What is the focus of auditory training for children with hearing loss?

The focus of auditory training for children with hearing loss is primarily to develop sound awareness using residual hearing. This aspect of training is essential as it helps children recognize and respond to various sounds in their environment, encouraging them to use any remaining hearing capabilities effectively. It lays the groundwork for further auditory skills, such as distinguishing between different sounds and understanding speech in various contexts.

While improving speech clarity is a goal of many intervention strategies, it proceeds from a foundational understanding of sounds, which is developed through sound awareness. Similarly, enhancing social skills and learning sign language, although important, are typically addressed through other educational methods and interventions, rather than the specific focus of auditory training itself. Therefore, the correct focus of auditory training is centered on maximizing the child's awareness and utilization of sound through their unique hearing abilities.