Our mission is to give children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing the option to learn spoken language, the choice to communicate verbally,  and the opportunity to live independently in mainstream society. 

Early Identification
Once a child is identified as having a hearing loss, a parent has to choose which mode of communication is best for their child and family. Parents who wish to have their children learn spoken language have an immediate challenge at hand; amplification and intervention. Accurate amplification is challenging for parent and child and requires an audiologist who specializes in pediatric care. Early intervention is critical as the child has likely lost many months of auditory development  placing them at great risk for language and literacy delays. A comprehensive oral deaf education program, consisting of an auditory therapy plan, educational excellence, and parental support best prepares children on their journey into the hearing world.  

Oral Deaf Education
In an effort to maximize auditory development we use verbal communication and do not incorporate manual language. We focus on the principles of the auditory-oral and auditory-verbal communication philosophies in all aspects of our program. In addition to learning to listen and talk, we are preparing our  students socially, emotionally, and academically to attend  kindergarten in their neighborhood home school, independent of an interpreter.

Environment
The Auditory Oral Children’s Center is a therapy based program integrated into a NAEYC preschool environment giving our students the opportunity to interact daily with typical hearing and developing peers. Immersion in a spoken language environment is highly beneficial and meets the Federal Department of Education guidelines of least restrictive environment for children with disabilities.  We are located in Northwest Columbus at 5475 Brand Rd., Dublin, Ohio.

Early Intervention- birth to 3 years
Early intervention is designed around the needs of the child and family. Individualized therapy assists families in stimulating their child’s auditory development through four key principles: awareness, discrimination, recognition and comprehension. Parents attend therapy sessions and are educated on how to best promote auditory development and spoken language for their child. Detailed reports and home extensions are provided after each session to assist parents in promoting their child’s progress at home. 

Parent Connection Play group
Parents and their children of all ages meet socially at the center and in community locations. All families are welcome to participate and siblings are encouraged to attend. Please call Stacey at 563-1909 to confirm dates and times.

Parent-Child Class
Parent-child class is for toddlers and young preschoolers and their parent or caregiver,  and is led  by a Hearing Intervention Specialist certified in oral deaf education. The semi-structured format is designed to help parents learn effective strategies for helping their children develop listening and oral language skills. Please call for class times.

Preschool-3 to 6 years
Our therapeutic program serves children 3 to 6 years of age and includes typical hearing peers as language role models. Individual services involve 1.5 to 2 hours of 1:1 auditory and speech language therapy weekly. Therapy services are provided by a Speech Language Pathologist and Hearing Intervention Specialist trained in auditory-verbal and auditory-oral therapy for children to use spoken language as their primary language.
The classroom environment involves a 4:1 student teacher ratio that exceeds state early learning content standards; students receive small group instruction to best assist them in obtaining their auditory and spoken language goals. Preschool operates 9:15am-2:15pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Please call for an observation.

Mainstream Extension
Students who are developmentally ready for mainstream preschool are welcome to participate in the on-site typical preschool afternoon program. Immersion in this natural spoken language environment strengthens the students social and language skills which are  necessary building blocks for future mainstreaming in their home district kindergarten. Extension operates 12:45am- 3:15pm

Kindergarten Mainstream Program
AOCC graduates return to their home school district for kindergarten. AOCC staff will  supervise the student’s transition by working directly with the home school districts’ teaching staff to ensure a positive and successful  experience. 

Contact
Megan Reese, Program Director  614-832-9965
Michelle McCully, Development Director  614-598-7335
Email: auditoryoral@columbus.rr.com
http://auditoryoral.googlepages.com