A brief history of the Auditory-Verbal Communication Center

In 1980, Jim and Lea Watson started the Auditory-Verbal Communication Center in Gloucester to answer the request from families who wanted Auditory-Verbal Parent Guidance Therapy. This was the first Auditory-Verbal program in New England. As the demand for Auditory-Verbal services grew, families traveled to Gloucester from other areas to receive AVT.

The Auditory-Verbal Communication Center, AVCC, started as a small program teaching one family, but quickly grew to be servicing twenty families a year. The Watsons have been offered opportunities to expand the program by affiliating with institutions serving children who are deaf and hard of hearing, however, they choose to keep AVCC independent.

For over thirty years they have been providing weekly parent guidance sessions for children who learn to listen and speak using appropriate hearing devices.

 In 2006-2007 the Watsons consulted at the Cora Barclay Centre in South Australia. www.corabarclay.com.au They were asked to work in Australia and share their expertise to start a parent infant program, guide A-V early intervention services, train the staff as LSLS Cert. AVTs, and consult with the school support services in South Australia.

Lea and Jim continue supervising therapists in Australia via skype. They also supervise A-V therapy in Hong Kong, Massachusetts, and other states. The first LSLS Cert. AVT in Maine trained under the Watsons' supervision.

Audiologists from hospitals in the New England area refer families to the Auditory-Verbal Communication Center. In 1993, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary invited the Watsons to supervise a practicum for one of their audiologists in Auditory-Verbal Therapy. The Lea Watson supervises the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) CFY year for appropriate candidates.  AVCC offers a mentoring program for professionals who wish to be trained according to the AGBell Association LSLS Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist. Each contract is drawn up individually. 

The Watsons are active in lecturing at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Inc., the Clarke Mainstreaming, and New England Cochlear Implant conferences.

Both long time members of the A.G.Bell Association, Jim served as an A.G.Bell Board member for two terms. Jim is a past president of Auditory-Verbal International, Inc. His active service to AVI spanned over ten years as a Board member.

In 1988, a two-year-old AVCC student was the first child in New England to receive a cochlear implant. Visit: www.cochlearimplantonline.com to read about Rachel Chaikof.

AVCC has always been interested in the newest technology to make listening easier for children in Auditory-Verbal Therapy.

In 2003, one AVCC family opted to have their daughter receive a second cochlear implant. This kindergarten child now listens with two cochlear implants. Being an “Auditory-Verbal Graduate”, she adjusted to hearing through the new cochlear implant readily. With parents who were well trained in developing listening skills, she benefited greatly.

Families come to AVCC from all over New England once or twice a week for the parent guidance sessions. Usually families remain in therapy until the child is in Kindergarten and support services can be established at their local school. Modifications are made in each case as parents and therapists judge appropriate. Sometimes support services can be established in pre-school. Sometimes there is a need for an experienced Auditory-Verbal Therapist to remain part of the child’s educational team into elementary and even high school.

AVCC encourages families to be aware of all the options available for them and their child when choosing how they want to teach their child to communicate. AVCC recommends that parents visit several programs to learn about other choices, in order to make an informed decision. The families who choose Auditory-Verbal Therapy show a sincere commitment to the therapy process. Trust in this therapy process enables the parents to actualize their potential as teachers for their child. This trust also allows the Auditory-Verbal Therapist the confidence to make decisions that affect the course of each child’s treatment.

At AVCC parents are given clear expectations as to what to expect in therapy and how to proceed with the goals and objectives set for their child. Parents receive immediate feedback on the progress of therapy.

Lea and Jim thank their mentors: the late Dr. Daniel Ling, Dr. Nan Phillips, Doris Leckie, and the late Auditory-Verbal pioneer, Helen H. Beebe, CCC.