Speech Therapy and Language Practice

Just recently, my preschooler has started talking in complete sentences using clear identifiable word sounds. He still struggles with some sounds but it was a lot of hard work. Like every other parent, I worried too much when my child was not talking according to our provincial health milestones. I understand that all children are different and learn/grow at their own pace. But my son was really behind and we started to get worried.

Practicing speech sounds using a mirror © Everything Family Guide

So, I booked an appointment with a speech therapist to get additional help and advice from a professional. We went for three sessions and learned a whole lot of valuable information to help our preschooler.  At the time, he was 3 1/2 years old and was always speaking with a lisp and used an almost babyish way of saying everything. Hardly, anyone could understand him, except for me. I was working full time and was pregnant with the second baby. So this was an added stress for me as a mom. Even, my husband and his grandparents could not comprehend what he said most of the time. We also noticed an escalation in aggressive and disruptive behavior in our son.

During our meetings with the speech therapist, she tested his vocabulary, his sentence formation, his understanding and visual comprehension, his behavior and language during play, and his eating habits. Here are some tips that she shared with us (I hope and pray that they can be of help to you as well, if needed): 

1. She tested his vocabulary by asking him to identify picture objects.
2. She watched him eat his lunch and inquired about his chewing and drinking habits. To check for high or raised Top Palate in the mouth. This can happen to bottle-fed babies sometimes.
3. She watched his play habits and interactions with others and his surroundings. 

After assessing our case, she gave us the following tips:

• Describe EVERYTHING using adjectives
• Use simple sentences
• Talk slowly and in a clear loud voice
• Provide many opportunities for child-led play
• She told us to discontinue use of a sippy cup or bottle and to encourage drinking milk/water from a glass. We have been very successful with that all thanks to the handy-dandy straw.
• She informed us that sometimes, children get aggressive or easily frustrated when they feel unheard or misunderstood. This partly due to their lack of speech or limited speech/communication.

Overall, my son benefited a lot from our guided support and he is speaking very well now. He is also learning new words every day!

What are your thoughts on our scenario or other speech therapy tips and experiences?

Annie