Auditory Verbal Strategies to Build Listening and Spoken Language Skills eBook

While Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and early access to appropriate technology are two key factors in the ability of a child with hearing loss to learn to listen and talk, there is a critical third key component. This component is the family’s access to trained professionals. The Listening and Spoken Language Specialist coaches and guides families to develop their child’s listening and spoken languages skills through the implementation of specific strategies and techniques. Knowledge of a variety of the listening and spoken language strategies is the first step in a learning trajectory. A professional must not only know which strategy to use to reach a determined goal, but must have the ability to model for parents and other professionals, and the ability to coach the appropriate use of the strategy.

This resource was written for a professional audience although parents will benefit from it as well. Listening and spoken language strategies are referred to consistently in the field of listening and spoken language, but not defined in one body of work. This eBook is an attempt to consolidate strategies in one resource with research references to further define and explain the strategy. Terms were utilized that the authors felt were most commonly understood in the professional field. A professional may refer to each strategy as needed when working with a particular child or family. This is not an exhaustive body of work and is not intended as a sole means to educate professionals who are unfamiliar with listening and spoken language development.