Speech
and language disorders appear as an impediment to the communication of
the child and even adults. We all know the significance of communication in our
life. Such disorders can also make the child feel more modest, less confident,
and may influence mental well-being. Speech
and language therapy focuses on developing the speech, ability to recognize
speech, and conquering the hurdles such as disfluency, articulation, and voice
or phonological disorders. It facilitates children to articulate their thoughts
and feelings better over verbal or nonverbal language.
Speech-language
pathologists effort to evaluate, diagnose, prevent and treat speech-language
disorders. Speech and language therapists work with children to
manage an assortment of speech and language disorders varying from mild
articulation setbacks to complicated disorders such as motor speech disorders, autism,
hearing impairment, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. Speech and
language therapy involves multiple activities and techniques which help
with speech, communication, and talking. Some speech therapy professionals advise
occupational therapy along with speech therapy as it can present more productive
outcomes.
Here are some common speech therapy
techniques and activities, your speech-language therapist uses with your child:
Sensory Feedback
Sensory
feedback is a critical speech therapy technique applied to build speech skills.
It helps the child become more mindful of the sounds, he is creating and how he
generates those sounds. For example,
your therapist may make use of an auditory feedback method. She will record a
sample of the child’s utterances and play the audio. Then she will also play
the recording with the same vocalization, with accurately created sounds to
make the child realize the difference. Similarly, the therapist may also use
visual feedback to help the child observe himself making sounds. These
techniques help involve children with sounds and speech.
Articulation speech activities
Articulation
refers to the natural skill to move lips, tongue, palate, and jaw to make
individual speech sounds. If the articulation abilities of a child are conceded
for any sense, his clearness may decline as compared to other same-age
children. Articulation activities help the child speak certain sounds. The therapist will clearly say a word and ask the
youngster to recite it. This activity will be repeated multiple times to develop
the practice of the child. Therapists work with the child to understand how to generate
certain sound models or speech sounds, having trouble with. It helps raise the
overall speech fluency of the child.
Oral motor therapy techniques
Some
speech disorders are described by poor handling of oral motor muscles. It does
not just affect speech but also the feeding and swallowing capabilities of the
sufferer. Oral motor activities combined with facial massage can increase
muscle tone. The speech-language therapist may also bring in various qualities
of food and temperatures to boost oral awareness. This speech-language therapy normally highlights
activities that couple sounds with actions of mouth and lips. For example, the
child may be requested to carefully notice the activities of lips when he
produces “oh” or “sh” sounds.
Mirror exercises
Mirror
exercises engage the child and encourage speech creation through observing the mouth
and lip movements. It’s also a visual feedback method. Most children having
articulation difficulties are unconscious about how to properly move their mouth,
lips, and tongue to form accurate sounds. Speaking in front of the mirror helps
the children observe their mouth movements when generating a particular sound. Produce
the sounds, including major mouth movements, and help the child distinguish the
difference by looking into the mirror.
Language intervention
Speech-language
disorders not
only influence the skill to articulate evidently but also the ability to communicate
and understand language correctly. Some children have a problem laying their ideas
into words, telling a story, or giving or following directions. Speech and
language therapy encourages language procurement by utilizing role-playing
games, books, and similar speech therapy exercises. These techniques help the
child develop complete sentences, obtain new vocabulary or tell a story.
Expressive techniques
Some
kids with speech-language disorders find it tricky to communicate a
message or convey themselves through words and sentences. They
may also strive to structure words in a sentence, illustrate incidents and use
grammar correctly. The expressive language technique intends to work on such matters
by way of signs, pictorials, and written forms assisting children to express
themselves suitably.
Occupational therapy
Occupational
therapy combined with speech-language therapy techniques is a significant way
to enhance the child’s communication, independence, and life quality. It facilitates
various facets of the child's improvement which are precisely linked with
speech and communication. For example, occupational therapists work with
children on their awareness and regulation, helping them improve focus and participate
with speech and language. They also target postural solidity such as jaw constancy
that is important for speech production. Occupational therapy also acts
on sensory incorporation that impacts feeding and oral motor skills. They also support
handwriting skills required for written language. Occupational therapy promotes executive
functional abilities which help the child plan, coordinate and structure their
ideas and thoughts in a sensible way to improve communicative language and general
communication.
These are the techniques and exercises used by speech and language therapists during a speech-language therapy session. Speech-language therapy can treat and prevent a large spectrum of speech and language delays and disorders. Early involvement and regular follow-ups can improve communication and boost self-confidence. You can also ask for speech and language therapy techniques to do at home for superior language intervention. Parental participation is significant for the better growth of the child and better results of speech and language therapy