Speech therapy strategy for early language development- Multi-modal language modeling

From birth to 3 years old, there is a lot of language development taking place. Children coo, vocalize, babble, and say their first words, and eventually have a word for almost everything! Check out this and this blog for more on language milestones.

Sometimes a child may need support to develop their language, and speech therapy can be helpful. In a speech therapy session, a speech therapist can share strategies to help a child continue learning and saying new words and phrases. These strategies are also helpful for caregivers to learn and carry over at home, so the support continues beyond the speech therapy session.

One way to support a toddler who is learning their first words and phrases is to use multi-modal communication. We verbally share a word and then pair it with a sign or gesture. Signs and gestures often develop before verbal words, so it provides a way for children to express themselves as they continue to develop their ability to say words verbally.

There is a common misconception that using sign language will delay a child's verbal language. This myth is rooted in the belief that if we allow a child to communicate with signs, they won't try saying words. The opposite is, in fact, true. Children who use signs (and gestures) to communicate are less frustrated because they're able to effectively share a message, while they continue to develop the ability to verbally say words. Once a child is able to say a word verbally, they are most likely going to use that spoken word. It's important to think of language as something that develops rather than a behavior. A child develops the ability to say words. The support we provide them, whether it's speech therapy, an enriching home environment, etc., can help them develop this skill.

If you're looking to support your toddler's language development, we have a couple of options that might be helpful:

• Individual speech therapy sessions at your home, child's school, or in our office spaces in Brooklyn Heights and Gowanus.

• Our toddler language classes are called Mae-Mae & Me. These small groups are geared toward children developing their first words and phrases. Check out this blog about Mae- Mae & Me, as well as this page where we update our current cohorts!

Reach out to us today to learn more about our services!