The PIP was developed as a natural extension of the L preschool program. Research shows the earlier hearing technology is utilized and therapy begins, the better the outcomes. The time immediately following diagnosis is an important time to work with families and assist them when making decisions regarding communication options available for their child. The PIP provides services to children and their families. If a family chooses for their child to acquire a listening and spoken language outcome, immediate audiologic management followed by auditory-verbal therapy is essential. The parent/caregiver and child have weekly sessions with a Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert AVEd.).  The PIP immediately begins working with families to coach parents to provide the most optimal listening environment and listening strategies to promote their child’s listening and spoken language development through weekly auditory-verbal therapy sessions.

The preschool focuses on intensive auditory-verbal education.  The preschool teacher is a Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert. AVEd.). The children are engaged in focused activities designed to accelerate their spoken language – including listening and language skills, speech, vocabulary, and literacy skills.  Listening and language development are the focus of all activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, center time, language activities, literacy activities, play centers, snack time, gross motor activities, math readiness, and music.  The preschool program is composed of four days a week with three days of classroom activities Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and an individual one-hour, auditory-verbal therapy session focusing on parent coaching and carryover of classroom goals to home to reinforce parents/caregivers being the primary facilitators of their child’s listening and spoken language development.

When a child is identified later with hearing loss, auditory-verbal therapy may be needed beyond the preschool years; or, when our preschool program isn’t an option for a child, we are able to support them in our auditory-verbal therapy program.  The parent/caregiver and child will have weekly sessions with a Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert. AVEd.). AVT/AVEd.  The therapist incorporates the child’s school activities during therapy and continues to work with parents/caregivers on the strategies to continue to develop their child’s language, as well as their educational goals.