Supporting Children with Difficulties Understanding What is Said to Them
Do you think that your child does not always understand what you are saying? Do they;
- Respond slowly or not at all when you speak to them
- Change the subject or go off tangent to the topic of conversation
- Wait and follow what others do when they are spoken to
- Have poor attention and spoken language skills.
Here at Speech Right, the speech therapists would recommend the following strategies as being useful to use:
Make Sure You Have Gained Your Child’s Attention Before Speaking To Them.
If your child is not concentrating on what you are saying, then they will not be able to listen to and understand what you mean. Wait for your child to look up from the activity they are doing and make eye-contact with you before you speak.
Reduce Your Language Level To That Of Your Child’s
If your child is using spoken phrases of 2 words, make the sentences you use with your child 2-3 words long. This might mean, rather than saying “Go and get your shoes and coat and put them on” using “Get your shoes” “Put your shoes on” “Get your coat” “Put your coat on” would be better.
Match The Words That You Use To The Words That Your Child Uses.
If you use language which is too complex, your child will not be able to workout what you are saying e.g. when a child is developing their understanding of ‘transports’, it wil