It’s no secret that speech delays can affect how a child is able to communicate. But did you know it can also impact their confidence? Although it may seem daunting at first, there are actually many ways you can support your child to ensure they feel confident despite their speech delay. Let’s break it down below.
Breaking down speech delay
Children struggling with speech delays refers to when a child is not developing their speech at the same rate as their peers, meaning they have difficulty producing sounds that form words, making it hard for others to understand them. Considered to be ‘late talkers’, they often fall behind in achieving developmental milestones for their age, which can result in a child’s lack of confidence without the right type of support.
Strategies to help children struggling with speech delays
If you’re unsure about where to start when it comes to supporting your child at home, we’ve listed some strategies for you to try and things to be aware of; that way, you can make sure your child has access to the best tools and a supportive environment as they navigate their speech delay.
1. Help them connect with others who have the same challenges
Sometimes, a child’s lack of confidence stems from struggling with something in isolation. Although you may already be a supportive parent who does everything to ensure your child has the support and care they need, children will notice that they’re the only ones in class struggling with a certain skill that comes easily to others.
The best way to show your child that they’re not alone is by introducing them to people who are struggling with the same skills, ensuring that they can acknowledge their personal challenges knowing they are not alone.
2. Look for alternate ways to communicate
If your children struggling with speech delays, there is a chance they will try and overcome these challenges with their own alternative ways of communication, which may not seem obvious to someone without speech delays.
Be attentive to your child’s needs and try to identify physical gestures or verbal sound patterns they make. This can be a great way to recognize your child’s needs while also incorporating your own support in getting them to practice strategies that encourage speech development.
For example, if you find your child makes a certain noise and/or physical gesture that you recognize to be their want for a snack, you can note what they’re trying to communicate and practice developmental strategies with less confusion.
3. Prioritize general health
While they may seem like a given, research shows that maintaining a physical lifestyle aids in maintaining a healthy mental well-being. It’s common for kids to shut down and, especially in this day in age, resort to using screens for the comfort of isolated entertainment.
To give your child the best support they can receive, it’s imperative to get your child eating well and being active. This may also be a great tool in boosting confidence as achieving physical goals and participating in sports can be an outlet for frustration as well as an achievement to focus on rather than their limitations.
4. Be mindful of how you communicate with them
Children look to their parents for everything, especially in their early years. If you communicate (verbally or nonverbally) your frustrations and the strain that might come with their developmental issues, it can make a great impact on their confidence and willingness to learn. Ensuring that your child knows that you’re there for them no matter their speed of progress will give them the confidence to try and fail in front of you.
The importance of professional support
Parenting a children struggling with speech delays can be challenging and emotionally taxing. If you believe your child has a speech delay, you must seek help and guidance from qualified professionals who are trained in speech language pathology programs online and specialize in early-life techniques.
Professional support plays a key role in ensuring your child’s developmental progress while also providing parents with the right tools and guidance to do their best in supporting their child. Speech-language pathologists are trained specialists who assess, diagnose, and treat communication disorders. Their expertise can be invaluable in helping children develop language skills, overcome obstacles, and improve their ability to interact with others.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association emphasizes the importance of early intervention, noting that addressing children struggling with speech delays as early as possible can lead to significant progress in a child’s communication ability.
Beyond working with your child, professionals provide parents with tailored strategies to support speech development at home. Parents are guided on how to incorporate language-building exercises into daily routines, use interactive play to encourage speech, and create an environment that allows for good communication. This teamwork between families and professionals allows for strong progress and a great source of support for the parents who are doing the best they can in helping their child.
Doing the research and putting your best efforts into creating a safe space for their development is an effort you shouldn’t have to do alone; reaching out to specialists means you’ll have support, too.
