ABSTRACT
Auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony is a relatively new diagnosis that has challenged
parents and professionals to identify appropriate treatment strategies. Parents may
be confused by the diagnosis and confounded by the treatment options. This article
offers guidelines to be used by parents and professionals to develop a treatment plan
for each child. The goal of treatment, language development, can be accomplished through
a variety of methods, each one suitable for different children and for different families.
The value of visual communication approaches and the efficacy of cochlear implantation
are presented. The therapeutic/education team is encouraged to obtain a profile of
each child's skills in all developmental domains and to consider a child's unique
developmental profile as an effective, individualized treatment plan is created. The
therapeutic/education team should include professionals who are familiar with the
diagnosis of auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony and the implications of this diagnosis
for a child's development.
KEYWORDS
Assessment - treatment - language development - communication methods
