A parent’s joy in hearing a child speak for the first time is a moment like no other. But what happens if these words do not happen in a normal time-frame, or the child has difficulty making sounds or stringing those sounds into a sentence? In each of these scenarios one must educate themselves about speech and language disorders. If a parent can learn about speech and language disorders, and if intervention occurs in a timely manner, many children can overcome their challenges and have a positive experience in learning to communicate and develop socially.
Speech and language disorders in children can take many shapes and forms. A child may have difficulty saying sounds correctly (articulation disorders), and/or have trouble understanding or using language (language disorders), and/or having difficulty using their voice correctly (voice disorders). The challenges a child experiences from their speech and language disorders can interfere with their ability to communicate, learn, and socialize with others.
Some common signs of speech and language disorders include:
- Limited or no speech by age two
- Difficulty making certain sounds
- Trouble understanding instructions
- Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
- Difficulty forming sentences or expressing thoughts
- Importance of Early Intervention in speech therapy for kids
Early intervention is critical for better outcomes. The sooner any speech or language problem is addressed, the more successful treatment is. During the initial years of life, children’s brains are more malleable, making it much easier for them to create new pathways for communication and to build new habits.
Without early intervention, a child may struggle not only to speak, but also to read, write, and socially interact. These difficulties can affect their performance in school and their self-esteem. Studies found that children who receive early support are more likely to:
- Communicate effectively with peers and adults
- Perform better in school
- Develop stronger social-emotional skills
- Avoid long-term behavioral or emotional issues
- Speech Therapy Techniques for Children
Pediatric speech therapy Kerala
Speech therapy for kids Kollam is not a “one size fits all” process at all—there are dozens of techniques that the therapists will use based on the child’s needs and age, as well as the severity of their disorder. Here are some of the more common techniques:
- Articulation Therapy
Articulation Therapy is used for children who have difficulties with clearly producing sounds. The therapist uses exercises that will help the child learn how to move their mouth to produce clearer sounds.
- Language Intervention
This technique is for children who have difficulties with using or understanding language. It uses activities such as picture books, games, and storytelling to promote the use of language by increasing vocabulary and comprehension of language.
- 3. Oral-Motor/Feeding Therapy
Oral-Motor/Feeding Therapy is commonly used for children who have weak motor muscles for their oral or oral facial structure. Children who exhibit some low tone or respiratory support but have difficulty chewing or swallowing may be referred for this therapy.
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
AAC is a technique used for children who are not verbal (or are non verbal) or for children who cannot communicate effectively using formal communication (for example, an individual with a severe disability). The therapist will introduce the child to their form of AAC support, such as a picture board, or a speech generating device.
- Play-Based Therapy
When working with very young children, play is the best method for them to learn, so therapists may utilize a variety of toys, puppets, or games to utilize the child’s natural environment to promote speech and language development and improve possibilities for communication.
Speech Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), whether mildly or severely affected, frequently experience difficulties communicating. This can be in the form of limited speech, a different rhythm or tone when speaking, or an inability to use language appropriately in a social context. It is apparent however; autism speech therapy Kerala plays an essential role in the child’s development.
Communication and language assessment is often an important role of the therapist working with autistic children, herein speech therapy often aims for.
– Improving the ability of the child to both initiate and continue a conversation,
– Understanding and using eye contact and body language,
– Promoting vocabulary through formal and play-based learning,
– Reducing or eliminating repetitious or irrelevant speech,
Speech therapy for kids Kollam can also be incorporated with behavioral interventions to provide more holistic therapy such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Many children diagnosed with autism benefit from Speech therapy for kids kollam even when they receive early intervention they all benefit from support with their speech and language needs.
Best Speech Therapy center in Kollam– Eve Child Rehabilitation Centre
In Kollam, one of the best-known Speech Therapy center is Eve Child Rehabilitation Centre.
What makes Eve, the Best Speech Therapy center in Kollam?
