Speech Works

Communicating With Your Child

By Allison Baird, MA, SLP (C), CCC

Watching a child grow and develop can be an exciting experience for a parent, but what do you do when your child does not develop as you hope or expect? At Speechworks we provide a diagnostic and treatment service for preschoolers and school age children with speech and language delays or disorders. This article will help you decide if you need a referral to our service and give a few suggestions for stimulating speech and language in a natural way.

On average, most children produce one-word sentences in their first year (such as "up", "more", and "no") and two-word sentences ("mommy go", "doggy bad" and, "fall down") during their second year. See the ‘Communication Check List' on the Manitoba Speech and Hearing Website for more detailed descriptions of what to expect from your preschooler.

If you are concerned about your child's communication development, there are things that you can do. You can ask your pediatrician or family doctor for a referral to a Speech-Language Pathologist (S-LP) who has experience with children.

Ask for a referral if:

  • Your child is not talking by age 2.
  • Your child does not seem interested in communicating or interacting.
  • Your child has been stuttering.
  • Your child is showing an emotional response, becoming frustrated or withdrawing, because of communication difficulties.
  • No one can understand your 3 year old except you.
  • Your child has been diagnosed with chronic middle ear infections or you are concerned about your child's hearing. Remember that no child is too young to have their hearing tested.
  • Your child has difficulty swallowing.
  • Your child has a medical diagnosis which is often accompanied by a communication delay or disorder.

Here are a few simple but powerful strategies to encourage speech and language development:

  • Ask to be placed on the waiting list for hospital services which are publicly funded. If you do not want to wait for services or you want more treatment for your child, ask for a referral to a private company like Speechworks.
  • Refrain from anticipating your child's needs. This will encourage your child to participate in life and begin to meet their own needs.
  • Set up situations to arouse your child's curiosity.
  • Interpret your child's attempts to communicate with clear words.
  • Participate actively in your child's play by getting down on their physical level and doing what they do.
  • Ask questions which are genuine.
  • Slow down and give your child a chance to process your speech and respond. Leave pauses in the middle of games, or at the end of songs to give the idea of turn taking in conversation.
  • Think about why, when, and how your child communicates. Provide words for your child's actions. They are showing you what they are interested in learning.
  • Read books, play games, sing songs, laugh out loud, clap hands, bang with a hammer.
  • If your child is stuttering, keep a daily log for a week of stuttering severity (1-10 with 10 being no stuttered words).

There are many more ideas that your S-LP can provide and will be individualized for your child's needs. Making a change in interactions with your child requires support and encouragement. You will have the greatest impact on your child's development with the support of a skilled S-LP.

Contact us at Speechworks, 204-231-2165 or email us at aphasiaworks@shaw.ca. Check out our website at www.aphasiaworks.com for a complete description of our services for adults and children.