This approach to language development teaches infants and young children with hearing loss to listen and talk with the support of hearing technology such as hearing aids, assistive listening devices (such as an FM system) or cochlear implants.

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual language. With signing, the brain processes linguistic information through the eyes. The shape, placement, and movement of the hands, as well as facial expressions and body movements, all play important parts in conveying information.

Sign Supported English (SSE) is a term used to describe signing and speaking English in tandem. Often, SSE borrows ASL signs and uses them in the order they are used in spoken English. ASL is a unique language, with its own word order and syntax. But SSE generally follows the same grammatical rules as English.