Listening & Spoken Language
Auditory Verbal Therapy or Listening & Spoken Language Therapy (AVT/LSL) is specialized speech-language therapy for infants and children with hearing loss whose families want a foundation of Listening & Spoken language. Children enrolled in Listening & Spoken Language therapy are using hearing amplification, such as hearing aids, cochlear implants or a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA).
HSC Speech-Language Pathologists offer Listening & Spoken Language therapy to children as soon as they are fit with hearing amplification, which could be as soon as one month of age or younger! Listening & Spoken Language therapy focuses on developing speech, listening, and spoken language skills. LSL is a partnership between the speech-language pathologist and the families. There is a commitment on the part of the parents and families to work with professionals to stimulate their child’s spoken language development throughout their child’s day.
Specific Goals for Listening & Spoken Language Therapy:
- Ensuring early hearing loss identification and intervention
- Maximizing residual hearing by using amplification technology (hearing aids, cochlear implants, BAHA), consistently and as early as possible after diagnosis—using the saying, “Eyes Open, Ears On!”
- Participating in ongoing speech-language therapy or instruction to improve intelligibility
- Developing listening skills
- Teaching parents to provide children with optimal speech/language stimulation
- Empowering children to self-monitor their speech/language skills
- Mainstreaming children with hearing loss into the regular classroom as early as possible.
Tele-Talk & Teach
A program dedicated to teaching Listening and Spoken Language strategies to parents of children with hearing loss, ages 0-3, living in Kentucky though tele-intervention in the child’s home.
Q. Who can access this program?
A. Any Kentucky family with a child age 0-3 with hearing loss, who is interested in learning more about listening and spoken language strategies.
Q. How long are the sessions?
A. Tele-Talk & Teach Sessions are scheduled for 30 minutes per week.
Q. What will I need to have in my home for these sessions?
A. Activities are developed using items from your home. Your HSC speech-language pathologist will review a Toys/Materials Inventory* with you once you are enrolled, which assists with planning your session.
Q. What is the optimal location in my home for this session?
A. For babies and young toddlers, the use of a highchair is recommended; we may spend some time on the floor and at the table with older children.
Q. How do I connect?
A. Families will need access to the internet. Sessions can be done using a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone
Q. How are families involved with the session?
A. Parents, guardians and family members are critical to this intervention strategy. Your speech therapist will coach you on listening and spoken language strategies.
Q. How much does this cost?
A. This program is currently at NO Cost to families due to the generosity of the Oberkotter Foundation.
Q. Will I receive notes after the sessions?
A. Yes! Your speech therapist will email you a note after each session detailing goals and home strategies.
Call The Hearing & Speech Center at (859) 268-4545 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
