Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) Explained
What is AVT? A deep dive into this specialized early intervention approach that emphasizes listening and spoken language.
Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) is a specialized type of early intervention that teaches children with hearing loss to listen and speak without relying on sign language or lip-reading. The goal is for children to grow up in regular learning and living environments and become independent, participating citizens in mainstream society.
Principles of AVT
AVT is guided by a set of logical principles:
- Early Detection: immediate identification of hearing loss.
- Technology: Aggressive audiological management (hearing aids/cochlear implants) to access the speech spectrum.
- Parent Coaching: Parents are the primary therapists. The professional guides the parent on how to stimulate the child's language at home.
- Auditory Focus: Limiting visual cues during therapy to force the brain to process auditory information.
Evidence-Based Success
Studies show that children who receive AVT often develop language skills comparable to their hearing peers by kindergarten. It requires high commitment from the family but offers the potential for full integration into the hearing world.
Source Reference
Originally published by AG Bell.