Any ideas on helping a preschool child with a speech problem?

Question

The school already sends help to the house twice a week, but we're not seeing much improvement. He is very vocal, just can't understand him. We can, but we are adjusted to it.

Answer 1

Ask the therapist what her objectives or goals are in therapy. Then you will get an idea on what she is working on.  Don't get too anxious if your child just started therapy.  It takes time.  Sometimes children need more time getting those speech muscles going.  Try playing games where he has to make sounds-specific sound.  It teaches him where to place his tongue and lips.  For example, the sounds of a car or animal.   Use gestures with your words. Have him watch your face for how you pronounce words.

Answer 2

It sounds like your child has very low intelligibility meaning you can understand him, but others have a very hard time.  

I have taught preschool special needs children before and their speech therapist worked wonders with them using Express Train CD's.  They are very effective with teaching language and speech skills and was created by a speech therapist.  

I highly recommend!  Good luck to you!

Answer 3

File Folder games work well...try  www.kromansinc.com

Answer 4

set up a time you can interact with the speech therapist or other party who is coming to your home.  two of my children had to have speech therapy.  one was just 18 months old when she started, and because we were on medi-cal (welfare paid for the medical needs of my children) they would only pay for therapy 2 times per week, and the therapist reccommended 4, she and her staff trained me to do the rest of her therapy. it was very hard to see her struggle but after a few months it just became part of the norm at home and it really did help her her brother and the rest of our family.  most of what we helped her with was very simple and beginning in just a few weeks she was able to use more than 10 new words and was at least trying more.

one of the first things the therapist told us was to use actual pictures of things (photographs if possible) the more real the thing in the picture the easier for the child to recognize the object in real life.  so take pictures or use pictures from the newspapers or magazines to make flash cards for things you see everyday....like food, toys and begin with having him point to the object he wants....and then the first sound and so on....use books like tana hobans with real pictures instead of dr seuss or richard scarry....

and try smaller words for things like tv instead of television......eat instead of breakfast......and use simple words like on/off in/out all the time using lights, clothes, toys etc......have him repeat the words and tell him he will need to try 3 times before you give in to him.......by the way you dont say how old the child is .......if he is over 3 yrs the public school or preschool program has to accept him as a special needs child if they are sending him a speech helper to your home......

also try the headstart program if he is over 3 or early headstart if he is under 3....it is a free program that will help a lot.

Answer 5

well, try going to starfall.com because they have great verbal activities and gmaes that your child will get used to. there was once this boy who would not even talk, but starfall helped him get great speech

Answer 6

You said the school is sending help already, is it a speech therapist they are sending? My son had a similiar problem, and the school system paid for speech therapy in his preschool years till he was in 4th grade, when he no longer needed it.

Good luck

Answer 7

You need to talk with that "help."   Is  it an aid or a speech therapist?

You should have a copy of the IEP or educational plan that was worked out with the school.  You should have received some sort of training on how to work with the child.  If you have not, then ask for it.  You should be reinforcing the activities he's getting in his in-home services.

Another thought, if you have a case manager, get that person involved.  Do look into the sites that other posters have mentioned.  These interactive programs can really help.