Speech Therapy: More Than Just Speech

Speech therapists are often associated only with speech problems in children. Many parents, hoping for help, send their children to classes in the hope of hearing their first words within a month. But let's figure out what speech therapy really is.

Speech is a complex mental function that is formed on the basis of already formed skills and a sufficiently developed central nervous system. As with any other skill, the formation of speech takes time and stimulus.

If by 2-2.5 years old the child still does not pronounce simple phrases, this may cause concern. It is not advisable to expect a child to suddenly start talking at 5 years old when more complex skills are already required.

A common misconception is that the child understands everything but simply does not speak. In fact, many children may understand simple instructions but have difficulty with more complex tasks.

Delayed speech development is often associated with other factors such as motor skills, thinking, hearing, speech comprehension, and memory.

Don't wait for your child to grow up and face even more difficult tasks. Speech therapy classes will certainly help, but it is important to understand that they take time and effort on the part of both the specialist and the parents.

Regular sessions with a speech therapist, parental support, and doing homework are the key points that will help your child overcome difficulties in speech development.

Reference:

https://www.mainlinehealth.org/blog/speech-therapy-more-than-words