Antonia Aldous, Auditory Verbal Therapist Expand Antonia’s first degree was in Biomedical Science from Kings College London. After a few years in medical research, she retrained as a Speech and Language Therapist at City University in London, qualifying in 2002. She worked at Hounslow Primary Care Trust for 5 years, working with preschool and primary aged children with hearing loss as well as in a language unit. Antonia then moved to the Speech Language and Hearing Centre at Christopher Place in London where she worked as a Highly Specialised Speech and Language Therapist with preschool children with hearing loss and their families. As part of her role, she was the Speech and Language Therapist on the Cochlear Implant Team at St Georges Hospital where she worked for 5 years. It was whilst at St Georges Hospital that she was first introduced to Auditory Verbal Therapy. She was so enthused and excited by it, that she started her training as and Auditory Verbal Therapist at AVUK, qualifying as an LSLS Cert. AVT in 2016. Antonia is passionate about helping children meet their auditory potential, empowering and skilling parents and carers. She believes that therapy should be fun and enjoyable for everybody! Antonia works part-time at the London Centre on Mondays (9.45am to 2.15pm) and Wednesdays (9.45am to 12.45) E mail: [email protected]
Lyndsey Allen, Auditory Verbal Therapist Expand Graduating as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1998, Lyndsey’s spent 25 years learning about child development and supporting families to get better outcomes for their children. She’s worked across public, private, and charitable sectors in both clinical and leadership roles, cementing an international reputation as a speaker and trainer. A LSLS Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist since 2008 and PRINCE 2 qualified project manager, she has a distinctive skill set of clinical and business skills. She’s currently working across 3 different organisations. As conference director for ASLTIP (Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice), as clinician and consultant for her independent practice THINK TALK and LEARN, and with AVUK across both training and clinical teams. When she’s not working you might find her pulling some shapes on a yoga mat or hanging out with 4 kids at the park. Publications Hutchins., T. Allen., L & Schefer., M (2017) Using the Theory of Mind Inventory to Detect a Broad Range of Theory of Mind Challenges in Children with Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study Deafness & Education International (Published online 2017.01.23) Allen, L. & Simpson Allen, J (2012) What can a parent and professional do in a home-based program when they do not have a lot of “therapy” toys? In W. Estabrooks (Ed.), 101 Frequently Asked Questions About Auditory-Verbal Practice (pp.93-97). Washington DC: The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Plus numerous articles for professional and parent publications such as Bulletin (SLT magazine) and BATOD (Teacher of the Deaf magazine). Email: [email protected]
Louise Ashton, née Hönck, Senior Auditory Verbal Therapist and Training Lead Expand Louise Ashton, Training Lead and Senior Auditory Verbal Therapist MA Communication Pathology, MRCSLT, PgDip Auditory Verbal Therapy, LSLS Cert. AVT® Louise is a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. She is dually trained as a Speech-Language Therapist and Audiologist and obtained her masters degree at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2004. Louise relocated to the UK and specialised in delivering audiology and speech and language therapy to various client groups working for the National Health Service (NHS) and Local Authorities (LA) in Scotland, London and Bristol. She undertook training whilst working for the NHS to become a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in children with hearing loss. She completed her postgraduate diploma in Auditory Verbal Therapy with distinction at Aston University in 2011. She was mentored towards LSLS CertAVT® whilst working at AVUK. Louise also trained in the assessment and treatment of oro-motor speech production difficulties using the PROMPT approach (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Target). Louise leads on Auditory Verbal UK’s online AGBell and RCSLT accredited Foundation and Advanced training programs, supports the clinical team, mentor in-house trainees, provide intervention services using telepractice, and regularly travels internationally to give lectures or train professionals. She supports a small caseload of families who received technology from the Johannesburg Implant program. in her private practise in South Africa. Louise works remotely from South Africa and in our London centre Working hours: Monday 08:00-13:00 Tuesday 08:00-12:15 Wednesday 07:00-10:45 Thursday 07:00-15:00 Publications: Clark, F., Ashton, L., Kenely, N., Hogan, S. (2021). International Telepractice for therapy and training – Auditory Verbal UK’s Perspective. