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Trouble
Speaking?
- Maya Madan Sanghi
A few children have trouble speaking,
and some may not start even after they turn 2! Why does this happen? Try
and figure out the reason. It is important you analyse a few of your observations
before you take steps to tackle the situation.
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Does your child understand simple commands
and instructions without the use of gestures? By the age of two, children
can comprehend a large number of words and simple commands. Remember -
every child's comprehension of spoken language far exceeds his own expression
(meaningful speech). Speech has no meaning without language.
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Does your child respond to other environmental
sounds?
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If the answer to the first two questions
is YES, then do you feel her problem is restricted to formulating words
and sentences?
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Is she using a lot of gestures to express
herself?
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Did your child learn to sit, stand and
walk at the appropriate age? This may give you a clue as to whether the
delay in speaking is due to an overall delay or restricted to speech.
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Most importantly, are you and your spouse
spending enough time interacting with your child?
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Is your child being exposed to heated
arguments in the family most of the time?
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Is someone or the other in the family
trying to speak for the child frequently?
Once you have observed the above
points, perhaps you can figure out whether you need to consult a Speech-Language
Pathologist. Before you do that, you could try out these tactics.
Keep Talking
Speak to your child in simple sentences
about whatever is happening around her. If you are going for a drive, keep
pointing out various things to her. Say things like "Isn't it big?" and
"Now we've stopped because the light has turned red." It is always a good
practice to take the child for a visit to places like the zoo, circus,
beach, garden. Places that are highly stimulating for language. It doesn't
matter if she's not yet reached the age where she will be able to grasp
all you say. What matters is that in this manner you are slowly increasing
her familiarity with the language.
Concrete Words
Begin with short, easy to say words
that are quite concrete. Nouns and then verbs are usually the preferred
words to begin with as these are concrete, the child can easily see them,
feel them and hear them. You may then proceed to the more abstract words.
Go Slow
When speaking to your child, speak
at a slow rate using pauses at appropriate junctures.
Consistency
There should be consistency in the
formulation of your sentences for the same concepts or descriptions, from
day to day.
Example: Wish your child good morning
every day, and good night every night before she turns in. This will help
her form associations.
Do not Speak for
the Child
Discourage others from speaking for
the child when she is trying to get the right word and articulate it. Give
her time, say a few seconds and if she dos not succeed, only then say the
word for her.
Good Listener
Pay close attention to what the child
is trying to communicate and verbalise it for her.
Do not correct the child's efforts
to speak Just imitate correctly what the child said incorrectly. This means
you are just making her listen to the right words/sentences (as the case
may be) for the concept she is trying to convey
Read out Loud
Read to your child often, from a
storybook. In fact, make it a point to read out at least one story daily.
Use well illustrated storybooks to tell her simple stories.
Nursery Rhymes
Teach her nursery rhymes. Keep reciting
them often and keep the same tape keep playing in the background whenever
possible, so she gets familiar with a few rhymes. Expose her to actions
corresponding with the rhymes. This will make learning them all the more
fun. Encourage her to imitate your actions while you say the rhymes.
One Language
If you feel your child still has
difficulty grasping the language, speak to her in one language only, for
the time being. Make sure your other family members do the same.
Plan the Activities
Plan activities that are appropriate,
creative, flexible, and enjoyable. Remember - "Play" rather than " work
" with your child.
Ensure Good Parenting
Provide for the child's psychological,
emotional and physical needs. Try to minimise family upheaval and emotional
stress. The child needs to be exposed to pleasant verbal interactions most
of the day.
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