Why Early Listening Matters: Auditory Verbal Therapy in Early Years Settings

Early years settings play a critical role in identifying and supporting deaf children during the vital developmental window from birth to age five. Noel Kenely, a certified Auditory Verbal therapist and founder of Hark and Spark, argues that when nurseries and pre-schools understand the principles of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT), they can significantly enhance listening and spoken language development for deaf children. This specialist approach focuses on teaching deaf babies and children to listen and talk, maximising their natural capacity to develop hearing and speech through consistent, targeted support. The article highlights the importance of integrating AVT principles into everyday early years practice, ensuring that deaf children receive consistent strategies across all environments. Rather than relying solely on specialist sessions, Kenely makes the case for early years practitioners understanding how to create acoustically favourable environments, use clear speech techniques, and encourage auditory attention during play and routine activities. This collaborative approach between therapists and nursery staff ensures that intervention happens continuously throughout the child's waking hours, not just during formal therapy sessions. For local authorities and early years providers, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity within the SEND landscape. As corporate parents and commissioners of early education, councils must ensure that nursery staff have access to training and resources that enable them to support deaf children effectively. Investing in this specialist understanding at the earliest stage can reduce the need for more intensive interventions later, improve educational outcomes, and ensure that deaf children enter primary school with the communication skills they need to thrive alongside their hearing peers.