| SolveYourProblem
eLearning Series: Learning Disabilities
The Bottom Line On Learning Disabilities
( 50 articles in this series )
How
To Increase a
Child’s Speech and Language Progress
As soon as a baby begins to coo, the doting
parents are anticipating those first words. You talk to them
every chance you get and hope they will start to talk. Once
you hear those magic words start to appear from your baby’s
lips, it’s as if a miracle has happened. For many parents this
is also a very stressful time if their baby doesn’t seem so
eager to say anything. Most pediatricians will tell
you a baby will talk when they are ready. But what about the child who
is no longer a baby, who still isn’t talking or talking as
well as his or her peers. This can be very concerning for parents.
Remember that children do have their own agenda and it is not
always a problem. You also have to take into consideration
that each milestone is based on skill level and not age. There
are age ranges for children’s process in language and speech.
Children will also plateau in their speech development from
time to time as they grow in other areas.
Out
of all children under the age of three, 5-10% have some
delay in their talking abilities. This does not mean that they
will stay delayed or even have a problem at all. Possible signs
of a speech or language delay in children less than three years
old vary and may not be an indication of anything at all. Keep
an eye out if your child is not making sounds or they are very
muffled or opaque. This could indicate a hearing problem or
issue with the facial muscles. If your child is not understanding
directions, no matter how simple or taking an overly long time
to process the information an issue with receptive language
could be the problem. The most common indicator of a speech
or language problem is the child is unable to speak in two-word
sentences. This child will most likely communicate by pointing
or other types of nonverbal expression. The simple request
for a toy, drink, or food is a game of charades. This could
indicate a problem with expressive language.
If you truly believe your child has a speech or language issue,
take him or her to the pediatrician. They will test your child’s
hearing first and if there is no problem there then they will
refer you to a speech pathologist. The parents giving correct
and accurate information is crucial for making a correct diagnosis.
Make sure you keep track of the words your child can say correctly,
if any, and words that are not said appropriately. The speech
pathologist will play games and observe your child in a playful
social setting to access his or her communication skills. They
will give you their diagnosis and a plan to improve the child’s
speech and language skills. The criteria that the speech pathologist
gives you for your child’s specific needs is crucial for their
development. It may be something that will be ongoing or just
until the catch up now that the problem has been fixed.
If you just want to up your child’s speech and language skills
and there are no problems there are several things
you can do. Most importantly, talk with your child not at them. When
you are speaking to your child no matter how old, remember
to ask them questions and talk with them. This will show them
what dialogue is and communication. Play and laugh with your
child, use your imagination and make up things. This will stimulate
their brain and help better development. Reading is one of
the most fundamental keys to improving a child’s speech and
language skills. When you read to a child they must perceive
what you are saying and be able to comment if you ask questions.
They will hear new words and broaden their vocabulary. Interact
with your child when reading. Act out the story together as
you read it. Ask the child to help recite favorite lines. This
will enhance their verbal and nonverbal skills. The more you
interact with your child and speak to them often the better
their language skills will get. Giving your child the best
possible start in life is the greatest gift you can give them.
# # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Learning
Disability
Articles : Main Page
|
