How to Support Your Child's Speech, Language, & Communication Development

Do you know what speech therapy is? Do you know how it works? Exactly what do speech therapists do? Do not feel alone!

It is common for parents to hear the term speech therapy bandied about or find out their little ones need it without ever having a real understanding of what it is and how it works. Uncertainty and a lack of information only add to your nerves and anxiety when it comes to the development of your child.

Whether you think your child needs speech therapy or know they do, this post is for you if you are concerned about their speech and language development. We hope it will help you make an informed decision about the treatment and support your family needs. You’ve got this!

What is Speech Therapy?

The goal of speech therapy is to treat speech disorders in children. It is the responsibility of speech-language pathologists to provide speech therapy, but we often refer to ourselves as therapists for the sake of simplicity. 

The goal of intensive speech therapy for children is to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing difficulties in children and adults. If your child isn't meeting communication milestones as expected, they might need speech therapy.

Intensive Speech Therapy for Children is Play-Based & Fun!

Your child will appear to be playing during speech therapy, but rest assured, it is played with a purpose! This play in therapy is used because:

• Children learn through play
• Children learn and practice new concepts through play
• Children and therapists connect through play (an essential component)
• Language and speech goals can be met through play

Play helps speech therapists provide intensive therapy to children since they want speech therapy to be fun! Imagine bubbles, stickers, farm animals, you name it. Children remain more engaged in speech therapy if they are having fun. Engagement and repetition are key to improving speech and language development.

What Does A Speech Therapist Do?

A speech therapist (also known as an SLP, or Speech-Language Pathologist) treats and works with individuals of all ages who are experiencing difficulty with their speech, language, and/or communication.

When children are born with certain conditions and need extra support, when they don't meet certain speech or language milestones, or when they are affected by something like a traumatic accident or illness, speech therapists may be able to help.

The following areas are addressed by speech therapists:

• Speech
• Language 
• Voice
• Fluency 
• Social Communication
• Feeding
• Swallowing

You may need speech therapy for your child, or if you would like to know more about your child's development and what skills he or she will learn next, track your child's milestones in speech and language development and contact a speech therapist who treats speech disorders in children.