Speech & Language

"Problems with language may involve difficulty expressing ideas coherently, learning new vocabulary, understanding questions, following directions, recalling information, understanding and remembering something that has just been said, reading at a satisfactory pace, comprehending spoken or read material, learning the alphabet, identifying sounds that correspond to letters, perceiving the correct order of letters in words, and possibly, spelling. " ERIC EC Digest

Difficulty with speech and language, reading, and central auditory processing problems usually suggest a verbal-linguistic weakness. As such, a multi-sensory approach to speech, language and reading is often considered to be the most effective.

If you suspect your child might have a speech or language delay or disorder, speak to your doctor or early childhood nurse so that appropriate intervention can be started as soon as possible.

Toys and games that encourage children to react to and interact with are a great way to try and encourage language development. Puppets, puzzles, games that require listening and following directions, books, CDs and sensory integration toys can be beneficial.