11: Does my child understand

Not understanding is not a calamity!In this eleventh episode: Does my deaf child understand?, Shefali Shah in conversation with families in her in-person therapy sessions in the UK and India, guides them to offer simple, clear explanations to their child for information they did not understand, without asking test questions, interrupting or simplifying content. These break the flow of interaction and dilute meaning. Instead, Shefali guides them to observe, listen, and believe.Engage completely with your child so that whatever you’re doing together feels relevant, meaningful, and engaging. With optimal amplification and early intervention, trust that your child is listening and then lean into that trust.Your child will let you know when something isn’t clear. This builds connection and genuine understanding.This is The Sound Steps Podcast.🎧 Top Tips from Episode 11 Connect with  your child. Does your child  relate to what you are talking about, playing, reading or doing together? Engage your child. If your child stays engaged, she is likely understanding. Talk through the day about what your child is about to do. Keep content meaningful. Relevance supports attention and recall. Trust that your baby is listening. Assumes that your child is optimally amplified. Explain clearly. Explain to your child what she doesn’t understand or has not understood. Observe closely. Watch for cues —your child will let you know if she hasn’t understood. Test questions and interruptions disrupt engagement. These break engagement and focus—and can obstruct understanding. Do not simplify excessively. Enrich with new language in meaningful contexts—not watered-down versions. Time Stamps:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:2090% of deaf children are born to hearing parents00:01:30 Choosing Auditory-Verbal Therapy for your deaf or hard of hearing child00:02:10 AVT facilitates age-appropriate development00:02:33 Abundant choices open up through AVT00:02:58 Early identification and the fitting of early and optimal amplification.00:03:10 A life free of limitations00:03:15 Show notes, Top tips and Time Stamps00:03:25 Links and contact details00:03:31 Introducing and thanking our guests on this episode: Rebecca Rajkumar00:04:38 Why would your child not understand?00:05:11 Connect to your child00:05:37 Ask: Does this interest your child?00:06:27 Engaging your child00:07:40 Talk through the day about what your child is about to do00:08:07 Stay relevant00:07:28 Children let us know when they don’t understand 00:08:26 Observation and recognition of engagement00:09:48 Optimal amplification00:10:03 The Speech String Bean00:10:19 Detect and comprehend soft conversation00:10:24 Detect and comprehend conversation at a distance00:10:26 Listening in noise00:11:16 Trust that your baby is listening 00:11:32  The OWL Strategy (Hanen Centre)00:12:12 Do not test your child00:12:26 Interruptions00:13:28 Blurring auditory memory00:14:40 Not understanding is not a calamity!00:15:54 Suspend doubt00:16:51 Explaining00:17:27 Do not dilute your message!00:20:18 Reflection00:20:46 Our next episode: My deaf child isn’t talking.Resources: 💬 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: Supporting Language ComprehensionCole, E. B., & Flexer, C. (2019). Children with hearing loss: Developing listening and talking birth to six, 4thed. San Diego: Plural Publishing. Madell, J., Flexer C., Schafer E., and Wolfe J., (2019), Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology and Management, 3rd Edition, Thieme, NY.Madell, J. R. (2015), The Speech String Bean, Hearing Health and Technology Matters.Madell, J. R. (2012) Speech Perception -The Basics, Hearing Health and Technology Matters. https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearing-and-kids/2012/speech-perception-the-basics/