The Ling sounds and auditory training

What are the Ling sounds?

The Ling sounds are a group of six sounds which range from low frequency to high frequency. We focus on these particular six sounds because they cover the range of different sounds (frequencies) your child needs to access speech sounds.

How do we use the Ling sounds?

Generally we use the Ling sounds in the following ways:

1. To test hearing aids/cochlear implants:
   • You should check and listen to your child’s hearing aids or cochlear implants everyday.
   • By using these six Ling sounds (saying them into the microphone in a normal speaking voice) you can make sure the quality of the sound your child is getting through their technology is good across all the different speech frequencies from low pitch to high pitch.
2. To understand better what your child is hearing:
   • You can use the six Ling sounds when your child is using their hearing technology to check if they can:
     • hear the six Ling sounds (or identify which they can or cannot hear)
     • discriminate (tell the difference) between the sounds
     • say the sounds
   • When your child is able to do this with all the six Ling sounds they should be able to access and produce all the different speech sounds needed for conversation.
   • One way of doing this is by using a technique called Auditory Training (See below)

Auditory training

As part of your daily routine, you can use a simple auditory training exercise using the Ling six sound test.

To do this, you will say each of the six sounds, and your child will indicate to you that they can hear the sound. Naturally, you do not want your child to see you making the sound, so you can cover your mouth or stand behind them. Your child could indicate that they have heard the sound by, for example, clapping their hands, putting a small object into a bucket, or imitating the sound.

It doesn’t matter what your child does, or even that they imitate the sound. All your child has to do is indicate that they heard you. And it is most important that this is a fun game that you and your child play together each morning.

If you’ve never done this before, here’s what you should do:

• Place yourself directly in front of your child and at their eye level.
• Have six objects and a container into which your child will place them.
• Tell your child, “When you hear the sound, put the block into the bucket.”
• Then show them – hold their hand with the block, saying “Ahhh,” and help them throw the object into the container.
• Tell your child, “Good listening!” “You did it!” or “Good job!”
• Try it again with you helping your child until you are sure they can do it on their own.
• When they can respond easily on their own, step behind your child so you are sure they cannot see you making the sounds.
• After you’ve finished doing all the six Ling sounds, tell your child what a “Great job!” they did listening to you, for any response shows a good effort on their part.