Highly Qualified Speech-Language Pathologists: Eve has a specialized team with extensive training and capability to support children with an array of disabilities including Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s syndrome, and general speech delays.
Individualized Assessment and Therapy Plans: All children are assessed on intake then an individualized therapy plan is constructed with parents to support their child’s needs.
Multi-disciplinary support: Eve Child Rehabilitation Centre offers occupational therapy, special education and behavioral support in addition to speech therapy.
Parent training: Parents receive a special added component of training and guidance on home-based strategies to continue support for their children outside the clinical setting.
Supports child development: All therapy is geared and targeted towards a fun, engaging and emotionally supportive environment for children to build rapport and trust with their therapist.
Regardless of whether your child presents with a mild speech delay or a behavioral speech component surrounding more complex developmental issues, Eve Child Rehabilitation Centre provides a comprehensive support model designed for your child’s development needs.
Selecting a Right Speech Therapist near me
Finding the appropriate speech therapist is important for successful intervention. Here are some considerations parents should think about:
Qualifications and Experience: You want to ensure the therapist is certified and has experience working with children, particularly children with similar difficulties to your child.
Approach and Communication: It’s important that the therapist has good communication with not only your child, but you as a parent also. You want to feel comfortable asking the therapist questions and receiving constructive feedback. If you’re embarrassed to ask a question, receive information, or don’t understand the action plan, it probably isn’t the right match for you and your child.
Playfulness with Kids: Therapists who adopt a patient, playful, and creative approach to engage children tend to produce the best outcomes.
Location: Consistent practice with the therapist is important for learning to transfer to a child’s daily life. So you will want to consider the location of a centre and ease of access to their centre as a parent.
Involving the Parent: It is also important to have an excellent rapport with the therapist, who wants you engaged in therapy. The therapists should provide updates, ways to interact at home with your child, and activities for practice in sessions to bring home.
Conclusion
Speech and language disorders can be terrifying for children and parents alike, but they are not the end of the road. With awareness, timeous intervention and appropriate support from therapy services, young people can develop good communication skills that last throughout their lives.
In Kollam, organizations such as Eve Child Rehabilitation Centre are making a substantial difference in young people’s lives, melding kindness with an exceptional clinical skill set. If you are parent with concerns regarding your child’s speech, do not delay. You can give the best gift to your child on their journey towards confidence in communication – support as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, speech therapy can improve your communication skills. Depending on the individual, speech therapy can help you develop greater clarity of speech or it may help increase your vocabulary, improve your grammar and sentence structure, and use language in a more effective way when having conversations. Non-verbal communication such as gestures and facial expressions, when necessary, are also addressed by the therapist.
Speech Therapy helps young children talk by:
- Building the muscles used in speech through specific exercises.
- Improving sound production so that phonetic sounds of words can be pronounced accurately and distinctly.
- Increasing vocabulary and teaching children how to construct sentences.
- When a child improves listening and comprehension skills, they increase ways to understand and use language.
• Using a play-based approach, the use of play helps children learn and have fun at the same time.
The duration will vary for each child and depends on many different factors, the severity of the speech delay, the age of the child, the frequency of therapy lessons, and how often they practice at home. Some children will improve in a few months, and some may take one year or more to demonstrate improvements; however, the regularness of their sessions and their parent(s)’ involvement will usually shorten this duration.
അവശ്യമായ രീതിയിൽ പരിശീലനം നൽകിയാൽ, സ്പീച്ച് തെറാപ്പിയിലൂടെ ആശയവിനിമയ കഴിവുകൾ വളരെ മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിയും. കുട്ടികളുടേയും മുതിർന്നവരുടേയും സംസാരവഴക്കം, വാക്കുകളുടെ ഉപയോഗം, ശബ്ദങ്ങളുടെയും വാക്യങ്ങളുടെയും വ്യക്തമായ ഉച്ചാരണം എന്നിവയുടെ മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്തലിലൂടെ ആശയവിനിമയം കൂടുതൽ സുസ്ഥിരമാകും.