Communications Options

 

At The Center for Hearing and Speech (CHS), we can only imagine how difficult it may be finding out that a family’s newborn, toddler or child has been diagnosed with a hearing impairment.  However, we HAVE learned that family members need and want options along with outcomes so that they can make informed decisions about their child’s future.

 

The staff at CHS realizes that there is more than one way to treat a hearing-impaired child.  We also recognize parents’ rights and responsibilities to make informed and confident decisions.  Many parents and professionals do not know that hearing impaired children have options.  As soon as a parent has received confirming news, we provide unbiased information regarding options available and possible outcomes.  Once the parents develop a vision for their child, we help them find where those services are available. 

 

Below you will find communication options available for children with hearing impairments. 

 

 

 

At The Center for Hearing and Speech, we provide Auditory-Verbal and Auditory Oral Services.

 

Auditory-Verbal – The Auditory-Verbal approach is based upon a logical and critical set of guided principles which enable children who are hearing imapired to learn to use even minimal amounts of residual hearing through amplification technology to listen, process verbal language and to speak.  In this approach, services are provided by specially certified and mentored professionals.  Learning speech reading or sign language is not required and the child participates completely in a mainstream environment ranging from the home environment to preschool then on to private or public grade school. 

 

   Auditory-Oral – This approach teaches and encourages children to use the hearing they have using hearing aids or cochlear implants.  Speech reading is used to supplement what is detected through the hearing technology.  The children learn to listen to communicate and participate in schools with specially certified teachers or speech-language pathologists with the hopes of mainstreaming into private or public schools by kindergarten or first grade.  Learning sign language is not required.    /files/Photos/Speech/STP61110 (3).JPG
 

 

Cued Speech – In this system, children learn to “see” and “hear” spoken language.  They focus on the movements that the mouth makes when we talk.  This is combined with eight hand shapes for consonants and four for vowels.  The use of these cues enhances speech reading ability and is useful for a child who is unable to internalize spoken language through amplification alone. Children who use cued speech learn to speak and process language mostly through lip reading.

 

Total Communication – In this communication system, methods are combined.  Children learn a form of sign communication (Signed Exact English).  They also use finger spelling, speech reading and either hearing aids or cochlear implants. 

 

American Sign Language – American Sign Language is a language that follows its own grammatical rules.  It is often taught as a first language, then English as a second language.

 

To understand your options and discover possible outcomes, please call the Speech Clinic at (713) 523-3633 and schedule a free appointment.  Click here to learn more about Jump Start to Listening!, a free options counseling program created by The Center for Hearing and Speech.