Have you ever considered any of the following questions?
- Why hasn’t my child started talking yet?
- Should my toddler need to use more words?
- What can I do to help my child speak more clearly?
- Does my child require speech therapy in Chicago?
If this is the case, your kid may have a speech or language delay. When we talk about children with speech delays, we often mean both delays in pronunciation (speech) and general speaking abilities (language). Children often speak their first word at the age of 12 months. If your kid has not begun speaking by their first birthday, there are several solutions available to assist your late talker catch up and developing speech abilities.
For instance, if your child is under three, you can inquire about Early Intervention (EI) programs. Aside from seeking services via EI or Northwestern Occupational Therapy Program, several easy things are there you may do at home to assist your late talker. Let’s begin!
Simple ways to improve a child’s late speech!
- Self-talk:
It is a simple practice that may be done anywhere and without materials. The act of talking about what you are seeing, doing, or hearing is known as self-talk.
For instance, if you and your child go for a stroll, you can talk about what you observe along the route, like “I notice a tree. I can hear a vehicle “. Another simple technique to incorporate self-talk is when cooking or doing housework; you may narrate the phases in the process, such as “I’m preparing the batter. I’m breaking eggs”). Although initially, self-talk may appear goofy, your kid is learning a great deal from you. The self-talk approach teaches your child new vocabulary and how to put words together to build phrases and sentences.
- Parallel talk:
Parallel talk, as self-speak, entails recounting what’s seen, heard, and done. The distinction between parallel talk and self-talk is that with parallel talk, you will discuss topics from your child’s point of view.
For instance, if your child is constructing a tower out of blocks, you may remark something like, “The tower is tall.” By discussing activities or items in which your kid is already involved, you increase the probability that they will listen and be interested in the words and phrases you are speaking, allowing them to acquire the vocabulary more rapidly.
- Choices:
Giving your late talker options is a great strategy to boost communication development. Also, it’s as simple as it sounds! Begin by displaying two items (for example, a toy vehicle and a book) that may interest your child. Name each thing as you present it to your child while holding it up.
If your kid attempts to convey their desire by pointing to or staring at it, you should give them the object they requested. As you provide your kid with the selected object, reinforce the decision by identifying it again (for example, “Here’s the book.”)
- Toy placement:
Toys are commonplace and widely available in most families with children. If this is the case in your home, consider relocating some of your child’s favorite toys out of reach but still visible. You encourage your youngster to demand toys by keeping them out of reach. Depending on your child’s age, asking for toys might take numerous forms. For instance, for a child who hasn’t yet started speaking, “asking” might indicate that the child is staring at or pointing to the desired object. If this occurs, you can model the item’s name (for example, blocks).
Now that you’ve gone through these basic tactics for increasing your late talker’s language production. Determine which ones will be the simplest for you to execute daily. The more consistently you implement the measures, the more probable your child will benefit.
