Developing speech skills
Developing speech skills
Setbacks in speech development among toddlers and preschool children are very common. Early screening can detect and often help correct the problems before the child starts school.
By Kelly Kaiser Borning, MS, OTR/L
Speech concerns are the most common issue cited when parents request a developmental screening for their child. This is one of the easiest things for parents to recognize when their child is delayed – the child simply is not talking as much as other children the same age, or has obvious mispronunciations of words or sounds that most other children of the same age are able to pronounce. While I am not a speech and language therapist, I work closely with them when delivering therapy to children, and because areas of our fields overlap, we share common techniques to bring out the best in the children we serve.
First of all, if you believe your child has problems in these areas, it is best to have him/her screened through your local child developmental center. Screenings are free, as are services if your child qualifies. Even if you believe your child is developing normally, it is still good to have him/her screened at least once before the age of two, and then again before kindergarten. The good news is that if there are delays (in speech or other areas), if they are caught early, they are much easier to remediate (or fix) than if they are caught too late!
There are things you can do to foster your child’s speech skills even without therapists. Read to your child early and often. When children are young, simply going through books and labeling pictures (point to a dog and say ''dog'') is helpful. When children are old enough to attend to a story, go ahead and read the books. Start with simple books (not too many words on a page at first) and progress as your child is ready. Reading to your child several times every day is very helpful to foster their speech and cognitive development.
Another strategy to help children develop their speech is to imitate them. When young babies (and older ones) begin to make sounds, repeat their sounds back to them. This reinforces what they are doing, and often encourages them to continue ''talking.'' When you are around the house or running errands, label things in their environment (such as at the grocery store, point out the fruits they may like (''banana'') and say the word while showing them the item).
Finally, using sign language (for those of you who are up to the challenge) has been shown to foster development of speech. Parents are often concerned that this will delay speech, however, simple sign language actually helps develop speech. Children do not have the mouth and tongue control to speak at an early age, but they often understand what you are saying, and often will point or grunt to let you know they want something. They are able to use sign language before words most of the time, and can communicate with parents much better when given this option – and parents have a much easier time because they understand what their little one is asking for! My son first signed ''more'' to get more food when he was 8 months old. I will often show him the gesture, and then hold his hands to do the gesture with him. Eventually, they get it on their own!
Speech is one of the most important parts of a child’s development! It affects all areas of a child’s (and everyone’s) life. Being able to communicate needs and wants ensures personal safety, social skills, and learning overall. You can never start too early!
Kelly Kaiser Borning is a licenced Occupational Therapist working in a pre-school setting.
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