Book highlights strategies and evidence-based research.
Washington, DC , August 26, 2013 -- The AG Bell Association announces the publication of a new book, 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice: Promoting Listening and Spoken Language for Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Their Families. More than 100 Listening and Spoken Language Specialists (LSLS®) share their knowledge and distilled wisdom in this important resource for practitioners and parents of children with hearing loss.
The book was developed by Warren Estabrooks, M.Ed., Dip. Ed. Deaf, LSLS Cert. AVT, president and CEO of WE Listen International, Inc., and editor of 101 FAQs. “The field of auditory-verbal practice continues to evolve as the clinical and educational landscape changes. This book represents listening and spoken language techniques that have proven to be successful,” says Estabrooks.
For practitioners, this book:
- Enhances their understanding of the possibilities for children who are deaf and hard of hearing today and provides an understanding of the philosophy and outcomes of auditory-verbal practice.
- Provides a better understanding of how to collaborate with parents, create an optimal listening environment in the classroom or treatment room that makes the sounds of life easy to hear and provides specific strategies for speech and language development.
- Demonstrates how to effectively engage parents, taking into consideration their learning style and the many family variables.
- Provides evidence-based strategies and practices for intervention with families and children.
The book also highlights the evidence-based outcomes of auditory-verbal practice through a review of recent research studies in the field with children who benefitted from early identification and early cochlear implantation. For example, findings of one of the largest studies conducted to date demonstrate that the rate of language growth for the majority of children who received auditory-verbal intervention was comparable to that of peers with typical hearing and that most children were able to close the language gap with their peers. Research also shows that the majority of these students attended mainstream educational programs in high school. After completing their K-12 education, these children continued to use listening and spoken language and functioned in mainstream environments.
According to Estabrooks, the book’s greatest strength is its demonstration of strategies and techniques that promote effective development of listening and spoken language. For parents the book helps them to become their child’s primary teachers on the journey to lifelong language development, literacy and independent thinking skills.
"The AG Bell Association is honored to publish this important resource for families and practitioners. It is a timely, must-have resource for professionals that provides comprehensive information on auditory-verbal practice today," states Donald M. Goldberg, Ph.D., CCC-SLP/A, FAAA, LSLS Cert. AVT, president of AG Bell Association. "The book will be a vital resource for parents and practitioners for years to come. Our hope is that it will inspire potential practitioners to join the field and support parents with detailed information to help them better guide their children as they develop listening and language skills."
101 FAQs is available in print from the AG Bell bookstore. The e-book version is available in a format compatible with every major e-reader device on the market through Amazon and Lulu.
About Warren Estabrooks, M.Ed., Dip. Ed. Deaf, LSLS Cert. AVT
Warren Estabrooks is the president and CEO of WE Listen International, Inc., a global training and consulting company, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a founding Director of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language.
About the AG Bell Association
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Through advocacy, education and financial aid, AG Bell helps to ensure that every child and adult with hearing loss has the opportunity to listen, talk and thrive. With chapters located in the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking!
