When children exhibit issues related to speech, it is quite normal for the parents to worry. If you are also a parent worrying about the well-being of your child then the first thing you should consider doing is to find a speech therapist near you. They can assist you in helping your child with workable strategies that are easily manageable and effective. The design of the activities in speech therapy for kids may help encourage them to overcome their shortcomings and achieve milestones.
Define Speech Therapy
Speech therapy is a technique that effectively helps in addressing disorders and delays related to.
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Language both receptive and expressive
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Oral motor dysfunction,
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Fluency
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Cognitive skills
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Articulation
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Speech apraxia
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Social language
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Feeding
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Swallowing
The professionals will assess the child and closely monitor the behavior of the child before recommending any therapy. The goal of the therapists is to develop a customized therapy that will help the child overcome the speech and language disorder.
How to know if my child requires speech therapy or not?
There are various classifications of speech disorders. A child may have to go for speech therapy for the following reasons:
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Incorrect pronunciation of words
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Stuttering
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Quality of speech
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Issues with pitch and volume
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Issues with understanding words
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Issues with grasping the meaning
In addition, some children find difficulty in using language the appropriate way or putting words together. Or maybe, the child finds it difficult to chew, swallow, or even cough. Also, is a child has speech impairment due to an accident, injury, or illness, then speech therapy is a must.
There are numerous reasons which indicate why a child may require speech therapy. Hence if you find your child lagging, with a delay in developmental milestones, then speech therapy, be it intensive or ongoing, will be beneficial for them.
Benefits of speech therapy for kids
Timely medical intervention can prove to be greatly beneficial for your kids. Identifying the level of the disorder with the help of a speech and language pathologist is half the battle won. The next step is customizing a unique therapy that will focus on improving the shortcomings of the child. It will help improve their communication skills encouraging them to express their feelings and thoughts.
In addition, it will also help them comprehend what others are saying and at the same time enable them to speak in such a manner that others will understand. This way, the child will be able to keep up with their peers in school. At the same time, it will also boost their self-esteem and independence. The following are additional benefits of speech therapy:
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Improvement in communication
Most people misconceive speech and language therapy as limited to just speech However, it is much more than just speech and that includes language also. The therapy provides children with a way of communication that may be aided or unaided.
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Improves social skills
One of the key aspects of speech therapy is the improvement of social skills. One with limited social skills, or zero functional speech may experience a delay in pragmatic language skills. To rectify the disorder, there are various tools and strategies including role-playing, video modeling, social stories, specific therapy apps, and many more.
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Reading skills
Delay in speech often causes reading, writing, and listening issues. However, improving communication skills, literacy skills, and reading can be helpful. The ability to spell will enable the child to communicate without restriction. Hence, familiarizing the child with these skills can greatly help in improving the communication skills of the child.
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Alternative communication aids
There are various other means of communication such as sign language, vocalizations, approximations, gestures, etc. We also communicate through,
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Facial expressions
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Eye contact
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Typing
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Writing
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Gestures
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Speech
Besides the use of aided communication, teaching other means of communication is also beneficial for the child. As a specialist, parents, and teachers, pay close attention to the child when they speak. If they use a specific sound consistently then you can make the sound meaningful by relating it with a word.
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Reduce stress and frustrations
With the help of special exercises, speech therapy focuses on improving the speech of the child so that they can communicate confidently and with ease. Exercises for improving speech include imitating the therapist and repeating sounds.
What to expect at the speech therapy session?
In a session, depending on the severity of the disorder, the child may be treated in a group or one-to-one. There are various language activities incorporated into the session. Some of the activities are using repetition, talking, playing, and picture books that will be helpful in their language skills.
Another important exercise for speech therapy is sound. The therapist will familiarize the child with the sounds of the letters and words and go over and over again. This will help the child to know how to make sounds and say words. The therapist will also demonstrate the movement of the tongue while pronouncing the words.
At times, speech therapy may also include feeding and swallowing. To strengthen the jaw, the therapist might also include massaging the face, and exercises for the tongue, jaw, and lip as well in the session.
In addition, different foods with different textures and different temperatures are also introduced to educate the child of various sensations. However, this therapy is specifically meant for those children suffering from swallowing difficulties.
Speech therapy at home
You can also consider at-home speech therapy. If your child is going through mild delays and just articulation errors and are not easily frustrated then at home therapy may be helpful. However, you must know your limitations. If you find your child is not progressing and regressing in speech it is best to consult with a licensed speech therapist.