Need Help Developing a Program for 3 Year old with Speech Delay.?

Question

My son recently had surgery to place tubes in his ears, and remove the adnoids. His ear problems resulted in a speech delay. We've been to a speech therapist, and is going to start a devopmental pre-school in May. In the meanwhile however we were wondering if someone could help us form some excercises at home in order to help him learn to talk. Any help will be apprieciated.

Answer 1

Just keep talking. Reading books and naming animals is great fun and probably will do the trick. Usually when a problem is fixed and the ears are working fine again they catch up pretty fast.

Important rule: Make it fun and don't over do it. If you force it he will possibly shut down. Fun is the best teacher and home should be a safe place to play...

Answer 2

Besdies speech therapy and othe rservices... there are two basic things that you can not do enough of... READ, READ, AND READ... and TALK, TALK, AND TALK.   Also, encourage opportunities for your child to use language.  Instead of asking yes and no questions, ask things that require an answer of substance.  As a mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy with a severe language disorder, I can say that these simple things are very, very, very helpful.  GOOD LUCK AND remember that progress may at times be very slow but it is still progress.

Answer 3

Why aren't you asking his therapist this question? He/ she can provide advice for you, as well as activities. Not knowing where he stands, I can only give you general advice.

If his speech delay was only due to the hearing issue (and not a language disorder), he will pick up speech and language rapidly if he has enough exposure. Name everything you see, provide a model for sentences (DO NOT correct him; he will pick it up on his own), and read to him. Watch Sesame Street. Go places. Meet new people.

Answer 4

it would all depend on the level of speech your son has at the moment. if he has very limited speech, one idea would be to start with a picture book ( just draw, photo or cut out from magazines pictures of things he does every day, eg. the toilet, meal times, toys, shopping park etc) when he points to some thing, say the word clearly and try to get him to repeat it. if he speaks a little more but it is not very clear, i would repeat back to him everything he says, clearly.