Welcome to The Sound Steps Podcast: Conversations in Auditory-Verbal Therapy, exploring fluent spoken language, conversational competence, clear speech, and age-appropriate development, in children who are deaf or hard of hearing, through the transformative power of listening and parent-centred Auditory-Verbal Therapy, one sound step at a time.

In Episode 5, Shefali Shah and Warren Estabrooks share a spontaneous, in-depth conversation about how children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to develop conversation. With expertise and the knowledge that optimal access to all the sounds of speech is essential for the development of conversation, they explore the science and art of Auditory-Verbal Therapy (AVT) through evidence-based AV practice.

This is The Sound Steps Podcast.

Conversation is both the means and the end goal. Use Conversation to develop Conversational Competence. Children learn to listen in Conversation.

Auditory-Verbal Therapy pre-supposes optimal auditory access. In order for deaf or hard of hearing children to listen and talk, they must hear clearly across the speech spectrum.

Auditory-Verbal Therapy is both a Science and an Art. AVT must be based on the science of audiology, speech acoustics and child development. The style of the individual therapist in delivering AVT, represents the art of it.

Demonstrate success. Seeing results is hugely motivating.

Draw on typical development. Use the developmental milestones in children with typical hearing, especially for children with additional challenges.

Suprises are key. Preserve the element of surprise for both parent and child in your practice.

Quality input  Provide an enriched input.

Guide Conversation in everyday situations.

Purposeful responses from both parent and child and other participating adults

Use the OWL strategy (Hanen Centre) Train the non-verbal power of Observation in parents

Wait: This is a powerful AV Technique

Act out a scenario: Create stories to hold attention

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:01:10 Introducing our guest: Warren Estabrooks  

00:01:54 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents

00:02:03 Choosing Auditory-Verbal Therapy for your deaf or hard of hearing child   

00:02:37 AVT facilitates age-appropriate development

00:03:00 Abundant choices open up through AVT

00:03:32 Early identification and the fitting of early and optimal amplification              

00:03:43 A life free of limitations           

00:03:48 Show notes, Top tips and Time Stamps

00:03:58 Links and contact details

00:04:06 AV Techniques

00:04:22 AV Technique: Modelling

00:05:00 Resources on this topic

00:05:25 Using Conversation to  develop Conversational Competence 

00:09:00 Optimal auditory access is critical for AVT

00:09:32 Pioneers of AVT                  

00:10:46 Doubt

00:11:06 Demonstrate success

00:11:20 The role of development in children with typical hearing 

00:11:49 Engaging with young children: Parentese

00:13.41 Modelling

00:14:12 The Learning to Listen Sounds

00:14:42 Actualising therapy targets through Conversation

00:15: 53 Preserve the element of surprise

00:16:43 Children learn to listen in the context of Conversation

00:16:54 Three Dimensional Conversation: Quality input/Guide Conversation/Respond with purpose (Morrison, H.,)

00:17:28 Centre on the Developing Child: Harvard University

00:18:38 Resist testing children

00:19:10 The Hanen Centre: OWL Strategy

00:20:48 Expansion and Recasting to refine grammar and expand vocabulary

00:21:12 Automaticity

00:21:40 Staying natural

00:23:17 Pace of learning

00:24:25 Diagnostics

00:25:41 The AV Technique: Wait Cue

00:28:11 Giving parents an “in” into the Conversation 

00:28:55 Handing over to parent

00:29:32 Create stories

00:29:40 The Wait Cue

00:31:25 The gaze and Trust

00:32:18 Inviting participation 

00:33:10 The freedom of choice

00:34:03 Reflection

00:34:30 Upcoming episode: Sparking Conversation

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