London Auditory Verbal at Christopher Place

Auditory Verbal therapy (AVT) is a family focused therapy approach assisting children with impaired hearing to learn to talk through listening. With digital hearing aids and/or cochlear implants the majority of children born with impaired hearing can access all the sounds of speech. Simple detection of speech sounds do not lead to spoken language competence however, and children with impaired hearing need help and encouragement to learn to listen.

Through the Auditory Verbal approach the child develops a listening attitude so that hearing and listening become a part of everyday communication, play and education. Emphasis is placed on the child hearing and responding to voice while completing play activities based on the typical patterns of development. The emphasis on listening enables the child to trust what he/she hears. With adequate listening skills, over time the child develops spoken communication via the same method as typically hearing children: by simply being immersed in it.

As their child’s primary language facilitator, parents have a fundamental and active role in every AVT session. They receive education relating to the hearing system, technology and typical patterns of development, support to help overcome the grief related to a diagnosis of hearing impairment, and practice in using strategies that facilitate the development of listening and spoken language. Please refer to the Principles of AVT tab at the top of the page for the ten guiding principles that further define the approach.