As a parent, watching your child struggle with communication can be heart-wrenching. Fortunately, speech therapy is available to help your child improve their communication skills, if you notice that your child:
- Has difficulty saying specific sounds, such as “s” or “r”
- Is behind their peers in language development
- Uses nonspecific words
- Has trouble following directions
- Seems frustrated or withdrawn due to their difficulty to communicate
But while speech therapists are highly trained professionals, they can’t do it alone. As a parent, you have a crucial role to play in your child’s progress. So, what can you do to support your child’s speech therapy journey? Let’s find out.
5 Ways to Support Your Child’s Speech Therapy Progress
Speech therapy can be a life-changing experience for your child, and as a parent, you play a crucial part in the process. With your support, patience, and love, your child can make great progress in their communication skills. With these simple tips, your child will be on their way to success in no time.
- Attend and participate in speech therapy sessions with your child. This not only shows your child that you care and are invested in their progress, but it also allows you to know firsthand what your child is working on during therapy. This way, you can reinforce the exercises or techniques at home between sessions.
- Build speech and language skills into everyday life. Speech therapy isn’t something that should only be done in the therapy room. There are plenty of ways you can incorporate speech and language skills into your child’s everyday life. Read books with your child, have conversations during meals, and make up silly rhymes or songs. The more opportunities your child has for practicing their communication skills, the better.
- Practice patience and encouragement. Speech therapy progress takes time. The journey to overcoming communication difficulties can be frustrating and overwhelming, so it’s important to provide your child with plenty of love and encouragement along the way. Celebrate small milestones and always provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for your child to practice their new skills.
- Communicate with the speech therapist. Open communication between you and your child’s speech therapist is key to your child’s progress. Ask questions, express concerns, and provide feedback to the therapist. The more you understand the therapy process and your child’s specific goals, the better you can support your child at home.
- Create a support system. Finally, creating a support system for both you and your child can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of speech therapy. Connect with other parents who are going through similar situations, and work with the school or therapist to involve teachers and other caregivers in your child’s journey. The more people who are invested in your child’s progress, the more likely it is that your child will succeed.
Speech Therapy in Inverness, Florida
At H2 Health, we provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services for all ages, including pediatric speech therapy. Our highly trained therapists work with children to improve their communication skills, specifically focusing on:
- Articulation
- Auditory processing
- Comprehension
- Expression
- Mechanical feeding
- Social/pragmatics
- Speech / voice
With regular speech therapy sessions, we can help your child reach their full potential. They will participate in a variety of activities – depending on their specific needs – which may include practicing sounds and words, learning to follow directions, and participating in conversations. In addition, your child will develop a greater ability to understand and use nonverbal communication, including body language and facial expressions. All the while, your child’s therapist will provide feedback and encouragement.
To discuss your child’s individual needs and goals, as well as get answers to any questions you may have, contact your nearest conveniently located H2 Health clinic and learn more about our services. Working together, we can help enable your child to reach their full potential.
