|
Play Article
|
When you think of speech therapy, images of smiling children learning to say “ah-ha” and “bee-hive” together probably come to mind. But researchers now believe that early exposure to speech may be more important than what kind of words the child hears at first. In other words, speech therapy works when it’s done right. In most cases, listening to your child speak will make them feel more centered and connected.
It will also help you better understand how your child is feeling. This article will discuss several types of speech therapy that target specific areas in toddlers’ speech development. We’ll also discuss evidence-based recommendations for different methods. For example, this article might interest you if you are looking for ways to help your toddler cry inconsolably at night.
Why is speech therapy essential in toddlers?
While kids may differ in how they learn the language, most will show an “in” with words when they’re young. This means they’re already “read” them as language and don’t need additional instruction. However, some children will be slower than others. They may need more practice or more time to grasp the concept of language fully.
For example, if your child is a late talker, you should take it seriously and take action immediately. Most late talkers kids will catch up with their peers in the long run. However, if your child doesn’t seem to make progress after six months of speech therapy, you may want to consider other options. For example, if your child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), they must receive the correct type of therapy early.
Speech therapy is often one of the first interventions recommended for children with ASD because it can help them learn how to communicate with others better and even reduce their anxiety levels. According to Autism Speaks, “As children with autism grow and mature, they may require different support services as they move into different stages of life.” In addition to speech therapy during toddler years, many children will also receive occupational treatments and physical therapies during other stages in life, as well as play therapy when they become older kids and adolescents.
What do kids need in speech therapy?
Children need to practice saying words to identify letters, numbers, and symbols. But they also need to practice saying words in context. And they also need to practice understanding what other people are saying.
These skills can help them build better relationships with other people. For example, if your child is learning to speak and you don’t understand what they are saying, they can ask a parent or caregiver to tell the story. This can help your child get a “bigger picture” of what’s happening in the world around them and help you understand them better.
How can parents benefit from speech therapy?
It’s easy to benefit from speech therapy if you are a parent. Many of the techniques and tools used by speech therapists are especially helpful when working with young children. After all, it’s human nature for kids to “forget” things, mainly if they’ve been “forgotten” by other kids.
So having a way to remind your child of what happened during certain events in your life can help them remember what happened and respond appropriately.
Additionally, doing speech therapy can improve your child’s self-esteem. You can identify and appreciate what your child feels by increasing their self-awareness. This can also help your child feel more confident in themself.
How speech therapy helps their education
One of the most important things you can do for your toddler’s education is to encourage speak-based communication. Even if you don’t want your toddler to talk “exclusively,” encourage your child to use language related to what they are talking about. In effect, you are promoting your child to share their thoughts, feelings, and actions with others. Using related words or phrases, you are helping your toddler “translate” what they are trying to convey to other people.
Should you do speech therapy for your toddler?
It’s hard to know what to do for your toddler when they are only three months old. But there are certain things you can do. It’s also important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to speech therapy. Most kids will need to combine talking, reading, and writing to be effective. So you should essentially follow your child’s lead and make different choices based on what they prefer to do. For example, your child may choose to do words and number words with you, while others may like to do words with others.
Research on Speech Therapy for Infants and Toddlers
The field of speech therapy continues to grow. As more researchers understand how children acquire language, they discover new techniques and ways to apply them in their lifetimes. As a result, a growing body of research on how language and communication are crucial to human development. The results of such studies are currently being published in the peer-reviewed journal of Behavioral Neurology.
Conclusion
We hope this article has shown you that speech therapy is a great way to help your toddler learn to talk. The techniques you know can help you improve your speech and that of your toddler. It is important to remember that language is a learned behavior, and it is essential to practice it as often as you can. If you have not begun to practice speaking to your toddler yet, don’t worry. There are ways to help your toddler start practicing.
Follow these steps: Start by talking to your toddler about everything they want to do. Then, talk about what they can do if they’re going to. Finally, say “yes” to everything your toddler wants to do, no matter your child’s age. When your toddler starts to talk, don’t just assume that they know how to do everything. Make sure that you have helped your child develop their speech and that they are comfortable saying the things they want. The more you practice speaking, the easier it will be for your toddler to learn. And the easier it will be for you too.
