The appearance of the first syllables in the baby's speech practice is the most long-awaited stage for any parent. As a rule, the next step is the formation of the ability to communicate with others using words. However, what if the child is silent and does not show independent activity in the development of communication methods? In this case, specially organized work is required to diagnose the causes of the disorder and corrective assistance of specialists. There are a lot of methods, techniques and various programs for starting speech in non-speaking children today in the everyday life of specialists. It remains only to figure out whether there are universal (suitable for everyone) methods and programs and how to choose ways of developing speech for a particular child.
Symptoms of the appearance of the disorder
Is it possible to determine the appearance of speech disorders at an early age? Of course, yes, if you know what to pay close attention to.
At the stage of the birth of the child - this is the APGAR scale, which measures the general condition of the newborn. A score below 5 points indicates that the baby needs the help of specialists up to a certain age and the sooner correction work and adaptation begin, the better.
Walking, the behavior of the child during feeding, a reaction to external stimuli (or its absence), motor activity can tell a lot of observant parents. Particular attention is paid to the formation of sensory systems: hearing, vision, tactile sensations, and sense of smell - since their timely development will help to avoid the appearance of such a problem as the launch of speech in non-speaking children. Simply put, all of the above is the foundation on which the "temple" of speech is built. If there are holes in the base, it will not be possible to build a beautiful building.
The reasons for the "silent" development of the child
Oddly enough, many factors influence the formation of a child’s speech: poor environmental conditions, risky behavior of future parents, social factors, as well as hereditary diseases. Silence of a child is often a symptom of serious organic disorders or pathogenic processes in the body (deafness, blindness, hydrocephalus, etc.). Any pedagogical methods will not give any result if the recommendations of the doctors are ignored.
The start of speech in non-speaking children in modern methods is recommended to start from the age of two. However, this does not mean that work on the formation of cognitive, mental processes, memory, and motor activity is not carried out. The successful application of the methods, techniques and methods of pedagogical influence largely depends on how well the above characteristics are developed.
When to start corrective work with the baby
The launch of speech in non-speaking children begins with the development and establishment of the interaction of sensory systems (taste, touch, smell, etc.). The age of the child in this case does not play a big role, since it is impossible to pass the first stage of development without consequences. Therefore, both a one-year-old and a two-year-old baby must pass the stage of sensory integration, after which the work on the formation of speech skills begins. Naturally, the early development of sensory standards gives the child an advantage in the further development of the surrounding space.
Why development is possible only through the game
A child is a mirror of the family, largely because nature provided him with an imitation. And the development method, which makes full use of this innate feature, is the game. The launch of speech in non-speaking children takes place based on daily actions and events that are transferred to the game (imitation of the sound of a flying bee, the operation of household appliances, vehicles, etc.). Over time, the thinking and perception of the world will change as a baby, and after them the leading (developing) activity. But up to 5 years is a game.
Programs and methods often offered to parents
The modern market for educational services is not deprived of speech-starting courses for non-speaking children. The only thing that should alert the parent is the use of any programs, techniques and methods in relation to the child without first studying (diagnosing) his current needs and physiological status. Indeed, the methods of working with children with hearing impairment differ from the methods of interaction with visually impaired children. Just as there are no identical developmental disorders, there can be no equally positive result from applying the same methodology to different categories of logopaths. Therefore, the parent's awareness of the nature and degree of developmental disruption of the child allows you to choose from the whole variety of programs and courses exactly what is suitable for the baby at the current stage of development.
The most popular among speech therapists is the method of starting speech in non-speaking children of the author T.N. Novikova-Ivantsova (abbreviated IPLF). This is a system of pedagogical influence on a logopath, which should be combined for greater effectiveness with medical supervision (with medication, physiotherapy, if necessary, etc.).
Neuroscopedic programs for starting speech in non-speaking children usually include the use of sensory integration methods, stimulation using Tomatis equipment, the use of modern (IT) software, art therapy (rhythm, light, and music therapy).
Timely contacting specialists is the key to success
Ideally, it would be nice to see multidisciplinary specialists watching the development of a child from birth. But if this is not possible, then you should not delay a visit to a speech therapist, neurologist and pediatrician if, at 2.5 - 3 years old, only a few slurred words appeared in the everyday speech of the baby or he communicates using gestures and sounds.
The sooner the comprehensive assistance of doctors and teachers begins in the development and adaptation of the child to the outside world, the faster and more successful correctional work will be carried out. Do not forget that the sensitive period of speech development ends by 7-8 years and further attempts to correct the violation will be more time-consuming and painful.
List of mandatory activities for the development of the child's speech
- A complete medical examination of all the sensory systems of the child.
- Mandatory consultations (and observation) of narrow-profile specialists (ENT, dentist, neurologist, endocrinologist, etc.).
- If required, a course of massage and physiotherapy.
- Consultations with a speech therapist, psychologist in order to determine further interaction.
- Daily classes on correcting speech and psychological status (this mode is desirable, since in this case it is possible to quickly achieve certain results; if this is not possible, at least three times a week).
- The use by parents in everyday life of a child of games for starting speech in non-speaking children, recommended by a speech therapist and psychologist.
- Filling the space around the child with sensory diversity (extremes like “girls prefer pink and boys prefer blue or blue” should be avoided to form standards.)
- Caring for the variety of motor activity of the baby (this will allow the formation of such an important organ as the inner ear and the vestibular apparatus).
Patience and a little effort.