Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai has launched a specialised Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) Clinic for children living with hearing loss. The facility will offer structured rehabilitation and family-focused support, with particular attention to children who have received cochlear implants.
The programme is designed to help children move beyond simply hearing sounds and develop the ability to understand, respond and communicate through listening. Regular AVT sessions will support the development of speech and language skills, helping children take part more confidently in conversations, classroom activities and everyday interactions.
Cochlear implants provide children with severe to profound hearing loss with access to sound. However, receiving auditory input is only one part of the rehabilitation process. Children also need appropriate therapy to learn how to interpret and use the sounds they hear for communication.
Rajiv K. Mehta, Permanent Trustee, Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, said cochlear implantation should be viewed as the beginning of a child’s hearing journey rather than its final stage. He said the new clinic is intended to help children develop speech and confidence alongside access to sound, enabling them to participate more fully in education and daily life. He also highlighted the hospital’s aim of making quality hearing rehabilitation available to children in need, including those from underprivileged backgrounds.
The importance of timely intervention is underlined by data published in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine. According to the study, approximately 5–6 newborns out of every 1,000 are affected by hearing loss.
When hearing impairment is identified late, children may miss important stages of speech, language and overall communication development. Early detection followed by appropriate rehabilitation can therefore be critical in helping children achieve better communication outcomes.
With the launch of its AVT Clinic, Lilavati Hospital is seeking to provide a more comprehensive rehabilitation pathway for children with hearing loss, combining auditory training with family support to help them communicate, learn and participate more independently.
(Photo courtesy: facebook/lilavatihospitalofficial)