Solutions 

What can you do before seeing a Speech-Language Pathologist?

child speech therapyFor stuttering or normal dysfluencies:

  • listen actively to what your child is saying, not how they are speaking, reduce all communication pressures, slow down, simplify your grammar, shorten your sentences, pause more, do not interrupt, reduce questions, comment more, follow your child’s lead, wait a second or two before responding and do not show concern either verbally or non-verbally

For voice-resonance-hearing concerns:

  • see your doctor; he or she may order other tests, for voice concerns, hydrate often with water, encourage voice rest, model a healthy voice by speaking softly, slower, using shorter sentences and pausing more, think of how to replace bad vocal habits with healthier ones

For articulation:

  • speak softly, slowly and clearly, highlighting sounds in error; be a good model, speak to your child at his physical level enabling him to see your mouth, and do not demand correct speech

For language:

  • to facilitate understanding: repeat once, ask your child to tell you what you said if unsure he understood, shorten sentences, stress key words, simplify or change words, slow down and pause more, praise your child when they ask for clarification, enhance understanding of language through visual clues, such as facial expressions, body language, natural gestures
  • to facilitate expression: don’t correct grammar (simply reflect back what your child said, emphasizing correct forms), expand new vocabulary, using opposites, words with similar meanings, in different contexts, repeat new words often, and if your child is struggling with oral formulation, assist him by guiding him towards his desired response, adding words for him and repeating what you did understand by reflecting back and reframing

For literacy:

  • expose your child to song, rhyme, nursery rhymes and predictable pattern stories, read to your child, show excitement for reading, share reading, preview books before reading, talk about what you think the story is about, make predictions, show pictures, talk about the content (reflect), relate it to your child’s life or yours, repeat favourite stories, retell, ask questions to ensure understanding, select books that your child is interested in, model writing in functional daily tasks such as making lists