Just like visiting the dentist, doctor, physio or optometrist, it’s important that your child visits a speech therapist if you notice discrepancies in their speech and language development.
Speech is an important part of everyday life. It allows us to express ourselves, make connections, learn and engage with the world around us. Therefore, it’s important you prioritise treatment for your child as necessary.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we specialise in treating children with speech and language delays, with a focus on providing a holistic experience for both the parent and child. Today, we’re giving insight into some of the benefits of speech therapy for kids, and why it’s important to seek treatment.
Speech Therapy Assists with Self Expression
As we know, children are ever changing; building upon their personality each and every day and trying to form new relationships. If your child has a speech or language impediment, it can be difficult for them to express themselves, which in turn will make it difficult for them to build relationships and connect with others.
During speech therapy, children will learn how to form correct sentences and speak with clarity in a way that others can understand. At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we can create a customised treatment plan for your child that directly targets their speech difficulties, with exercises that are enjoyable and relevant to your child’s interests.
Improves their Social Skills
Speech Therapy is not only about correcting speech impediments or delays, it’s also about teaching children how to interact in social settings. Children who have difficulty with social communications skills tend to suffer in a number of important areas; education, friendships and even mental health as lack of connection can lead to feelings of isolation.
However, a speech therapist can support your child with their social skill development in a number of ways so that they can build stronger connections and more fulfilling relationships.
Social skills therapy at Alex V. Speech Pathology will often include:
- Matching emotions to faces
- Learning how to carry a conversation
- Identifying and understanding nonverbal body language
- Learning how to communicate in different settings
- Learning how to communicate with different communication partners (friend vs teacher vs parent)
Helps Build Reading and Writing Skills
Development of your child’s reading and writing skills is vital in the early years of their life. If they seem to be struggling with reading in school beyond a teacher’s help, it is a good idea to invest in language therapy to support their skill development. This is because a speech therapist is specifically trained to find the root cause of the child’s reading and writing struggles, approaching the issue using evidence-based treatment methods.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we work with your child until they have reached the satisfactory reading and writing standard for their year level and will persist until this is achieved.
Cognitive Development
The human brain is designed for speech; when we think to ourselves, we speak an internal monologue. As we learn speech and language, we continue to shape our cognitive development by learning new vocabulary, problem solving skills and ways of speaking. Therefore, if your child has a speech impediment, it can have an impact on their cognition.
However, Speech Therapy can improve this. Speech Pathologists are trained in cognitive based strategies to improve a child’s reasoning and problem solving, self-talk, self-awareness, memory, executive functioning and comprehension.
Alex V. Speech Pathology specialises in children’s Speech Pathology, delivering treatment in a non-intimidating way that helps children feel at ease. To book a consultation at either of our Brisbane or Ipswich clinics, contact Alex V. Speech Pathology on (07) 3217 7037.