A Guide To Speech & Language Delay Intervention For Kids

As parents, seeing our children develop and grow is among our greatest joys. In fact, many parents may even make it a point to actively track and document their little one’s milestones – from their first step to their first word.

While this can be incredibly fun and rewarding, there are several developmental milestones that your child should be achieving, which include the area that concerns speech and language. When your child seems to be falling behind in terms of their speech and language development, it may be worthwhile to seek out speech therapy and language therapy.

Selecting the right intervention method for your child is not an easy decision, nor is it a decision you can take lightly. There is no denying that there are many things to consider before settling on the right intervention method for your little one. But don’t worry – we’ve got your back! We have compiled a list of the most important factors that should go into your decision-making process.

1. Consider your intention

Speech and language delay intervention encompasses a broad range of concerns, such as speech and language abnormalities, social communication, cognitive communication, and problems with oral motor function or swallowing. Despite the fact that most intervention methods may treat students of all ages and disorders, it would be best to select one that is most beneficial in your child’s particular area of need.

2. Do your research

Once you know what you’re looking for, it is time to do your research!

Do some research to ensure that the brain development centre you have in mind has the relevant experience and credentials. Most early intervention centres in Singapore have an “About Us” page on their website where information about their therapists’ profiles is available.

Besides that, spend some time looking up the techniques employed. Do they focus on building auditory processing skills? Or perhaps they make use of interactive activities as part of their therapy sessions? Whatever it may be, gaining an understanding of the techniques employed will be incredibly helpful in your decision-making process. If that particular information is not available online or if you’d like to learn more, reaching out to the brain development centre can be beneficial.

Another form of research you may consider conducting is looking at their client reviews. Feedback from past clients serves as a guide to help you understand the overall customer satisfaction of that brain development centre.

3. Schedule a consultation

It is advisable to schedule an initial consultation with your selected brain development centre to gain an understanding of any underlying issues and have all of your questions professionally answered.

A holistic and integrative approach to speech and language development program at Singapore Brain Development Centre

No matter the causes of speech and language delay, an excellent intervention therapist can help your child overcome their cognitive weaknesses. Here at Singapore Brain Development Centre, instead of focusing solely on speech development, we offer a holistic and integrative approach that focuses on developing your child’s physical, emotional, language, and cognitive skills through Play Techniques and Auditory Training. Both are techniques that build on one’s speech and language skills, engagement and communication.

• Play techniques
  • Exploratory play: Exploratory play at the Sensory Gym benefits kids in a variety of ways, such as helping them use their senses or build verbs and prepositions. Additionally, it encourages the initiating, coordinating, and sequencing of movements.
  • Constructive play: Constructive play is a fantastic medium for language development. By posing open-ended questions and broadening the vocabulary they are using, children will comprehend how to utilise language properly.
  • Symbolic play: Symbolic play is the precursor for Math and reading skills. We utilise objects, gestures and pictures to represent events from daily life to help children learn to recognise and use symbols, such as spoken words, pictures, and written words, through which they can convey thoughts and ideas.
  • Role play: Children have the chance to learn and hone a range of speech and language abilities through role play.

• Auditory training

Some kids struggle to take in and process auditory information or are still learning how to link the sounds they hear to their associated meanings. These kids will be given auditory training to help them develop important listening skills. We do this by utilising age-appropriate exercises to assist kids in developing their speech and language processing skills.

When developing a strong speech foundation, listening skills are essential. An excellent way to lay the groundwork for this is through play-based therapy with an emphasis on audition.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation, feel free to contact us here.