Tuesday, 29 July 2014

The Benefits Of Speech Therapy Tampa

By Imelda Reid


Communication skills are a vital part of life. For most people spoken language is the primary means of communicating with those around them. Some people however have such severe problems that they need to use sign language or a picture system to indicate their needs. Yet even these methods need to be taught and every effort should be made to encourage the child or adult to talk.

The younger the child is when they receive help the better the outcome. Many children are referred to a speech therapy Tampa office as young as a year old. Even at this stage there is a lot that can be done to help them. Low muscle tone is a neurologically based condition that affects a surprising number of children. It is usually diagnosed at birth or shortly afterwards. Getting help early will improve the chances of the child leading a normal life.

The practitioner will take a full history right from birth. They will be interested in all the milestones and on the look out for other problems. Even things that the parents may not think are important may provide vital clues to the puzzle. Some children are simply not motivated to speak, but for others the issues may be more deep seated and need a comprehensive program of therapy and interventions.

Using a simple bottle of bubbles is one of the best ways to help a child learn to control the air in their lungs. In order to blow a bubble the child must take a deep breath, and release a slow but constant stream of air. If it is too much or too little they will not achieve a bubble. This is a great motivator for many children and also allows siblings to help and participate.

Even those children who are not talking will often understand what is said to them and react accordingly. This is a good way to gauge weather other issues are present that may also need to be addressed. Lack of spoken language can be an indicator of additional issues such as autism and childhood apraxia of speech.

It is vital that the parents keep in touch with the therapists and help their child at home. No matter how much work is done in school, it must continue through the long vacations, especially summer. Most therapists are very good at helping parents and putting together supplemental work to solidify skills and prevent regression. Children should also be exposed to as much language as possible, either through books or by playing with other children.

Therapist provide both group and individual sessions to their clients. A combination of both is often the best plan. Children are typically motivated by others and being part of a language rich environment is very helpful. They will also have the opportunity to learn social skills such as taking turns and waiting in line.

Even those who get off to a slow start usually catch up with their peers within a few years. This is very encouraging to parents, who are often very concerned about any delays. Hard work, dedication and a good therapist will overcome a lot of issues.




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