In this article, you will find helpful tips to help parents eliminate the causes of speech delay.
When parents bring their child for a physical examination at a year and a half, the pediatrician asks what words he is already saying. It can be embarrassing for parents to admit that a child is not speaking yet.
Doctors recommend checking the development of the child’s speech at this age and re-checking after six months.
However, many healthy children experience a delay, and this happens for various reasons. In most cases, after a short period of time, the child begins to speak. However, if this has not yet happened, parents can use several methods to help the child speak.
Speech delay can be caused by many factors related to the child’s health and environment. This is often associated with hearing problems. Many parents do not realize that a child has any kind of hearing impairment until they notice a speech delay.
In other cases, infections or fluid buildup in the ear canal can cause temporary hearing loss, and the child hears all sounds muffled. By correcting hearing problems, you will help your child develop speech.
In many cases, the child is simply not interested in or does not feel the need to speak. If he communicates successfully through gestures or head nods, he doesn’t make any extra effort to start talking.
The younger children in the family often start talking later than the older ones. Older brothers or sisters understand their signs well, so they are comfortable even without speech skills.
In some cases, speech delay may be a sign of impaired mental, social or emotional development. Therefore, it is important that the child is under the supervision of a doctor in order to identify developmental gaps.
Whatever the reason, there are simple ways to help a late-speaking child develop speech. These are simple activities that parents can do with their child at home.
Use them in turn. If a particular method works, keep using it and add new methods. If the method does not work for several weeks, try something else, but do not put pressure on the child.
Use positive reinforcement and always praise your child for their efforts to learn language.
Read books with your child
Reading with a child is beneficial for him regardless of age and whether he suffers from any disorders or developmental delays. Babies and preschoolers probably won’t hold their attention for long on each page. They may even push you to turn the page faster. At this stage, your task is not to read the entire book with the child, but to create in him an interest in reading and encourage him to comment on the book’s story.
If the child points a finger at a picture, name what is drawn on it: “Ball! You found the ball!” or “Cow, moo-moo.” Don’t force your child to read if he doesn’t want to, but he should always have picture books at hand.
Sing along
The songs evoke memories of the events and the emotions associated with them. Remember any song from your childhood and you will immediately remember the pictures of those times. There are many educational children’s songs that name body parts, animal names, etc.
Sing them along with your child – this will help him remember new words.
For example, when you sing a song about body parts, touch your head, nose, hands, etc. Then have the child point out where the head or hand is. Encourage the child, but first ask him to repeat the words he just heard in the song.
You can include songs on a CD or video for your child, but it is best if you yourself sing to him. It does not matter to the child how good your vocal abilities are – he will appreciate the fact that you devote time to him and will remember the words better.
Tell your child what you are doing
Describe to your child all your actions: “Mom is cooking dinner”, “Mom is eating a red apple, it is juicy and tasty.” You can also tell the child about what he is doing: “Oh, you fell”, “You are swimming”, etc.
Such conversations with the child should occur naturally. You don’t have to tell your child all day what you’re doing. If the child is playing, do not distract him.
This strategy aims to give him more information about the words and names of objects and actions. When in doubt, let your child take the lead. If he is busy with a toy – do not interfere with him, just talk together about it.
Set your word of the day
Choose a word and repeat it often throughout the day (of course, in context). Short simple words or names are best suited for this (for example: “water”, “ball”, “cat” or the names of family members). As you say the word, repeat it several times and maintain eye contact with your child as you speak.
Gently motivate the child to repeat the learned words. For example, if you are holding a ball and the child asks for the ball, pretend you don’t understand. This will make him speak. If within a minute the child does not name the word or gets upset, give him the ball and let him play on.
Collect puzzles
Puzzles and strategy games teach the child to solve problems. Puzzles by themselves do not contribute to the development of speech, but they make the brain work in a different way.
When assembling the puzzle, talk to the child and think out loud: “This element does not fit here, you probably need to turn it.” If the puzzle picture has letters, words, images of animals or objects, name them when you complete the puzzle.
Imitate animal sounds
Imitating sounds from nature is often the first step in learning to speak. Many children say “moo”, “woof”, “meow” before they say their first words (“mom”, “dad”, etc.). They also imitate the sounds of a car, train, etc.
If your child takes time to start talking, start with nature sounds. Read books about animals to your child. If you have a pet, repeat the sounds after it and invite your child to do the same. If possible, take your child to the zoo – there you can see more animals and hear their sounds.
Motivate your child to play with children who speak well
Sometimes children learn better from their peers. That is why many late-speaking children start talking when they go to kindergarten or school. If you have friends who have children the same age as your child, go to the playground together. If the child has an older brother or sister, encourage them to play with their younger sibling.
Ask your child questions that require detailed answers
Many children with speech delays communicate with nods or head shakes. They realized that this was enough to answer questions and satisfy their needs. Sometimes parents have to show a child a few items, and he, with a nod or a shake of his head, makes it clear what exactly he needs. Instead, ask him to say at least the first few sounds of the name of the item he wants.
Sooner or later, most children begin to speak and catch up with their peers in the development of speech. If by the age of one and a half years your child does not speak at all, consult a speech therapist.
However, after the age of two, children usually start talking. Use the strategies discussed above – and you can help your child to develop his speech and language skills.