7: The Magic of the Wait Cue

Welcome to The Sound Steps Podcast: Conversations in Auditory-Verbal Therapy - exploring the transformative power of listening to develop fluent spoken language, conversational competence, clear speech, and age-appropriate development in children who are deaf or hard of hearing, one sound step at a time. Communication is more than an exchange: it is a relationship. In Auditory-Verbal Therapy, this relationship is intentional: something we seed, nurture, and keep working at. In this seventh episode, Shefali Shah is joined by Nicole Glazebrook: a dedicated and creative professional from her online Learn AVT course, in a deep and insightful conversation about one of the most deceptively simple yet impactful AVT techniques: the Wait Cue. Together, they explore how waiting, not rushing to fill the silence, creates the space young children need to process language, plan their response, and take ownership of their contribution to the conversation. The Wait Cue fosters trust, stimulates spontaneous language, and builds new cognitive connections. It also aligns beautifully with the OWL Strategy from the Hanen Centre — Observe, Wait, and Listen: a powerful approach to child-led communication and experience-based learning. This is The Sound Steps Podcast. 🎯Top Tips from Episode 7 Waiting creates space. Children need time to process what was said and to design a response. Don’t rush to fill the silence. Waiting builds trust and connection. When we pause with intention, we invite our child to contribute: as a partner, not a passive learner. The OWL Strategy is rooted in waiting. Observe, Wait, and Listen (Hanen Centre) aligns beautifully with AVT and strengthens child-led interaction. Waiting facilitates self-regulation. Giving time helps children reflect, formulate a meaningful response and monitor how they deliver it. Trust. Listen. Reflect. These are the pillars of interaction and the heart of language learning. Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Introduction to this episode 00:01:26 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents 00:01:35 Choosing Auditory-Verbal Therapy for your deaf or hard of hearing child 00:02:17 AVT facilitates age-appropriate development 00:02:35 Abundant choices open up through AVT 00:03:02 Early identification and the fitting of early and optimal amplification. 00:03:12 A life free of limitations 00:03:20 Show notes, Top tips and Time Stamps 00:03:30 Links and contact details 00:03:35 Resources on this topic 00:03:57 AV Techniques: Sabotage 00:04:10AV Technique: The Wait Cue 00:05:06 Introducing our guest on this episode: Nicole Glazebrook 00:05:00 Introducing the Wait Cue 00:07:22 Waiting creates Space to process what was said 00:07:36 Takes reflection in order to practice 00:09:07 Waiting facilitates more initiation and participation from the child 00:09:56 Acknowledging that one doesn’t have answers 00:10:15 Becoming a good listener 00:10:47Allows time to observe 00:11:13 Comfortable with and in silence 00:11:29 Creates the Silence and Space for the child to figure things out for herself 00:12:37 Establishes trust 00:13:10 A deliberate Wait 00:13:50 The give-and-take of Waiting 00:14:52Releases pressure 00:15:15 Waiting is a deliberate slowing down of pace 00:16:38 Takes experience and confidence to practice 00:16:58 It’s okay not to have understood 00:17:20 The Hanen Centre: The OWL Strategy 00:19:10 Facilitates self-regulation 00:21:15 A comprehensive technique 00:21:27 Auditory-Verbal Therapy is a relationship 00:22:23 Reflection 00:22:54 Our next episode: Living the Targets Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 💬 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: [e-mail] 📘 Resources: Estabrooks, W., Morrison, H. M., & MacIver‑Lux, K. (2020). Auditory‑Verbal Therapy: Science, Research & Practice (1st ed.). Plural Publishing.Manolson, A. (1992). It Takes Two to Talk: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children Communicate. Hanen Centre.The Hanen Center, (2024),Waiting: The Key to Supporting Your Child’s Communication https://www.hanen.org/information-tips/waiting-the-key-to-supporting-your-childs-communication