Important Information About Speech Therapy For Toddlers Tucson Parents Should Know

By Tammie Caldwell


While every child learns to make sounds and use words at his or her own pace, sometimes there may a developmental delay in this area. Early intervention is critical if the child is to overcome this issue successfully. If interested in finding out more about speech therapy for toddlers Tucson AZ parents will find this information to be useful.

The toddler years generally refer to the period of time between age one and three. This is normally a time of great advancement in verbal communication but some children experience difficulty in this area. Parents should watch for indications of a problem such as little or no response to sound and minimal vocalization, no use of gestures, trouble imitating sounds, difficulty understanding and following simple verbal requests, and if the child does not produce words or phrases.

Any concerns about the child's verbal development should be discussed with the family doctor or pediatrician who will most likely recommend a consultation with a speech-language pathologist, also known as a "speech therapist". These professionals specialize in the study of the development and disorders of human communication and hold at least a master's degree and certification from the American Speech Language Hearing Association, ASHA.

Being competent and experienced in their field is certainly important, but so is having a great way of communicating with young children. The therapist one chooses must not only be knowledgeable, but also someone kids will enjoy spending time with and feel comfortable around.

The proposed approach to therapy should be one that has been proven through years of research. It may be helpful to talk to some other parents whose children have worked with this particular therapist. Parents should involved in the treatment program, continually kept abreast of their toddler's progress, and feel free to share their concerns at any time.

The first meeting with the speech therapist serves as an opportunity for the toddler to become familiar with him or her and an evaluation will also be done at this time. Standardized tests to assess the child's expressive and receptive language skills, tone and clarity when talking, and any abnormalities of the oral structures. Any anomalies should be apparent during this assessment.

If a problem is detected, a suitable course of therapy will be recommended. Parents should be welcome to observe or participate in these individual, group, or class sessions. Props such as books, pictures, and objects will be used to make the sessions fun and interesting. Articulation therapy, in which the child is shown how to make certain sounds, and possibly oral exercises to strengthen muscles of the mouth may also be implemented if indicated.

Parents need to ensure that their child will continue to put what he or she has learned from the therapist to practice at home. This can be done in ways such as naming familiar images in a picture book, or by verbalizing the sights, activities, and feelings one experiences in a day, through the use of purposeful speech.




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