Auditory Verbal Therapy

This section gives information for families on Auditory Verbal (AV) therapy. AV therapy is one approach to communication and language development that concentrates on developing children’s spoken language through listening.

During each AV therapy session the child’s parent/carer learns techniques that are used to help develop their child’s listening, thinking and spoken language skills. During sessions, emphasis is placed on maximising audition (hearing) as the primary sense for learning spoken language. This gives the therapist and parent a clear picture of what the child is able to understand through listening and allows progress to be monitored closely. Working through audition also enables the child to become a skilled listener. The aim then is that in the more difficult listening conditions of everyday life, the child can make optimal use of auditory cues in combination with all other visual cues available.

All areas of development are carefully monitored and managed in order inform the therapist of the child’s potential to develop spoken language through listening. Goals are set within a developmental framework and progress is closely monitored. Sessions are playful and highly functional in order to ensure easy carry-over into the family’s everyday routine.

The aim of AV therapy is to close the gap between the child’s chronological age and language abilities in order that they may enter mainstream school with age-appropriate language. For the some children, this may not be an achievable goal. For these families, the therapist will work with the parents to identify the most appropriate package of care to support their child to in reaching their full potential.

Families are key in this approach.  It is through the learning they do during the AV sessions and the work they do with the child at home that enables the child to develop his potential to listen, think, and have conversations. 

Families may be able to access an NHS Auditory Verbal Therapist.  They should ask their local services for more details. 

For more information on AV therapy visit the Auditory Verbal UK or the Auditory Verbal Lounge websites.