Hello all! I recently started watching a 3 year old that has a speech delay and I was wondering if there was anything I could do here to help out? I've done some research and haven't found a whole lot. Any ideas from personal experience would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks moms!
I have a 3 1/2 yr old son that is speech delayed. He's been delayed since 18months. It all depends on how delayed he is. I would work on asking him question, who what where and why? Ask him what he wants and then make him repeat you. My son goes to private speech therapy every week and through his school as well. Anything I can do i will be glad to help just let me know.
Thanks
M.
How do you know he's delayed? Also, do you know what type of delay he has(expressive, receptive, or both?). Is he already in therapy? If so, you might ask the parent for suggestions. Depending on the type of delay, there are different things you can do. My son had an expressive delay. The first things we were advised to do were to teach him sign language so he wouldn't get as frustrated (to be used with words) also to offer him choices (do you want water or milk? -- simple things like that) and give him opportunities to speak. Read, read, read and ask him to point things out. Turn off the TV if there's one around. If it's a receptive delay, perhaps someone else might have some suggestions. He's too old for ECI, but many schools offer pre-K for such delays. Good luck!
If you talk to the parent, the school districts serve kids for speech 3 and up. My son had speech for 2 years before he even started KG. He began speech with Rockwall ISD at 3. We moved and then he did it in GISD. If they are interested, they need to contact their local school and they can give them the information to have the child tested. Early intervention is the key and can really make a difference before school starts. I teach KG and speech can interfere with language, reading, self-esteem and more at times. Now on a positive note- my son is extremely happy and positive and has always LOVED LOVED LOVED speech . He felt so special and liked going to "big school" once a week. One issue though is that for kids who aren't in school yet- you usually have to transport them to the school.
As for at home, just modeling it and restating words when they mix them up. Reading to kids helps to- immerse them in language. Talk all the time, sing songs, rhymes and poems...
Good luck!!
You should check out ECI (early childhood intervention) in Carrolton for speech therapy and maybe additional testing to make sure it's not autism... my son was first diagnosed with speech delay but it was many years ago, and it ended up being Asperger's.
But there's a great program for autism through Easter Seals that can really help too...
http://ntx.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=TXNW_...
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I totally misread your question... I thought it was your child. Role playing games are really fun and a great way to get kids to talk. So are other games like Go Fish or Uno ... Good luck!
The best thing you can do for him is just model the words for him. For example: IF he asks for "wa wa" then reply with "yes, I will get you some WATER" and emphasize the sounds in the word that he is not getting.
Also, in my son's speech class they use physical cues to help them with some blends. For example: for "snake" run your finger down his arm for the "s" sound and tap his hand for the "n" sound. If you are consistant with it he will start doing it himself.
Does his parents have him in any kind of speech therapy? If they do you might ask the parents to include you in any of the exercises they send home. My son gets words every week to practice.
Good luck!! I think it's great that you are taking such an active role in helping him out!!
