, most children benefit
significant from AVT.
• Maximum use of residual hearing.
• AVT includes education, guidance, advocacy & family
support.
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4. • Hearing and active listening become an integral part of
communication, recreation, socialization, education, and
work.
• AVT is an approach that emphasizes the use of residual
hearing to help children learn to listen, process verbal
language, and to speak.
• The earliest possible identification of hearing loss with
immediate fitting with amplification, as well as prompt
intervention helps to reduce the extent of language delay
commonly associated with hearing impairment.
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5. • Auditory-verbal therapy is a method for teaching deaf
children to listen and speak using their residual hearing in
addition to the constant use of amplification devices such
as hearing aids , FM devices, and cochlear implants.
• Auditory-verbal therapy emphasizes speech and listening.
• Children with hard of hearing need help to learn to detect
and recognize sounds around them. They must be taught
that listening is useful and necessary to verbally
communicate
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Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be described by the
type of loss:
Conductive H/L
Sensorineural H/L
Mixed H/L

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Reading an Audiogram
Child will have had an
audiogram that the
therapist and audiologist
will use constantly to
best plan for child’s
new technology
and learning

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The Difference Between Hearing and
Listening
The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary (1998)
• Hearing: ‘to perceive with the ear’
• Listening: ‘to hear with attention’

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The Difference Between Hearing and
Listening
‘Hearing is when a sound reaches your
ears, listening is when it reaches your
brain!’
Listening is not automatic
It takes practice

11. Principal of auditory verbal therapy
• To detect hearing impairment as early as possible through
screening programs, ideally in the newborn nursery and
throughout childhood.
• To pursue prompt and aggressive audiological
management and maintenance of appropriate aids (hearing
aids, cochlear implants, etc.)
• To guide, counsel, and support parents and caregivers as
the primary models for spoken language development and
to help them understand the impact of deafness and
hearing impairment on the entire family
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12. • To help children integrate listening into their development
of communication and social skills.
• To support children’s auditory-verbal development
through one-to-one teaching.
• To help children monitor their own voices and the voices
of others in order to enhance the intelligibility of their own
speech.
• To use the developmental patterns of listening, language,
speech, and cognition to stimulate natural communication.
• To continuously assess and evaluate children’s
development and, through diagnostic intervention, modify
the program when needed.
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13. • To provide support services to facilitate children’s
educational and social inclusion in regular
education classes
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What is Auditory-Verbal Therapy?
• Immediate practical support for babies, children
and their families to access their residual hearing
in order to communicate for life.
• Offers hope, encouragement, support, expertise,
guidance and nurturing.

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What is Auditory-Verbal Therapy?
• Individualised and family-centred
• Teaches natural spoken language and listening
following natural child development models using
evidence based research
• Allows the full range of educational, social and
vocational choices for child

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Practical Implications
• Immediate fitting of hearing aids or cochlear
implant
• weekly sessions with the therapist designed to be
fun and practical
• Carry-over activities in the home based on family
and child’s needs

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• Entering into a partnership with the
therapist and audiological team
• Being child’s advocate
• Learning to stimulate speech, language and
communication, plan strategies and make
informed decisions

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What is Auditory-Verbal Therapy?
‘Patience’ with the
team and child
‘Access’ to the
new technology and
how to use it
‘Relevance’
engaging activities to
stimulate learning
‘Success’ to
integrate this
process into family
‘Time’
to learn
‘Nurturing’for child
‘Expectations’
that are high and
realistic
PARENTS
NEED

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The AVT Framework
• Young children can use technology assisted
hearing to learn to listen, process verbal
language and to speak.
• These same children can enter mainstream
schools and be independent citizens in
mainstream society.
• Child needs highly enhanced auditory and
language input to reach potential.

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The AVT Framework
• Parents acquire training and knowledge
during therapy sessions that are easily
transferred to home
• Therapy sessions are always diagnostic and
proactive
• Listening and auditory understanding is
promoted as part of your child’s day-to-day
experience without the use of lip-reading or
signing.

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The AVT Framework
• All therapy goals are part of normal
developmental goals leading to mainstream
schooling
• The ‘structure’ is highly flexible relying on
documented therapist and parent
evaluations, goal planning and links to
established developmental norms

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Developing Listening and Auditory
Function
1. Auditory awareness and perception
2. Auditory attention and inhibition
3. Distance hearing
4. Localization
5. Discrimination
6. Auditory feedback and monitoring
7. Auditory memory store
8. Auditory memory span and sequencing
9. Auditory processing
10. Auditory understanding

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Developing Listening and Auditory
Function
Activities and games that stimulate children
auditory development happen all the time
At:
feeding cuddling
playing reading
nappy changing bathing

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What can Impact on Child
Development?
Your child is developing in four overlapping
areas:
Physical Development
Thinking skills
Social and Emotional Development
Communication Skills

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What can Impact on Child
Development?
Child’s hearing impairment can impact on
all four areas of natural child development
unless listening and communicating becomes
part of their personality.

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Basic AVT Techniques
Activities will involve:
games
 songs
 toys
 fun activities
that are easily replicated at home

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The Parent’s Role
Champion
Role model
Team player
Partner
Advocate
Facilitator
PAREN
T

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The Parent’s Role
PARENTS
can:
be actively involved
be patient
Join support groups
be motivated
Provide a rich listening
environment
Stimulate hearing, listening
and talking
be kind to yourselves Delight in child’s
growth
Love and nurture

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Factor
of AVT
Degree of (HI)
Cause of (HI)
Effective
amplification
Device
Audiological
Management
Family’s
Participation
Emotional state of
the family
Therapist
Skills
Child Health
Child’s
Intelligence

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Vygotsky (1995)
“One must keep in mind that any child with
a disability is first of all a child…. From a
psychological and pedagogical point of
view, one must treat the child with a
disability in the same way as a normal one.”

31. References
• Definition of avt downloaded from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory-verbal_therapy on
16.09.2013
• http://www.annals.edu.sg/pdf/34VolNo4200505/V34N4p30
7.pdf
• http://www.irishdeafkids.ie/2013/auditory-verbal-therapy-
belfast/
• http://speakingofkids.blogspot.in/2012/08/auditory-verbal-
therapy-series.html
• Principal of a.v.t. downloaded from
http://www.listeningforlife.com/AVTprogram.html
• http://www.hearandsaycentre.com.au/principles-AVT.html
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http://www.hearing.com.au/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=38&languageId==1&contentId=-1

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