May is Better Speech and Hearing Month. I am a Speech Language Pathologist with Peterson Therapy Services, Inc. When I decided that I would take this opportunity to write a blog post, it led me to a bit of a standstill. There are so many things that I could write about regarding Speech and Language. So, I have turned to social media to ask friends what they would like to know, and have created a bit of an interview style post.
Q: What sounds come at what age?
This chart by Skylee Neff, MS/CCC-SLP, contains a simple explanation of when current research shows children should say specific sounds at the word level. It also has a little information on Language Development.
Q: How many words should my child use in a phrase or sentence?
Basically… Children should use an average of one word in phrases/sentences per year of age. SLPs like to call this MLU (Mean Language Utterance). For example, if your child is 4, like mine, he/she should use an average of four words in their sentences. Some clinicians and doctors like to suggest a certain number of words that should be used at specific ages. The research has been all over the place in this area, so the average number of words per sentence/phrase gives a more accurate representation of what to watch.
Q: When and how should I talk to my child’s doctor?
Trust your Mommy or Daddy gut. You should never feel uncomfortable discussing your concerns with your doctor. I would suggest looking at the information in this link and chart as a guideline to validate your concerns. If it is not the time for your child’s physical, make an appointment to specifically talk about developmental concerns. I have found it helpful to bring a written list of concerns and questions to appointments. The doctors seem to appreciate this as well. Lead with something like, “I am concerned about Johnny’s Speech/Language development. What do I need to do to get a referral to have him tested?” Be kind and direct with the doctor. Their time is valuable, and so is yours.
Q: What can I do at home to help my child?
Again, I could talk about this topic for days. Here are a few tips that some of my clients’ parents have found helpful. These suggestions can be easily modified to match your child’s level of maturity.
- Try not to hyper-focus on their speech and language errors. Allow maybe 10 to 20 minutes a day to help specifically model correct production for things like articulation and grammatical errors.
- Go on sound walks or language walks where you look for items that have words that contain the sound or vocabulary of concern.
- Play games like Simon Says and I Spy to help improve following direction skills.
- Expand what your child says. If they say “I eat,” respond with more than what they said. Let’s say you are eating at the same time, you could say, “I am eating a piece of chocolate cake” or “I eat chocolate cake.” (Boy does that sound good right now!!!) In other words, it helps to speak to your child a couple of steps above their speech and language abilities. It’s a great way to model language.
- Take turns with your child. Let them be your teacher. This allows them to see a model in a fun way.
- Play! Play! Play!
Wow! There’s just so much to write about! No wonder why parents and guardians get overwhelmed! Okay, check out some of these resources related to your child’s age and your concerns ::
www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart/
www.asha.org/public/speech/development/communicationdevelopment/
www.asha.org/public/speech/development/
The American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) is the national governing body of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Their information is solid.
There are many pediatric based Speech Language Pathologists in Idaho Falls who are willing to provide free speech and language screenings. Some therapists, like me, will provide Speech and Language services in your homes. Some therapists practice our trade at a center. There are also Speech Language Pathologists who work with children in schools. Please feel free to contact myself, or another Speech Language Pathologist, with questions or concerns. You can also visit www.asha.org, if you would like more information on current topics in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology for infants, children, and adults.
HAPPY BETTER SPEECH AND HEARING MONTH!
Marissa Peterson
MA/CCC-SLP
