Welcome to The Sound Steps Podcast: Conversations in Auditory-Verbal Therapy, exploring fluent spoken language development, 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
Conversation is at the heart of human connection, spontaneous, unplanned, and deeply nurturing.
In this sixth episode, Shefali Shah invites us to introspect on what truly constitutes a heart-to-heart conversation with your child with hearing loss, not just chatter, but a reciprocal, emotional and verbal exchange.
In warm and candid dialogue with two mothers of children with cochlear implants, Sheena Kurian and Ratnaa Binu, coached by Shefali Shah, discover how to stay spontaneous and suspend correction. Together they explore how to reshape their style of interaction with their young child with hearing loss, as they experience first-hand the thrill of creating space for natural spoken language development and communication to emerge and flourish.
They unravel how techniques in Auditory-Verbal Therapy such as Modelling and Waiting not only support spoken language development , but also nurture the very soul of conversation, shared attention, trust, and joy.
This episode offers practical insights and celebrates those precious moments of connection with your child with hearing loss that arise beyond expectation.
This is The Sound Steps Podcast.
🎯 Top Tips from Episode 6
Conversation is a spontaneous heart-to-heart exchange.The topic emerges naturally, and the flow is kept alive as long as both partners remain engaged.
Keep the conversation going.Corrections and interruptions disrupt the rhythm and may silence a child’s attempt to contribute.
Use Modelling to guide gently.Modelling allows you to enrich your child’s language without breaking conversational flow.
Conversation is not a lesson.Stay spontaneous. You’re not testing your child - you’re partnering with them.
Listen for communicative intent.Respond with reassurance. It’s the intent to connect that fuels language growth.Waiting gives space for thought and expression.Wait intentionally. Your child needs time to process, feel, and contribute meaningfully.
Suspend judgement.Approach every exchange as an equal partner; not a disruptor.
Experience the unexpected!True conversation invites surprises. Enjoy where your child leads you.
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Introduction to this episode
00:00:05 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents
00:00:21 Choosing Auditory-Verbal Therapy for your deaf or hard of hearing child
00:00:27 Early identification and the fitting of early and optimal amplification.
00:01:00 AVT facilitates age-appropriate development
00:01:17 Abundant choices open up through AVT
00:01:51 A life free of limitations
00:02:00 Show notes, Top tips and Time Stamps
00:02:10 Links and contact details
00:02:17 Resources on this topic
00:02:19 Auditory-Verbal Techniques
00:02:39 Auditory-Verbal Techniques: Sabotage
00:03:03 Modelling
00:03:33 Quick review of the highlights of Episode 5.
00:04:09 Introducing the topic
00:04:25 Introducing our guest in this episode: Sheena Kurian
00:04:53 Engaging your child in conversation
00:05:19 What constitutes a Conversation
00:05:43 Conversation is spontaneous
00:06:05 Content
00:06:22 Interruption and correction
00:06:39 Modelling
00:07:27 Keeping the conversation going
00:07:57 Do daily routines constitute Conversation?
00:08:06 Transactional Vs heart-to-heart exchanges
00:08:49 Conversation starters
00:09:31 Conversation is not a lesson
00:10:08 Conversations have no agenda.
00:10:28 How to stay spontaneous
00:11:13 Captivating your child’s imagination
00:12:20 Adopting an open ended style of engagement
00:13:05 Listen for intent
00:14:52 Introducing our second guest: Ratnaa Binu
00:14:28 Suspend criticism
00:15:17 Living the moment together with your child
00:18:27 Achieving the unexpected
00:19:00 Thought for reflection
00:19:47 Our next episode: The Magic of the Wait Cue
🔗 Links:
💬 Submit your question to the show: https://www.soundsteps.uk/podcast-ask-question/👩⚕️ Face-to-face AVT with Shefali Shah (London): https://soundsteps.uk🌐 Online AVT sessions available via AVT Direct: https://avtdirect.com🎓 Train online as an LSL professional in AVT: https://learnavt.com📧 Contact Shefali directly: [email protected]
📘 Resources:
Estabrooks, W., Morrison, H., and MacIver-Lux, (2020). Auditory-Verbal Therapy: Science, Research and Practice, Plural Publishing.Suskind, D. (2015),Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain, Dutton.
Websites:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/videos/how-to-5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/ (2019)
Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University). “Serve and Return.” https://developingchild.harvard.edu
