Auditory-oral and auditory-verbal therapies are designed to teach children with impaired hearing to make maximum use of auditory skills by listening, processing verbal language, and speaking. With advances in technology (powerful hearing aids, FM systems, and cochlear implants), sound is more available to children with hearing loss, and they can be taught to rely on listening for learning.

Auditory-oral therapy uses audition and teaches children to read lips. Auditory-verbal therapy encourages listening alone. The goal of therapy is to have children with impaired hearing grow up in mainstream settings and become independent adults. Prior to beginning therapy, children must be fit with appropriate technology (hearing aids, FM systems, or cochlear implants). Families must be involved in the therapy program so they can learn to provide auditory language stimulation for their children at home.