7 Effective Speech Therapy Techniques to Try (for Parents)

Speech therapy is one of the most important aspects in any child’s life. It helps children grow more comfortable, improve their communication and cognitive skills while also helping them become a better learner overall. Here are 7 speech therapy techniques to try with your special needs kids!.

The “speech therapy exercises” are a set of 7 effective speech therapy techniques that parents can try with their child. The technique is designed to help children with autism learn how to communicate better.

About a quarter of persons with autism say just a few words or none at all. That number should not discourage you, according to Autism Speaks. About half of all persons with autism did not speak or talked very little a decade ago. 

What factors contributed to the progress in this area? 

Early intervention programs, according to researchers, assist professionals in detecting autism symptoms early. Children who are identified get the therapy they need to develop meaningful language skills. 

You may reinforce the linguistic skills your kid learns in treatment as a parent of a child with autism. Here are seven ways that anybody with an autistic kid may do at home. 

1. Use Play Commands

Experts use several measures to determine verbal abilities, but the majority look for a child’s ability to put at least two words together to form a coherent sentence. According to researchers, 36.4 percent of children who left an early intervention program did not learn this ability. You may assist as a parent. 

For a kid with autism, playtime is an excellent educational opportunity. While it may be difficult to persuade your kid to sit quietly and motionless at a desk, he or she may enjoy working with you on swings, in the yard, or in a pool. 

Look for methods to convince your youngster to take control of the game’s rules. Pose questions like:

• “How should we proceed?”

• “Is it my turn?” says the narrator.

• “Can you tell me what you want to do?”

• “Should we take a risk and leap or run?”

If your youngster isn’t reacting, model your responses. “What should we do next?” is an example of a phrase you may use. “Tell me, ‘We’re going to sprint,’ or ‘We’re going to leap.’” If necessary, continue until your youngster chooses an option and tells you about it.

2. Get in some name recognition practice.

When their names are uttered, many children with autism do not turn their heads or react in any way. It’s a symptom of the illness. 

Motivational training, according to experts, may help you develop this talent at home. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Approach your youngster while he or she is busy.

2. Say the name of your kid.

3. If your kid does not reply, gently touch their shoulder while saying their name again.

4. If your kid still doesn’t react, gently move their head in your direction while pronouncing their name with your hands.

5. Give a verbal incentive at the first evidence of a reaction, even if you have to encourage it. “Nice job listening to your name!” you may remark.

Repetition is key, and after your youngster has mastered the game, make it more difficult. 

While mentioning your name, gesture to yourself with your finger. Then ask, “What is your name?” while pointing to your youngster. If necessary, provide an immediate response. 

3. Play the game “I Spy.”

Experts advise taking a nature walk with young children to help them develop their vocabulary. While this may not be appropriate for all children with autism, even a few minutes on the patio may provide your kid with new experiences. 

All of the objects you observe, including automobiles, plants, insects, and animals, should be pointed out and named. Size, color, and form are all things to consider. As long as your youngster is paying attention, you may narrate. Then add ‘I Spy’ to the mix. Pose questions like:

• “Do you see something big and green?” “What exactly is it?”

• “Do you see anything little and damp?” “Can you tell me where it is?”

• “Do you see anything broad and brown?” says the narrator. “Can you tell me where it is?”

Praise your kid for answering to any question, even if the response is nonverbal, keep the questions coming. If your youngster points, for instance, ask, “What is it called?”

4. Emotions should be labeled 

Children’s emotional literacy abilities may not always come readily. They are educated by parents and instructors who are gentle with them. These skills may help toddlers avoid tantrums and emotional outbursts, as well as develop into caring individuals who know what others want and need.

For those with autism, emotional literacy is very crucial. They often have difficulty deciphering body language, particularly facial emotions. They may want to comprehend what others desire, and they may get irritated when their interpretations seem to be incorrect. 

Collaborate with your kid to develop these abilities. You can do the following:

• Discuss your feelings. Tell your youngster when you’re pleased, delighted, furious, or sad. Simple sentences like “I’m sad” or “I’m incredibly pleased” would suffice. Make sure your youngster can see your face and body position at that precise time.

• Talk about your child’s feelings. “Are you upset?” ask your youngster if you see a frown. “You look incredibly pleased right now,” mention if you observe a wide grin. Encourage your youngster to respond to your questions with phrases like “Yes, I am glad.”

