Verbotonal Model of Rehabilitation and Education of Students with Impaired Hearing and/or Speech with Special Review of the Work in the SUVAG Polyclinic Elementary School, Zagreb

Abstract

The verbotonal method, which is implemented as a basic method of work in rehabilitation and educational procedures at SUVAG Polyclinic, is based on a structuralist approach to spoken communication. It is used in working with hearing impaired students or students with speech language or communication disorders. The principles of the verbotonal method are woven into all rehabilitation and methodical procedures carried out in the SUVAG Polyclinic, including in the SUVAG Polyclinic Elementary School, whose special educational conditions are discussed in the paper. Listening is the basis of speech and language, and thus of communication. In the Service for Medical Rehabilitation of School-Age Children and in the SUVAG Polyclinic Elementary School, speech therapists, audio rehabilitators and verbotonal experts carry out rehabilitation of hearing and speech according to the verbotobal method of academician Petar Guberina. Specific rehabilitation and educational verbotonal procedures are carried out with the use of verbotonal electroacoustic devices and specialized equipment. Special verbotonal procedures such as movement stimulation and musical stimulation (phonetic rhythms) are carried out in more complex rehabilitation, which includes the Elementary School. Students in higher grades have optional courses Speech culture and Visual and media culture, which encourage speech-language development and communication skills. Respecting the principles of the verbotonal method, which include children and students as active participants in all processes led by verbotonal experts of various profiles, ensures the professionalism and success of rehabilitation and teaching.