A Case Study on The Impact of AVT and Cochlear Implants
admin July 31st, 2024
MASLP (Master’s in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology)
Consultant Speech Swallow pathologist, Digital practitioner -SLP
Alvin ( For privacy reasons, the name has been changed ), a spirited 5-year-old diagnosed with profound hearing loss, has shown remarkable resilience and enthusiasm. With the support of bilateral cochlear implants and specialized therapy, he has made impressive progress in his speech and auditory skills. This blog will take you through his journey with Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) conducted through online sessions, showcasing his achievements and providing recommendations for future therapy plans. Alvin’s story exemplifies the incredible potential within every child.
Understanding Profound Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implants
Profound hearing loss means a person cannot hear most sounds, even at high volumes. Cochlear implants are electronic devices that provide a sense of sound to individuals who are profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. These implants bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing individuals like Alvin to hear.
Customized Therapy Sessions
Alvin’s therapy sessions were designed to enhance his auditory and speech skills using engaging and age-appropriate activities. Here are some of the key activities:
1. Sound Detection with Animal Sounds and Pictures:
– Alvin learned to identify and associate different animal sounds with their pictures, enhancing his auditory discrimination and visual recognition skills.
2. Listening to Rhymes and Answering Questions:
– Listening to rhymes helped Alvin develop his listening skills and understand rhythm and intonation. Answering questions about the rhymes improved his comprehension and verbal expression.
3. Reading Alphabets:
– This activity focused on phonemic awareness and letter recognition, forming the foundation for reading and writing.
4. Performing Single-Step Commands:
– Following single-step commands enhanced Alvin’s ability to listen, comprehend, and act on verbal instructions.
5. Comprehending and Expressing Lexical Items and Prepositions through Rhymes:
– Rhymes were used to teach new vocabulary and prepositions, improving Alvin’s language skills in a fun and engaging way.
6. Learning Phonics through Rhymes:
– Phonics instruction through rhymes helped Alvin understand the relationship between letters and their sounds, crucial for reading development.
7. Counting from 1 to 10 through Rhyme:
– Counting rhymes made learning numbers enjoyable, helping Alvin with number recognition and sequencing.
Progress through Online AVT Sessions
Online AVT sessions provided Alvin with the flexibility and accessibility needed for consistent therapy. Here’s a summary of his progress:
- Improved Sound Detection: Alvin became proficient in identifying various animal sounds, which enhanced his auditory discrimination skills.
- Enhanced Listening Skills: Through rhymes and interactive activities, his ability to listen and understand spoken language improved significantly.
- Better Comprehension and Expression: Alvin showed marked improvement in following commands, understanding questions, and expressing himself verbally.
- Foundation in Reading and Phonics: He developed a solid foundation in reading alphabets and understanding phonics, which will aid in his literacy development.
- Numerical Skills: Counting rhymes helped Alvin learn to count from 1 to 10, an essential early math skill.
Recommendations for Upcoming Therapy Plans
As Alvin continues his journey, here are some recommendations for future therapy plans to build on his current progress:
1. Advanced Sound Identification:
Introduce more complex sounds and environmental noises to further enhance auditory discrimination.
2. Storytelling and Narrative Skills:
Engage Alvin in storytelling activities to develop his narrative skills, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
3. Interactive Phonics Games:
Use interactive phonics games to reinforce letter-sound relationships and support early reading skills.
4. Multi-Step Commands:
Gradually introduce multi-step commands to improve Alvin’s auditory memory and processing skills.
5. Mathematical Concepts through Songs:
Incorporate songs that teach basic mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, and patterns.
6. Social Skills Development:
Include activities that encourage turn-taking, sharing, and conversational skills to enhance social interactions.
7. Parental Involvement:
Encourage Alvin’s parents to actively participate in therapy sessions and practice activities at home to reinforce learning.
Conclusion
Alvin’s journey highlights the transformative impact of cochlear implants and Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT), particularly when combined with engaging, child-friendly activities. His progress showcases the effectiveness of online therapy in delivering consistent, high-quality care. As Alvin continues to develop and learn, these personalized therapy plans will aid him in reaching his full potential. XceptionalLEARNING offers a comprehensive platform for supporting children with diverse learning needs. Our innovative Digital Activity Book provides engaging and interactive resources for effective learning. To learn more, request a demo, or get in touch with our team of experts, please contact us. Our dedicated professionals are ready to assist you and provide tailored solutions. Join us to create a brighter future for every child.