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups Quayle, R.E., Ashton, L. & Estabrooks, W. (2020). The Development of Play and Auditory-Verbal Therapy. IN Estabrooks, W., McCaffrey Morrison, H. & Maclver-Lux, K. Auditory-Verbal Therapy Science, Research and practice. Plural Publishing Inc. Estabrooks, W., Maclver-Lux, K., Ashton, L. & Quayle, R.E, (2020). The Auditory-Verbal Session: Planning, Delivery and Evaluation. IN Estabrooks, W., McCaffrey Morrison, H. & Maclver-Lux, K. Auditory-Verbal Therapy Science, Research and practice. Plural Publishing Inc. Ashton, L. & Clark, F. (2017). Turning Pages Through the Ages: Acceleration progress through interactive book sharing. British Association of Teachers of the Deaf Association Magazine, September 2017. ISSN 1336-0799. Ashton, L. & Gazeley, K. (2017). The Parent Journey. British Association of Teachers of the Deaf Association Magazine, May 2017. ISSN 1336-0799. MacIver-Lux, Lim, S.R., Rhoades, E.A., Robertson, L., Quayle. R. & Honck. (2016). Milestones in Auditory-Verbal Development: Auditory Processing Speech, Language, Emergent Literacy , Play and Theory of Mind in Estabrooks, W., MacIver-Lux, K. & Rhoades, E.A. (Ed), Auditory Verbal Therapy For Young Children with Hearing loss and Their Families and the Practitioners Who Guide Them (pp219-262). Plural Publishing Inc. Estabrooks, W., MacIver-Lux, K., Honck, L. & Quayle. R. (2016). Blueprint of and Auditory-Verbal Therapy Session in Estabrooks, W., MacIver-Lux, K. & Rhoades, E.A. (Ed), Auditory Verbal Therapy For Young Children with Hearing loss and Their Families and the Practitioners Who Guide Them (pp 341-350). Plural Publishing Inc. Estabrooks, W., Honck, L., Tannebaum-Katsaggelos, S., de Melo, M.E., Clem, B.C., Sindrey, D., Katz, L., MacIver-Lux, K & Steacie, P. (2016). Auditory Verbal Therapy in Action: Step-by-Step Session Plans in Estabrooks, W., MacIver-Lux, K. & Rhoades, E.A. (Ed), Auditory Verbal Therapy For Young Children with Hearing loss and Their Families and the Practitioners Who Guide Them (pp 351-472). Plural Publishing Inc. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Louise Honck Facebook: Louise Avuk
Susannah Burden, Senior Auditory Verbal Therapist Expand BSc (Hons) SLT, Cert MRCSLT, PgDip Auditory Verbal Therapy, LSLS Cert. AVT® Susannah is a listening and spoken language specialist, certified Auditory Verbal therapist. She is currently working at our Oxfordshire centre, with time spent in clinical work with families and in training therapists. Susannah trained to be a speech and language therapist at De Montfort University and completed her postgraduate diploma in Auditory Verbal Therapy at Aston University. She was mentored towards LSLS CertAVT® by Jacqueline Stokes, Donna Sperandio, Rosemary Richardson and Catherine White whilst working at Auditory Verbal UK. Susannah has specialised in delivering therapy to children with hearing loss since qualifying, and since 2011 as a certified auditory verbal therapist. Susannah is involved in delivering training and mentoring to professionals and works with babies, pre-school and some older children with varying degrees of hearing loss and language levels as well as additional needs such as ASD and Down’s Syndrome. Email: [email protected] Facebook: Susie Avuk
Emma Burton, Auditory Verbal Therapist Expand BSc (Hons) Speech and Language Therapy, LSLS Cert. AVT Emma qualified from Birmingham City University with a first class degree in Speech and Language Therapy. She had her first introduction to AVT on placement at the Birmingham Cochlear Implant Centre and was inspired by the listening and spoken language outcomes that deaf children were able to achieve. In August 2015, Emma joined the team at AVUK and began training in-house to become a certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. She qualified as a certified Auditory Verbal therapist in April 2019. She is passionate about empowering families and helping deaf children to achieve their potential. Emma works Monday-Wednesday 8.30-17.30 supporting families through online telepractice and at the London centre Email: [email protected] Twitter:@emmaavuk