• Make use of media prompts. Actors and actresses display a great deal of emotion. Emotional conversation topics include smiles, tears, frowns, and more. Inquire about the emotions of the characters with your youngster.

It’s not the time to define feelings and speak through them if your youngster is overcome with emotion and throwing a tantrum. Look for chances to talk about your feelings before they get out of hand.

5. Read as a group 

When they attend kindergarten, children with reading parents have heard nearly a million more words than children without reading parents. This word gap severely restricts the vocabulary of youngsters whose parents do not read to them. 

Stick to novels that are brief and colorful. Read slowly and calmly, pointing to each word as you go. If the words refer to a visual on the website, point to and identify the components inside the graphic. 

Some autistic youngsters like the soothing rhythm of reading and will remain focused and engaged for as long as you want to read. Others get agitated after one or two pages. 

Soothe your child’s agitation by promising a reward at the end of the session. “Let’s read one more page and then we can walk outdoors,” you may say.

Short sessions are good, as long as they are repeated often. If reading seems to be a stressful activity for your kid, don’t push him or her to do it.

If your youngster isn’t interested in reading, try again the next day. If they still refuse to read, wait a week before trying again.

6. Sing songs with your friends 

Some persons with autism, according to experts, have a strong recall for song lyrics and television jingles. Put your rote memory to good use in your home speech treatment sessions. 

Request that your youngster sing along to a favorite song. Stop your youngster and ask a question about a lyric. “What is the word that follows after love?” “Could you please tell me?” To aid your learning, have your youngster say the words to the song. 

Singing may also help your youngster learn to control their voice’s tempo and loudness. Encourage your youngster to sing softly throughout the song’s gentle passages, then open wide and sing loudly at the end. 

After a few repetitions, you’ll have a helpful intervention on your hands. “Remember when we sang gently to the song yesterday?” you might remark if your youngster talks loudly in a quiet environment. Let us now do the same with our voices.”

7. Tell a Story About Your Day

Experts advise that you include your youngster in safe activities. Your youngster may be willing to assist in setting the table for supper, or you and your child might water plants together. Maintain a polite conversation regardless of what you’re doing. 

Describe:

• Names. Make a list of all the tools you use at work.

• Verbs. Make a list of as many terms as you can for the steps you take.

• Sequences. Explain what you’re going to do next.

From time to time, solicit your child’s opinion. “What is this?” you could ask as you hold out an object. “What happens next?” asks a person who is in the midst of an activity.

Do you need the assistance of a professional?

If you follow all of these guidelines, you’ll be able to spend a chunk of each day working on your child’s language abilities. You may assume that this is sufficient to restore your child’s linguistic abilities to normal levels. Regrettably, you’ll have to do more.

You adore your kid like no one else, but you’re not a certified speech pathologist. You’re a parent, right? And some of the abilities your kid needs to acquire should be taught by a professional. 

According to Autism Speaks, nearly half of persons with autism who were nonverbal as toddlers grew up to be fluent adults. That result is more probable with targeted treatment.

Experts often have access to tools that you are unaware of. Experts argue that for some persons with autism, alternate approaches such as sign language or voice output devices work better. You may not know how to use these tools or how to teach your kid how to use them. A qualified speech therapist would be able to help you. 

Do not consider your home treatment sessions to be a substitute for professional therapy. Instead, see them as tools to help your kid get the most out of his or her experience.

The work you undertake with your kid at home may complement the work they perform in regular appointments with a speech therapist. You may improve things by working together and with the assistance of a professional. 

References

Speech therapy is a very effective way to help children with autism. It can be used as an alternative to medication, and can also help improve their social skills. Speech therapy exercises for adults pdf. Reference: speech therapy exercises for adults pdf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some speech therapy techniques?

A: Speech therapy is a set of techniques which help students learn how to speak and read with understanding. These include focusing on pronunciation, articulation and other aspects of speech like fluency

How can I improve my childs speech at home?

A: Speech therapy is the best way to improve speech in children. Some ways you can help your child include signing, reading out loud with facial expressions, and playing games that use words like I or dog.

How can I help my 4 year old with speech therapy at home?

A: Speech therapy is a process that helps individuals with speech disorders, such as stuttering, phonic problems and articulation. The best way to help your child is by talking to them in a calm and happy tone of voice. Additionally, you should encourage them verbally when theyre speaking well as it can make the difference between success or failure for some kids!

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