Speech Delays in Children: What to Do
Your kid has been diagnosed with a speech delay ... now what?! Here's how to take action:
report abuse- If your kid is under 3, he should be referred to an early childhood intervention program for speech therapy. If he is over 3, the local school district may provide you with a speech therapist/pathologist.
- Read to your kid. Make a game of pointing out and naming things in picture books.
- Narrate your day. Name foods at the grocery store, point out things going on around you. By talking a lot, you are exposing your kid to language.
- Ask him simple questions about his day (but don't use baby talk). Repeat his answers to him using longer phrases.
- Be patient. Don't rush him to answer or force him to talk.
- Don't correct errors in your kid's speech—unless a speech therapist advises you to do so.
- Ask your kid's speech therapist how you can help his progress. Work together as a team.
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