Frances Clark, Senior Auditory Verbal Therapist and Clinical Lead Expand BA Speech and Hearing Therapy (Speech Pathology and Audiology), LSLS Cert. AVT® Frances qualified as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist at The University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa in 2004. After working in a South African hospital as a speech therapist/audiologist for one year, she moved to England in 2006. She worked for the Oxford Cochlear Implant Team and Oxford Primary Care Trust as a highly specialist speech and language therapist in deafness. She then worked as a highly specialist speech and language therapist for The Elizabeth Foundation, for pre-school deaf children and their parents, developing the speech and language therapy programme there. In 2013, she began training in Auditory Verbal Therapy through our Part 1 course. In October 2013, she joined the team at AVUK and in August 2015 she qualified as an LSLS Cert. AVT. Frances is the Clinical Lead for AVUK. Frances regularly presents at conferences and delivers training both in the UK and abroad. She has a special interest in using books in therapy, Theory of Mind and Sensory Integration. She obtained a postgraduate certificate in Sensory Integration through Ulster University in January 2018. In 2019 she won a scholarship for Henley Business School and completed a Professional Certificate in Coaching. Frances is a member of the Global Matters committee for A G Bell. Frances works Monday-Thursday 8:30am – 5:30pm at the London centre and via telepractice. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:Frances Clark Facebook: Frances Avuk Twitter: @frances_AVT
Rebecca de Vyea, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Auditory Verbal Therapist in training Expand Rebecca is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Auditory Verbal Therapist in training. Rebecca trained to be a speech and language therapist at the University of Newcastle in 2002, qualifying with a master’s degree in Language Pathology. She began training with AVUK in October 2018. Rebecca has specialised in delivering therapy to children with hearing loss since 2008. She works with babies, pre-school, and some older children with varying degrees of hearing loss and language levels. Email: [email protected]
Rachel French, Operations Manager Expand In January 2022 Rachel celebrates 15 years' at AVUK. As part of the Operations team her role encompasses governance, HR, facilities, IT, clinical administration and scheduling. She is also responsible for the scheduling and administration for all of AVUK's Foundation and Advanced training courses and Continued Mentorship programmes. Rachel works flexi-hours and is primarily home-based, her core hours are Mon-Thurs 09.30-17.30. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Rachel French
Estelle Gerrett, Senior Auditory Verbal Therapist Expand LSLS Cert. AVT, B.Ed (Hons), Adv Post.Grad Dip HI Estelle's career in working with hearing loss and speech development began under personal circumstances. Her son, Nathan, contracted meningitis when he was one, and lost his hearing as a result. Despite being told that Nathan would not be able to develop speech, Estelle believed there must be a way. So Estelle, who already had a career as a primary school teacher, went to University and gained a Masters in Hearing Impairment and Speech Development so she could teach her son to talk. She later certified as an Auditory Verbal Therapist and over the past 14 years has coached hundreds of parents to develop their children’s listening, talking and social skills at the Hearing House in New Zealand. In September 2017 Estelle moved to the UK and joined the team of Auditory Verbal therapists at Auditory Verbal UK. At the end of 2021 Estelle returned to New Zealand but will continue to mentor trainees virtually and online. Email: [email protected]
Anita Grover, Chief Executive Expand Anita became Chief Executive of AVUK in 2013 following a 20 year career in the public sector. As a senior civil servant, she led communications on the government’s disability, employers, pensions and poverty agendas, working with a succession of cabinet ministers, business leaders and third sector organisations. Anita is profoundly deaf, having lost her hearing progressively from childhood. She had successful cochlear implant surgery in 2006 and brings to the role personal insight into hearing loss and a passion for improving outcomes for deaf children. In 2014 Anita became the first CEO of a UK-based charity to be awarded the Macquarie David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowship and was nominated for the 2015 Rising CEO of the Year at the Third Sector Awards. In Dec 2016 Anita was awarded a Fellowship by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. Anita is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a former governor of a primary school in Buckinghamshire. From 2018-2020 she supported smaller charities in the health sector as a consultant on the Kings Fund Cascading Leadership programme and is currently a coach on the GSK/Kings Fund Grow programme. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @AnitaGrover Facebook: Anita Avuk