When building your support team, remember the goals you have for your baby. Find a professional with the skills needed to help you reach them.

You’re going to meet a lot of professionals and parents who want to give you advice. While this can certainly be helpful, it can also make staying focused on what you desire for your baby’s future difficult. Keep your eyes on the LSL outcomes you want, and seek out professionals who can help you make them happen.

Top Practices of Qualified LSL Professionals

Recognize you as your child’s most important teacher

Include you in decision-making and listen to your goals 

Understand how to properly fit and troubleshoot hearing devices

Explain evaluation results clearly and help you understand their meaning

Guide and coach you in using LSL strategies and techniques

Encourage and empower you to talk, read, sing, and play with your child every day

Clearly communicate expectations and work with you to set developmental goals

Monitor your baby’s progress and make timely goal adjustments

Collaborate with the other professionals, family members, and caregivers on your team

Understand the current best practices in the LSL field

What are Certified Listening and Spoken Language Specialists™?

A specialty certification can be a sign of quality. It means professionals have additional knowledge and skills specific for guiding and coaching families in LSL. The AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language™ has a certification called Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS™). There are two designations you might encounter: 

  • LSLS Certified Auditory-Verbal Educator (LSLS Cert. AVEd™)
  • LSLS Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist (LSLS Cert. AVT™)

You might see either of these titles depending on where you live. Both certifications are considered highly qualified in the field of listening and spoken language. 

You may have an LSLS professional practicing in your area. If not, look for early interventionists who have LSL experience or who are willing to learn LSL practices.

Questions for Your Early Interventionist

Here’s a list of questions you can ask your early interventionist about LSL services. 

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