WAIT…WHAT?! with an EXPECTANT LOOK

By Pauline, Speech Pathologist

Since we started telehealth sessions, I often hear many parents providing the answers in the background.

Working with children with speech and language delays require substantial patience. This patience is WAITING a bit longer than usual.  Children benefit from waiting a little longer to allow them to process the information.  Increased wait times with expectant looks is a strong way to help a child respond to questions on his or her own.  After asking a question, don’t repeat right away, ask different questions, don’t answer for the child, tell the child what to say, comment such as “You know that!”.  It only delays the process or frustrates the child.  You are sending the message that he/she is taking way too much time to answer.  It’s also interrupts their thinking process and hinders their ability to be independent.

As speech pathologists, we want to know what the child is capable of doing on his/her own, what level the child is performing at, and what support, cues or strategies works best for the child to come up with his/her own response.

How much time is enough time?

After asking your child a question, count 5-10 seconds silently  in your head (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10).  Yes, it may feel like a long time.

Pair the wait time with a visual cue:

-Point to the screen

-Point to your forehead (i.e., you are thinking about it)

-Place your hand on your chin in a thinking pose

Here are some things you can do while you wait:

-Take a drink of water

-organize the desk area

-repeat the question to yourself at least one time

-take a few deep breaths

If after waiting for 5-10 seconds, you do not get a response, you can:
— Repeat the question
— Rephrase the question
— Make the question less complex
— Give your child a forced choice (e.g., “Do you think it is —- or —–.”)
— Provide a sound cue (e.g., It starts with a ‘P’ sound)
— Provide a sentence completion cue (e.g., “You eat with a fork; You cut with a ——“?)

Consider the two scenarios below:

Scenario #1

Speech Pathologist: Laura, have you ever gone to the zoo? (waits with an expectant look silently counting 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and pointing to forehead).

Laura: We saw tigers.

Speech Pathologist: Wow, I love tigers! (more wait time with an expectant look focusing on Laura with hand on forehead).

Laura: We saw zebras and giraffes too.

-In the above scenario, Laura was provided with more time and expectant look along with a visual cue pointing to forehead to formulate and come up with her own response about her visit to the zoo.  She was processing the information and going through her visit in her head and thought of the animals.  Given Laura more time allowed her to continue the conversation.

Scenario #2

Speech Pathologist: Laura, have you ever gone to the zoo? ( waiting with an expectant look silently counting 1,2,).

Parent: Laura, remember we went to the zoo on your birthday? ( Answers for Laura).

Laura: Looks at parent.

Parent: We went with grandma and you really liked the tigers (Laura is silent).

Parent: Do you remember? We saw zebras and giraffes too. (still answering for Laura)

Laura: (Talking to her parent) Yes.

In the above scenario, Laura left the conversation with the Speech Pathologist and turned her attention to her parent.