dysTalk Speech Difficulties - Early Years Preschool - Forum - dysTalk

my son is nearly three and while he has a good understanding of language, he can only say three words. The docs suspect dyspraxia. What can I do to help him?

thanks

13/07/2009 22:49:07
desperate house mum

My son is 5 now. He started talking in single words when he was 3 and the speech sounds were all jumbled up. He started speech therapy when he was 3.5 and for the first year progress in speech was slow although his understanding and non verbal communication was very good. From about 4.5 yrs to now the clarity of his speech, use of sentences has dramatically improved. I would say his speech is like a 3 year old but his understanding and vocabulary is of a much higher age. This is what I have learnt:

1. Speech therapy has really helped him. Especially withattenton and listening skills and phonological awareness. 2. Often progress feels really slow but then he goes through a period ofconsolidation and then makes great leaps! I have learnt that you just have to take a deep breath and keep going enen though at times you feel it's not working, because progress does eventually happen. And when I see his little face light up because he has made himself understood I know it was worth it.

3. He never likes doing the speech homework so wehave to be creative and sometimes that means not always doing it exactly the way the therapist has recommended but this is the real world.

4. He likes books so we use books as language and speech opportunities.

5. I also get the CDs of the books and he listens to them in the car. This really helps with listening skills annd and comprehension. Song CDs and action rhymes have helped to co -ordinate his speech.

6. Play is the best therapy we found. Playing with children, role play, puppets, small world; he always talks more when he is playing, and talking practise is what he needs.

Hope this helps and good luck!

12/07/2010 22:05:00
Elena