Singapore Brain Development Centre
SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY FOR CHILDREN IN SINGAPORE
The fundamentals of communication and learning
Speech and Language Development
Speech and language refer to the ability to communicate, share and express feelings, give and receive information, understand ideas and develop thoughts.
The two primary skills needed to master speech and language are Speaking and Listening.
Speech and language lay an important foundation in the development of a child’s thinking and learning abilities. Being able to listen with understanding and communicate with others, helps build a child’s social and self-confidence, which contributes to their personal growth and development. This is where speech development training and speech therapy in Singapore can be beneficial.
Toddlers with poor speaking or listening skills often show signs of speech and language impairment. These children will also often have comprehension issues, struggle with reading and face learning difficulties. Additionally, they also face a greater risk of later learning disabilities, social difficulties, academic difficulties, anxiety disorders, and behaviour problems (e.g. ADHD). Thus, it is vital to seek help as soon as possible.
Early intervention via speech therapy in Singapore can have a significant impact on a child and dramatically change their learning capabilities. Essentially, speech training for kids involves the management and treatment of various conditions affecting their ability to communicate.
If your child is showing signs of speech and language weakness, let us help! Here at Singapore Brain Development Centre, we offer an effective speech and language development program for children through Play Techniques and Auditory Training to build on speech and language skills, engagement, and two way communication.
Play Techniques
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- exploratory play
Exploratory play in the Sensory Gym helps children in many ways including the use of their senses or the development of prepositions and verbs. It also promotes initiation, coordination and sequencing of movements. We help to support them by maintaining an ongoing verbal commentary highlighting special words like the verbs- describing the actions or even emotions such as happy, sad.
This facilitates growth in these developmental language areas: Physical and Sensory development, Self-Discovery, Attention and Regulation, Spatial Awareness.
- Constructive play
Constructive play is a great vehicle for language development through the meaningful interactions you can have with children. We help to support their language by asking open-ended questions, and extending the language they’re using by adding extra vocabulary to their descriptions. Children will understand how to use it in appropriate ways
This facilitates growth in these developmental language areas: Speech and Language Development, Imagination and Creativity, Hand-on Exploration and Curiosity.
- Symbolic play
Using objects, pictures and gestures to represent events from daily life develops the foundation on which children build their ability to recognize and use symbols like spoken words, pictures and written words through which they can represent thoughts and ideas. Symbolic play is also a precursor for literacy and numeracy.
This facilitates growth in these developmental language areas: Communication development, Imaginative thinking and exploration, Abstract thinking and problem solving, Social-Emotional skills.
- Role play
Children learn a lot by acting out their experiences- imaginative play related to being a teacher, doctor, shopkeeper helps them to acquire skills which are central to language development. Children have an opportunity to develop and practice a variety of speech and language skills.
This facilitates growth in these developmental language areas: Conversational skills, Sequencing and Organisational ability, Life skills, Vocabulary Building, Expressive Language, Use of “Theory of Mind” (understanding/taking another’s perspective).
Auditory Training
Some students have difficulty receiving and processing incoming auditory information or have yet to master the ability to associate the sounds they receive with their corresponding meanings. Auditory Training is used to teach these children critical “listening skills.” It accomplishes this by using age-appropriate exercises to help children acquire speech and language processing abilities.
The ability to listen is crucial when developing a solid speech foundation. Play-based therapy with a focus on audition is a great way to build this foundation. This playful environment helps the child’s listening and spoken language skills to improve at a fast rate.
“Learning to listen is the basis for learning to talk.”
Key Highlights of our Speech and Language Development Program
Play skills are significant when it comes to a child’s speech and language development. Play has been called “the work of children” because it is through play that children learn how to interact in their environment, discover their interests, and acquire cognitive, motor, speech, language, and social-emotional skills (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007). Through various types of play, children
learn to discover, create, and problem solve in a safe, caring environment.
- A MODELER AND EXPANDER!
Modeling language for children provides exposure to new vocabulary while speaking and attach meaning to words. Providing language input can include commenting on what the child is doing, adding a word or phrase to the child’s short phrases, exposing the child to synonyms, or by modeling the correct sentence structure.
- Follow the child's lead
An individual’s interest level often determines how engaged he becomes in a given activity. Therefore, it is important to become observers of the child’s play and engage them in play activities that they find interesting. Increased child engagement allows greater opportunities for language acquisition.
- Opportunities for Repetition
Repetition builds mastery in all areas of development. It serves to refine and stabilize skills for children. Therefore, children should be encouraged to repeat actions and words, particularly those they enjoy. Repetition of words or phrases helps to build vocabulary and
expressive language.
- Corrective emotional experience
Through various types of play, children learn to discover, create, and problem solve in a safe, caring environment. Our therapists strategically utilize play to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings.
Parent & Children Testimonials
“Before we came here, he (Yuven) was not speaking. When I ask him about something, he would look at me and would just stare at me. So, after coming here, he started speaking within one or two months. From 2 words, it became 5 words and then became 10 words. It was a really good experience.”
Empower your child to achieve more through Speech Therapy!
Find out how our speech and language development program for children in Singapore can improve your child’s learning and cognitive development today! Get in touch with us to schedule an appointment so that we can understand your child better.
For more information on fees, please reach out to us and we would be happy to answer your queries.