My daughter said her first word shortly after her first birthday: Mama. Coincidentally she said it on my birthday – as if she knew this would be the perfect gift. However, as the weeks and months continued, the words did not.
When I brought up my observations at the pediatrician’s office, I was told to “just wait and see.” So I waited, but I didn’t see any change in her speech.
What I did see at playdates and on social media were children her age whose language seemed to be developing at a rapid speed. Google reported that my daughter should have had between 20-40 words. So I began to question my parenting. What was I doing wrong?
Finally, the pediatrician referred us to Early Intervention after her 18-month appointment, and to no surprise, she qualified for speech therapy because she did in fact have a speech delay.
Below is what I’ve learned to better understand and support my child’s speech delay:
Language is Beyond Verbal
While my daughter’s speech is limited, she can communicate through signs and gestures; the most useful signs being more and all done. However, she has picked up on other signs like bath and swim, both of which she requests frequently. She also communicates her musical preferences by gesturing a motion for round and round when she would like to listen to “The Wheels on the Bus” and for “Five Little Monkeys” she shakes her finger. There are many resources for parents to learn how to sign, which can be taught to children as young as six months. It is important to always pair the sign with the word to encourage verbal imitation.
Imitation Takes Repetition
While it can be tempting to resort to telling my daughter “Say _____” speech therapists don’t recommend this as it builds frustration in both the child and parent. Instead of asking your child to “say block” model imitation by repeating the word with the object. For example, while playing with blocks, I might repeat the word while pointing to each block, or I might say “up” with each block as we add it to a tower. You could also pair this with signs.
Provide Choices
Encourage communication by providing your child options between two things. Would they like an apple or a banana? Whenever possible pair this question with the actual object or use a sign or gesture. My daughter will frequently clap for the choice she prefers. When she does this, I try to repeat the word back to her and use a phrase like, “You want an apple?” This now allows her to answer or sign yes and practice additional communication skills beforehand.
Narrate Your Day
While this often feels the most awkward for me, I attempt to narrate our day as much as possible. When our dog starts scratching at the back door, I say, “Nellie wants to go out. We are going to open the door for Nellie. Open!” As we wait for our dog to do her business, I might say, “Today is cold. Brrr!” Pairing the more complex idea with a simpler word or sound (in these cases “open” and “brr”) encourages imitation while providing context.
We may never know why my daughter has a speech delay, but I now know how to better support her during it. It has taken patience and grace, but I try to celebrate the small victories as she learns and grows.
If your child isn’t meeting developmental milestones, contact your local Early Intervention program. Early Intervention is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and in most cases, provided at no charge to you. Sessions typically take place in the comfort of your own home.
