Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) for Children in West Bengal

Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT): Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

26 Aug 2025 Cochlear Implant , , , , , , , ,

Who is this for?
Families of babies, toddlers, and children with hearing loss using hearing aids or cochlear implants, who want their child to learn to listen and speak through hearing.

1️⃣ What is AVT? (In Simple Words)

Auditory-Verbal Therapy helps your child’s brain learn to listen so spoken language grows naturally.

  • Sessions are play-based, one-on-one, with parents as active partners.
  • Most learning happens in everyday routines, not just therapy sessions.

2️⃣ The AVT “Golden Rules” for Parents

  • Hear all day: Keep hearing aids or cochlear implants on during waking hours.
  • Check daily: Quick Ling-6 sound check (/m, ah, oo, ee, sh, s/) from 1–2 meters.
  • Talk before show: Say it → then show it (“auditory sandwich”).
  • One step harder: Keep tasks just above your child’s comfort level.
  • Narrate life: Use natural talk during meals, bath, play, travel.
  • Wait time: Pause and let your child respond; don’t repeat immediately.
  • Praise effort: Celebrate listening attempts, not just perfect words.

3️⃣ What Happens in an AVT Session? (30–45 mins)

A. Warm-up (3–5 mins)

  • Device check + Ling-6 sounds
  • Favorite song/rhyme

B. Goal-based listening play (20–30 mins)

  • Detection: “Did you hear that?”
  • Discrimination: Same vs different (car vroom vs cow moo)
  • Identification: Point to/choose on hearing (“Give me the spoon.”)
  • Comprehension: Follow directions, answer questions, retell stories

C. Parent coaching throughout
Therapist models → parent tries → feedback

D. Wrap-up & Home Plan (5 mins)

  • Review what child did
  • 2–3 short activities to repeat at home

4️⃣ Step-by-Step Home Routines (5–10 mins each)

Mealtime: Face-to-face, device on, quiet background. Use choices, imitation, acoustic highlighting.
Bath time: Predictable language, hide & find, two-step commands.
Play (blocks/cars/dolls): Sabotage playfully, recast/expand words, listening memory.
Story time: Picture walk, wh-questions, retell with 3 pictures in order.

5️⃣ Weekly Home Plan (Sample)

  • Daily (2–3 mins each): Device check + Ling-6, one listening game, one word set
  • 3× per week (5–10 mins): Follow directions, story retell
  • 1× per week (10–15 mins): Listening in mild background noise

6️⃣ Parent Cheat-Sheet: What to Say & How

  • Self-talk: “I’m cutting apples. Cut-cut-cut.”
  • Parallel talk: “You’re washing the cup. Wash-wash.”
  • Auditory sandwich: Say → show → say again
  • Acoustic highlighting: Emphasize key words
  • Expansion: Child: “ball!” → Parent: “Big ball bounces”
  • Prompting ladder: Wait → gesture → first sound → full model

7️⃣ Age-wise Expectations (General)

  • 0–12 months: Respond to name, babble, first words
  • 12–24 months: 50–200 words, two-word phrases
  • 2–4 years: Vocabulary explosion, wh-questions, simple narratives
  • 4+ years: Complex sentences, classroom listening, storytelling

8️⃣ Quick Device & Listening Checklist (Daily)

✔ Devices on during waking hours
✔ Batteries/charge OK, microphones clean
✔ Ling-6: child detects soft voice
✔ No ear infections/fever
✔ Quiet corner ready for listening tasks

9️⃣ Red Flags – Contact Your Therapist If

  • Device off for long periods
  • No response to name or environmental sounds
  • Regression in babble/words
  • Frequent ear infections, pain, or device issues
  • Unsure how to work on goals at home

10️⃣ Sample 30-Minute Home Session Script

  • 00:00–02:00: Ling-6 + hello song
  • 02:00–10:00: Animal listening: detect → identify
  • 10:00–18:00: Verbs with toys (open/close/push/pull)
  • 18:00–25:00: Storybook (3 pages) + retell
  • 25:00–30:00: Cleanup song + recap

11️⃣ FAQs (Parents Ask)

  • Practice time? Short daily bursts (5–10 mins) in routines
  • Quiet environment needed? Start quiet, then mild background noise
  • Child relies on lip-reading? Use listening first, then show if needed
  • Which language? Speak naturally; frequent talk > perfect grammar

12️⃣ Mini Bengali Helper (for Families in WB)

  • “শুনলে?” → “Did you hear?”
  • “দাও/নাও/খুলো/বন্ধ কর” → give/take/open/close
  • “লাল বড় গাড়ি যাচ্ছে” → big red car is going

13️⃣ How iHear Can Help

At iHear – Speech & Hearing Clinics (West Bengal):

  • AVT delivered by qualified professionals
  • Parent coaching at every step
  • Clear goals, home plans, and progress tracking

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