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Understandably, parents worry when their child exhibits signs of speech delay, frequent mispronunciation of words, stuttering, and other language issues. Having a speech disorder will have an effect on the wellness of the child as well as their education and career prospects.
After identifying the speech problem, the next thing a parent would do is hire a speech therapist or a speech-language pathologist. These professionals often coach parents and caregivers on certain exercises and tips to improve the child’s communication skills.
Make Conversation with the Child
In addition to the Speech Therapy Cleveland session, make an effort every day to start a conversation with the child. After they get back from preschool or daycare, inquire about their day. Keep in mind to ask open-ended questions to encourage them to communicate.
It is possible that they will be reluctant to communicate at first but eventually give in and answer once you make it a habit. Enroll them in a playschool or daycare to experience new things, only then they will be able to describe.
Practice
Often, kids have trouble pronouncing certain alphabets and do a number of vocal exercises to help them pronounce the word correctly. As you witness improvements, praise them for their accomplishments and reward them with toys or their favorite games.
Minimize the Use of Pacifiers
Often, children show speech delay due to the obstacles between their mouth and speech. Increased use of pacifiers can be the reason for a child’s poor communication skills even after a specific age.
Avoid using pacifiers to encourage them to talk, the child may suck on their fingers and thumbs. However, a few calm attempts would be all it takes to get rid of this behavior. Instruct the caregiver to correct it whenever the child sucks on their thumbs.
Ask Them to Choose
It is an effective strategy for people who speak less to elicit speech. Ask questions, and encourage them to choose from multiple objects. The child may not react and respond immediately, be patient, continue the exercise, and they will be forced to respond.
Use Straws
Use straws to drink liquids or blow air to improve the muscular strength required for clear speech. Turn it into a fun activity by encouraging them to blow or suck up air through straws.
Reading
Kids learn words by hearing them, so read their favorite stories, and persuade them to describe the pictures. Make them name the objects on the pages and motivate them to read back or make up a similar story.
If the child is too young to read books, ask them to explain the pictures. Read the same book multiple times to help build familiarity and language skills.
Utilize Visual Cues
It is easy to learn words and make conversation using visual cues like tangible objects. Point them towards objects, name them, and add a couple of words to correct their sentence structure. Use picture cards and photos to grab their attention and have them repeat words.