Child development is a tricky thing, and no two children develop at the same rate and time. Some grow faster and some slower. Some start walking before their first birthday, while others can take a few months more. The same goes with speech. Children start talking at different times, and sometimes they can even seem to have a “pause” in their speech development. Moms are always paying attention to make sure that their speech is on track and they are quick to notice if something doesn’t seem right.
If mom is worried that her child is not speaking she may bring it up at one of her child’s wellness visits with the family doctor. If the doctor is also concerned, she may recommend and send a referral for speech therapy. This can sound concerning to mom, but with this simple guide to speech therapy, mom can see that it is just another resource that mom can use to help her child grow.
What Is Speech Therapy?
In the simplest terms, speech therapy is a place where communication problems and possible speech disorders are assessed and treated, according to Healthline. The assessment and possible treatment will be done by speech-language pathologists. These professionals are more often referred to as speech therapists.
Speech therapy is not something to feel ashamed or guilty about and it has become increasingly more common. As the world learns more about how language works and develops, they are not only able to recognize when a child needs help but how they can help them.
Why Would A Child Need Speech Therapy?
There are many reasons why children may need to see a speech therapist, and most of them are due to health reasons beyond anyone’s control. According to Kids Health, a child who has a hearing impairment will benefit from speech therapy, as they do not know how to form words and project their voice when they can not hear.
Children who have cognitive or developmental delays may also benefit from some help in how to communicate and express themselves verbally. Children who were born with a cleft lip or cleft palate may also require speech therapy. Chances are if your child is diagnosed with any of these issues, you will be aware that speech therapy may be in your future.
What Happens In Speech Therapy?
If your child needs speech therapy, you maybe wondering what will happen when your child is there. What type of things they will be doing, and how it will improve their language. According to Speech Buddy, there are a range of different activities that will go on in speech therapy, and it may be different for each child to cater to their specific needs.
One of the things that may happen is different language activities. They use a play-based approach and will use pictures, books, objects or even events to try and stimulate the develop of language. Repetition is going to be key when it comes to teaching a child a new skill. They will also focus a lot on pronunciation. It is not just about saying words, but learning how to say them. Children who have oral issues may need help with this area.
It takes a lot more than saying the words to communicate, and children need to learn how to make sounds and while it seems to happen naturally for a lot of people, it can be hard for some children and the therapist will work on helping them make proper sounds and articulating their words properly.
Some children who need speech therapy also have issues with chewing and swallowing, and if your child struggles with this they will receive help in this area as well. Speech therapists know a wide range of tongue, lip and jaw exercises that can help to strengthen the muscles in the mouth. They may also work with different textures to help your child learn to swallow. Through all of this, a speech therapist can give mom an expected timeline of how long they feel their child will need speech therapy. It is also a great idea to ask the therapist if there are things mom can do at home to work with their child in between visits.
Sources: Speech Buddy, KidsHealth, Healthline