| Speech intervention and speech treatment are | | | | them in their speech. Reading books that target a |
| terms loosely used today in early education. | | | | certain sound will provide them a clear and |
| Toddlers and preschoolers seem to get the most | | | | repetitive example which will often correct the |
| attention. Speech intervention simply means doing | | | | problem before it becomes a problem. Children |
| something to correct or avoid a speech delay. | | | | learn best from modeling and positive interaction. |
| Speech treatment is the method of intervention | | | | Reading books to our children incorporates three |
| used to avoid or correct the speech problem. The | | | | of their leaning sensory - sight, sound, touch. To |
| terms apply to toddlers, preschoolers, school-age | | | | the young child, not only hearing, but seeing the |
| children or adults. | | | | word reinforces speech, while hearing by |
| When we talk about 'speech' or 'language', What | | | | sentences and seeing a picture of that sentence |
| does it mean? | | | | enhances language (the concept of what the |
| The American Academy of Pediatrics defines | | | | words mean). This is very important especially to |
| speech as the production of understandable | | | | children with ADHD, ADD, Apraxia, Autism, and |
| sounds while language is defined as the underlying | | | | other emotional learning problems. Some children |
| mental function and includes both expressive | | | | need to be taught social and emotional skills as |
| (speaking) and receptive (understanding) speech. | | | | well as speech sounds. The simple addition from |
| About the most common causes for the need of | | | | the sensor of touch by a loving parent or |
| speech intervention is lack of verbal stimulation. | | | | guardian makes a huge difference in the learning |
| Speaking, playing, reading, singing to our young | | | | of language. As a matter of fact, there have |
| children have a great impact on both speech and | | | | been studies done that prove bonding occurs |
| language development and are known in the world | | | | between the one who reads and the one who |
| of speech therapists as 'speech treatment' | | | | listens to books being read when sitting close and |
| methods. | | | | touching. |
| We know that speech delays are easily corrected | | | | The American Academy of Pediatrics advise |
| when caught early. But, it is important not to over | | | | parents that children have different rates of |
| react to toddlers 'baby talk'. Baby Talk is normal. | | | | development, and reading to your child is the best |
| Toddlers and preschoolers often have a hard time | | | | way to teach, prevent and/or correct improper |
| pronouncing words correctly. Their little voice | | | | diction at any age. |
| boxes have not fully developed. Given time, they | | | | Through the use of books focused on one or two |
| will. What is important is that they hear the word | | | | phonic sounds, attention is directed to specific |
| pronounced correctly. And that mean consistently. | | | | sounds and blends of sounds, making the reader |
| Mimicking their baby talk only reinforces the | | | | and the listener more aware of the written word. |
| mispronouncing of the word or sounds. | | | | Thereby enforcing through repetition, the sound, |
| Speech Therapists know that phonic sounds and | | | | the letter and the association in the English |
| their spellings are collected and stored in one area | | | | language. Now diction is reinforced in the |
| of the brain during the time speech and language | | | | developmental stage; Teaching rather than leaving |
| acquisition is occurring in that individual child's | | | | to chance, the proper pronouncement of the |
| development. These stored sounds and words | | | | words. This, then, will increase the likelihood spelling |
| along with their associated spellings are then | | | | ability will be enhanced when development reaches |
| archived in the brain for later use throughout the | | | | the reading and writing level. |
| whole rest of our lives. It is important that phonic | | | | Many times speech intervention through speech |
| sounds and their connection to spelling and the | | | | therapy is necessary in the treatment of speech |
| written word be learned correctly when young. It | | | | delays. Under the direction of a speech therapist, |
| seems critical that speech problems be detected | | | | parents and caregivers can help correct speech |
| early. But how early is too early? | | | | problems and avoid poor speech habits from |
| The American Academy of Pediatrics issues this | | | | developing by reinforcing speech therapy through |
| warning:"Some parents are so eager to have their | | | | making language and speech fun with books, |
| baby speak that they intimidate the child. Don't | | | | songs and stories. Ask your speech therapist |
| pressure your child, but provide verbal stimulation | | | | what activities best suit your child's speech |
| with books, singing, and repetitive rhymes." They | | | | intervention treatment. Most of the time the |
| also remind. Don't pressure the child by correcting | | | | therapist will have material you can use at home. |