3 Ways To Help A Child With Delayed Speech Development
If your child has a speech delay or a speech disorder it might be very hard for you as a parent. You might wish you could understand them better, so they are not excluded from social situations, and so they can excel academically. Here are some ways to help your child improve their speech:
1. Check For Hearing Problems
One of the biggest reasons that children have speech problems is because they have a problem hearing. The issue then is not with the child's ability to formulate words. Instead, they simply cannot hear well enough to notice the details in speech.
For this reason, if you have a concern about your child's ability to speak you need to make sure that you get them tested for hearing problems.
This can be done at your doctor's office, or it can be done at a speech pathologist office. If they determine that the child has a hearing impairment, correcting the impairment might fix the problem.
Once they rule out that there is no hearing problem, you can start treatment for the speech, such as speech therapy.
2. Become Your Child's Interpreter
Even though learning to speak is incredibly important, it is more important that the child communicate with you. Communication can come in many forms, not just through the spoken word. You can tell by the child's eyes, physical cues and so much more what they are trying to say to you.
The more you can communicate with your child the more they will begin to trust you. You can be that interpreter that connects them to others. If you think that the language problem is frustrating for you as a parent, think how frustrating it must be for the child. If you can help them communicate you can help them become happier and less frustrated.
3. Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
One of the best things that you can do for your child is ask for professional help. Taking your child to a speech therapist may be the best thing for helping them get on track. The therapist will account for any language disorders, or other problems. You will be surprised how much progress a child can make with just a couple sessions of speech therapy.
By checking for hearing problems, learning to communicate with your child, and asking for help, you can help the child develop better language skills. For more help, contact a company like Eastern Carolina Ear Nose & Throat-Head with any questions or concerns you might have.
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