There’s nothing more important than ensuring that your child is receiving the best possible care. If you have a child with developmental delays or challenges, speech therapy may be something that could benefit them greatly.
Despite the fact that children begin learning to speak at a young age, there are some cases where it can just take a bit longer for them to develop the skills they need.
As such, parents who recognize these potential obstacles should consider turning to speech therapists for help, and here we show you exactly how this process works and what parents can expect from their visits.
Understand Speech Therapy Basics
It’s vital to understand what speech therapy is and how it can help your child. Speech therapy is an intervention program provided by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who works to help children overcome difficulties with speech, language, voice, fluency, and other communication-related issues.
Through various techniques and exercises, speech therapy aims to achieve better communication skills, socialization, and better academic performance.
Know the Different Types of Speech Therapy Exercises
Speech exercises vary depending on the nature of your child’s difficulty, age, and support they may need. Here are some of the speech therapy exercises that may include:
- Articulation exercises – The SLP will work with your child to pronounce their words correctly.
- Language exercises – The SLP will help your child to understand and use language appropriately.
- Fluency exercises – The SLP will assist your child in achieving smooth and fluent speech, reducing stuttering and stammering.
- Voice exercises – The SLP will work with your child on vocal quality, pitch, and sound.
Keep a Positive Attitude during Treatment
Encourage your child with positive reinforcement, as it plays an essential role in their treatment. Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small, and motivate them to keep trying.
A positive attitude helps your child build trust with their SLP and makes them feel more comfortable during the treatment.
Create a Home Environment That Encourages Communication
One critical tip for making the most of speech therapy is to create a home environment that supports your child’s communication goals.
Encourage open communication and provide ample opportunities for your child to practice their speech skills. Give them enough time to express themselves without rushing or interrupting them during conversations.
Incorporate Technology into Your Speech Therapy Sessions
Technology can be a valuable resource for speech therapy. Many speech-language pathologists incorporate various tech tools, such as apps and games, into their therapy sessions.
Apps like Articulation Station and Speech Therapy Games can be great tools for working on pronunciation, fluency, and language development.
Get Ultrasound with Speech Therapy Treatment
Ultrasound technology is a new tool in speech therapy that can visualize the tongue’s shape and placement during speech production.
With the visual feedback, your child can learn to adjust their tongue position and movements to produce sounds more effectively, leading to better speech results. Ask your SLP if it is feasible to include this technology in your child’s treatment plan.