Helping Children Cope with Speech Delays

At times we come across parents who are quite obsessed with the milestones that are attained by our children. As they wait eagerly for the next bog milestone, they seem to get some rude shocks when the expected moment of celebration gets delayed. The first word uttered calls for a memorable event, but there can be some unfortunate conditions that delay the speech development in the child. It is not that the child is not at all taking, but the fact is that his talking does not make much sense or is extremely unclear.

First it is important to understand that every child develops at his own pace and they must never be rushed into something that they are not prepared for. Parents must make it a point to always encourage natural development at a pace that the child is comfortable in. at times some children can be found to do good with a little bit of aid and the speech development journey becomes a smooth ride.

Easy Ways to Propel a Delayed Speech Development:

Have a quick look at the ways to propel a delayed speech development.

Read Out

Read out a lot to your child. This is a very basic way of treatment and the results can be pretty amazing. Extensive reading to a child affected by delayed speech will show that the child is making remarkable progress in his attempt to speak. Always be expressive while you read; the child is keen observer and a great imitator. As you read out, make it an interactive session. This will make the child to participate in the talk and he will automatically feel inclined to speak out his thoughts. As you ask questions be friendly and encourage him to respond. He will not only enjoy it but improve as well.

Sing to Your Child

This follows from the first point but is different as the natural rhythm of the songs catches the attention of children very fast. They feel naturally inclined to listen and participate which you must encourage. Involve them as you sing a song repeatedly and after a while sing by leaving a few blanks as you ask them to fill them up. This will be an enjoyable game for the child and aid his memory power too.

Repeat the Words

Repetition is a great way to improve a child’s delayed speech. The child clearly understands what you are saying and is prone to respond actively. It also works when there is an over-exaggeration on certain words. You need to do this intentionally as it will help them catch and repeat the sounds that might be a bit difficult for them.

Associate

Start by labeling words with pictures. Maybe the child’s initial attempts in speaking about objects are very unclear. As you label the everyday objects that he uses, tell him to speak them out when he wants a certain object. The recognition faculty of the children is very fast. Speak slowly and as you post pictures like candies, cakes or toys, you will find him talking readily.

Games

These are actually exercises that aid the development of the muscles around the mouth. Most of the times when children suffer from speech delays are found to have mouth muscles that are not enough developed to let out words starting with certain letters. So play with your child and buy him toys that require him to blow bubbles, whistle or the flutes.

So no point in getting alarmed, but just be a keen observer so that each abnormality is diagnosed early and you will soon find the child to regale in engaging conversations with every member of the family.