How Speech Therapy Help Small Children Improve Language Skills
The need for language is important in our society to fulfill the desire for communication and interacting with others. Necessity is the mother of invention is applicable here when we discuss the topic of language. It is the medium of oral expression and desire to be social. Language is a product not of one cause but came into existence due to many factors. It is social creation, human invention and the unconscious invention of a whole community.
When it comes to speech and language, Speech disorders or language problems are common in children that deter them to use “language” in their original form. As per speech pathology Australia is concerned, one in seven Australians has a communication problem with speech, using and understanding language, voice, reading, writing, and hearing. This type of disability affects the individual and their social life to a great extent.
When it comes to little children, they develop language proficiency at a quiet slower pace moving from babbling to full, well pronounced and grammatically correct sentences is a slow and challenging process that takes time. When you want to see your child's speech constantly improving and when a child starts understanding others is the moment you want to cherish forever.
A communication disorder can have a bigger impact on a child’s life through adulthood when not treated properly at the right time. It can affect their academic performance and make them socially isolated. Speech therapy for children counters the problem of a child with making a sound in syllables or saying words incorrectly to the point that listeners cannot understand and flow of speech is affected by unusual stops, partial word repetition, etc. Children may also have problem-related to the pitch, volume or quality of the voice that distracts listeners from what has been said and told.
Some speech therapy centers employ speech-language pathologists often called speech therapists that are educated in the study of speech therapy to help the child overcome problems related to speech and language. They assess speech, language, cognitive-communication, and oral skills which lets them identify a problem in the best way possible.
The therapist interacts with a child by playing and talking and using books and pictures or ongoing events to stimulate language development. They picture a model and correct vocabulary and use repetition exercises to build language skills that build confidence in the kids.
It is important for children to have therapy early to have better results, but it does not make a lot of difference if a child begins therapy at later years. Find a therapist referred by a doctor who is licensed and has a good experience. Remember parents are the key to success in terms of dealing with speech and language problems. So, you need to be fully involved in your child’s success towards better language and speech.