Efficacy of Auditory Verbal Therapy on Listening and Linguistic Skills of a Child with Bimodal Hearing

Abstract

Introduction

This study aimed to document the effect of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) with proper assessment and management in early intervention of a child with bimodal hearing. Bimodal Hearing is the use of a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the opposite ear. Auditory Verbal Therapy is a highly specialist early intervention programme which equips parents with the skills to maximise their deaf child’s speech and language development.

Case Report

A male child aged 5 years 1 month had bilateral severe to profound hearing loss and speech-language problem. He was using cochlear implant in the right ear and BTE hearing aid in left ear (Bimodal hearing). Speech and language assessment revealed delayed semantic, syntax and pragmatic skills. Assessment of language development test showed poor receptive and expressive language score. The functional auditory performance indicator score indicated poor auditory function. Auditory verbal therapy hierarchy plan was used for treatment. Post 15 sessions after applying AVT the child’s listening and linguistic skills showed a great improvement.

Discussion

The scales used to measure the efficacy of AVT are found to be useful for the assessment and goal setting for intervention. Thus, appropriate quantification of various aspects of communication skills may describe its potential impact in this case under ADIP scheme.