We specialize in working with children fitted with cochlear implants. A cochlear implant is an implanted device that converts sound into electrical signals. It is fitted through surgical intervention.

Cochlear implants have two parts – an internal receiver which is implanted surgically under the skin behind the ear, and an external part which is worn like a hearing aid. The external part is known as a speech processor and includes the microphone.

For children, hearing is key to learning spoken language, performing academically, and engaging socially. Hearing loss poses a barrier to education and social integration. As such children with hearing loss can benefit greatly from being identified early in life and offered appropriate interventions.

The neural emergency period in congenital hearing loss is up to the age of two. If intervention is done within this period, the best possible outcomes in terms of speech and hearing can be achieved.

This is where EAR steps in with its expertise in individualized therapy programs for complete habilitation of babies and toddlers.

Auditory Verbal therapy is a highly specialist early intervention programme.

It stimulates auditory brain development and enables deaf children with hearing aids and cochlear implants to make sense of the sound relayed by their devices thus enabling them to develop listening and spoken language skills in a way that gives them the same opportunities and an equal start in life as hearing children.

Through one hour play-based therapy sessions, parents are given the techniques and strategies – to develop their child’s listening and spoken language by bringing about a listening attitude so that paying attention to the sound around him or her becomes automatic. Hearing and listening become an integral part of communication, play, education and eventually work. All learning from the sessions carries over into daily life. This means that at home, parents can make everyday activities such as setting the table or reading a story into a fun listening and learning opportunity.

Our professional therapists, trained in AVT child development, education, and psychological counselling work with children and parents in school and guide them on home learning. They also evaluate students and plan individual programmes while being committed to continuous quality improvement of instruction.

Teaching skills of staff are constantly upgraded through workshops, conferences and meetings conducted by experts from India and abroad in the fields of Hearing Impairment, Audiology and Pre-School Education.

The activities in the classes are well coordinated with those in Auditory Verbal Therapy. Classes are conducted in Hindi and Marathi for children aged 3 to 12 years. The AVT approach is the basis of all our teaching activities.

Besides teaching chidren language and concepts we also teach basic reading, writing, arithmetic and later a regular school curriculum

A qualified and experienced audiologist conducts regular paediatric and visual enforcement audiometry tests and otological evaluations. Regular monitoring of auditory device enables children to get the most benefit from their hearing devices and thus maximise their potential hearing. The programming of the devive happens on a regular basis. Hearing aid loan facilities are also provided for the children in the school.

Assessments are undertaken every trimester by the class teacher. The AVT team evaluates each child on a six monthly basis. Audiological assessments as well as observations by the counselor form a part of the assessment report.

Other than these formal evaluations the staff continues it daily observations, noting down performances of children across several parameters that include, Audition, Language, Speech and Motor skills.

Our special services include preparing pre-school children to mainstream into regular schools and working with emotional problems, poor motor co-ordination and language and speech impairments.

Special training is provided for parents/ children who are based out of Mumbai.