The Natural Auditory Oral Approach is a normal and natural way of language development. It emphasizes the need to maximize the use of residual hearing through proper amplifications using suitable hearing devices all waking hours .Through the optimum use of hearing aids including cochlear implants and other supporting hearing devices, the children are to acquire speech and language in the same way as normal hearing children, although often at a slower rate.

However. the hearing devices amplifies the environmental sounds that leads to better listening skills and difficulties in accessing auditory information will always exist. Hence, this approach emphasizes the need for one-to-one interaction between the hearing impaired child and an adult .Language is caught and not taught. Through these one-to-one individual conversation sessions, the hearing impaired children not only pick up oral language, but also the 'unspoken' rules of conversation - turn talking, eye contact, spontaneously offering of ideas, pausing, etc. During these individual conversation sessions, the adult interacts with a hearing impaired child using books, props or activities. The adult speaks naturally to the child and there is no need to slow down or 'break up' the words to 'teach' the child.

The Natural Auditory Oral Approach is "not, however, a uni-sensory approach that insists on an exclusively sound-only environment" (Delta). Facial expression, body language and natural gestures are normal part of the human communication system and play an important role in enabling the children to attach meaning to what they hear. They are an essential part of the children's experience benefitting from and enjoying the richness they contribute to communication. Although the children are not discouraged from natural visual cues, we also do not draw their attention to "look". The emphasis of this approach is always "to listen" and not "to look". "The approach does not use any formalized signs and asserts its belief that the introduction of sign language or sign-assisted communication into the experience of hearing impaired children before spoken language is well established, will seriously interfere with the development of speech and language." (Delta)

The Natural Auditory Oral Approach also believes in the need to provide a language-enabling environment in order to facilitate the children's language acquisition. All children acquire language through listening. By providing a language-rich environment, the hearing impaired children are exposed to oral language and in an appropriate context.