All parents will agree that we communicate with our children as early as the first weeks of pregnancy. It’s our way to feel closer to our babies. Without even realizing it, we establish a foundation for communication with our child. Research indicates that children begin to learn their native language even while inside the womb, a little earlier than previously expected.
The moment our babies come into this world, they are ready to learn a language. As demonstrated during infancy, babies learn how to communicate their feelings, needs, and thoughts through cooing, crying, facial expressions, and body language.
Newborn babies are born with an innate ability to communicate and pursue human contact. It is in their nature to develop nonverbal communication with their parents. And their communication skills gradually develop and improve as they go through childhood.
However, not all children successfully develop their speech and language abilities. They may experience difficulties in understanding verbal communication as well as articulating words and others may even find written language very challenging.
Intervention through speech and language therapy is a way to address these issues as early as possible into their childhood. In this blog, let’s cover the fundamentals of Speech and Language therapy to have a better understanding as to how it can benefit your child and the importance of early intervention in ensuring its success.
How Does Speech And Language Therapy Work?
Speech and Language therapists work to improve a child’s speech, language, and communication skills. Apart from these, allied health professionals also help address problems in swallowing and chewing. Usually, approaches are different for speech problems with children and adults. On a much broader scale, speech and language therapists also assist in the rehabilitation of patients who have experienced a stroke and head injuries and are experiencing difficulties in speaking.
Your first visit with a speech and language therapist will involve an evaluation. They also assess your child’s communication abilities through observation. After a series of tests, the therapist then develops a customized treatment unique to your child’s needs. Treatment plans include a multitude of exercises and activities that will help address your child’s speech difficulties.
Ultimately, Speech and Language therapy aims to address the following challenges:
- Problems in articulation
- Challenges in fluency
- Voice or resonance difficulties
- Difficulties in oral feeding
Apart from these, Speech and Language therapists assist in the treatment of problems in receptive, expressive, and pragmatic languages.
The Importance Of Early Speech Intervention
For your child to develop the communication skills necessary to achieve academic and personal success, early speech intervention is crucial. The earlier a child receives the proper treatment, the better the chances are at a quality life. Hence, the moment you notice any developmental challenges in your child in the areas of communication, consult a speech and language therapist immediately.
As parents, we only want what’s best for our children, and we do our best in providing them with a quality life as they grow up. Apart from the therapy that they receive, we should also do our part in supporting our children’s communication development. And part of this is ensuring that they acquire the necessary skills to effectively interact with their surroundings through effective communication.
At Pulse Therapy and Learning Centre, we understand how you care for your child and we make sure we are able to assist in whatever developmental needs they may have- including speech and language. Consult with our experts today to learn more about Speech and Language therapy.
For further reading,
You Shall Speak: How Speech Therapy Can Impact Your Child
How Psychological Assessments Help Understand Your Child’s Capabilities Better