How can I treat speech delay at home? [Answer from SLP]

Speech delay is when the child isn't able to communicate via speech and language by an expected age, or, if the child is lagging behind on achieving the speech language developmental milestones for their age.

Image credit - speech pathology Australia

Get to know more about speech delay- Common questions parents have regarding overcoming speech delay

Visiting a speech therapist/ speech language pathologist when your child presents with speech delay is very helpful for the child to overcome it. A research conducted by Aliza Aliaz concluded that parental involvement is important in assisting the development of their children in overcoming their speech difficulties.

Here are few activities that can be helpful when you are trying to help your child with speech delay-

1. Communication- it might seem like a given, but parents often end up feeling that if the child isn't replying, is he or she even understanding them. But communication is the key, even if the child doesn't reciprocate.

2. Read to them- you can read colorful story books with cartoons and rhymes to them. It helps them understand language and learn how to pronounce words.

3. If the child is a toddler, you can also make your own stories with them where they get to be a main character.

4. Answer their questions, it is very important that you be patient and answer them in a clear and understandable language.

5. Incorporate learning in everyday scenarios, you can ask them to help you with basic chores, and explain to them what you are doing. You can also ask them what they want for meals via open ended question, as it gives them an opportunity to formulate sentences.

6. Respond to the baby even when they are cooing or babbling.

7. Sing poems and rhymes with them

8. You can place their favorite toy a bit out of their reach so they have to ask you to get it.

9. Infant-directed speech is the speech we use while talking to an infant or a toddler like speaking slowly, with more repetitions and a higher pitch. It can help the child in developing joint attention skills, a larger vocabulary, and language development.

If you are worried that your child is not talking yet then schedule a 1:1 consultation with our speech-language pathologist here.

Reference

1. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/activities-to-encourage-speech-and-language-development/

2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350969207_Parental_Involvement_in_Speech_Activities_of_Speech_Delayed_Child_at_Home

3. Handbook of parent-child interaction therapy for children on autism spectrum disorder. - Cheryl Bodiford McNeil Lauren Borduin Quetsch Cynthia M. Anderson