So, the situation develops in such a way that you understand that a child simply needs a speech therapist-defectologist.
The decision has been made and this is wonderful, because by turning away from the problem, waiting for the child to speak on his own, you only aggravate his condition. The sooner you start regular classes, the faster and easier it will be to achieve success. Now you need to choose where to study:
- Speech therapist at the district clinic.
- Speech therapy garden or group.
- A specialist in a speech center or visiting your home.
We have already said that rushing to send a child to a specialized kindergarten is not always rational. As a rule, the group is attended by children with a very large delay in speech development, which means that if “your” disorder is not so deep, the child simply will not have anyone to communicate with. Unfortunately, very quickly children in such a situation begin to speak worse, involuntarily matching the level of those around them.
A specialist in a clinic is another way out. However, everyone understands that in the presence of queues and long registration periods, it is unlikely that the child will be able to receive maximum attention.
What remains is a specialized center. Here, speech therapists-defectologists are highly qualified and can pay attention to your child and plan lessons individually, based on the characteristics of his problem and even his character. You can come to the speech center, or you can invite a speech pathologist to conduct classes at home. Most often, classes are held at home for children with cerebral palsy, and for adults after a stroke (with aphasia).
Convenience for parents or child?
There is an opinion that it is better to call a speech therapist at home. Let's figure out whether it's really that convenient.
In what cases are home classes needed:
- Convenience for the child. This applies to situations where the child has a complex diagnosis that does not require frequent travel around the city. Here it is better to call a specialist at home than to skip lessons. To achieve the effect, you must exercise at least twice a week.
- Convenience for parents. There are situations when work or living conditions simply do not allow time for travel. But a good speech therapist-defectologist can conduct appointments on the other side of the city.
In fact, these are probably the only reasons why it is worth conducting classes with a speech therapist at home. Regular visits to the speech center give greater effect. And there are strong arguments for this:
- Well-equipped office. To practice, a speech therapist needs to have a lot at hand. Wall and table mirrors are necessary to practice correct articulation. The child must control the work of his lips and tongue, which means he needs to see what he can do. A lot of teaching aids, board games, mosaics, cards with pictures, etc. All activities for children should be carried out in a playful way and with frequent changes of activities so that interest does not disappear, so that the child does not get tired and works effectively. Children's musical instruments, a metronome, and a slide projector are often used in lessons. These materials are available in a good specialized center. It is simply impossible to bring everything you need to your home.
- Work environment. The speech therapist's office is equipped in such a way that children are not distracted by foreign objects. Children often come to classes with problems concentrating and lack of perseverance. And it will be difficult for any child to concentrate on tasks if there is a bright toy and a picture on the shelf nearby. In the speech therapist-speech pathologist's office, all didactic games and objects are put away in the closet, and only those that are necessary for a specific lesson appear on the table. At home, the child will always have his favorite bear or train at hand.
- “Helping” walls at home. One of the frequent arguments in favor of homeschooling for parents is the expression “houses and walls help.” Many people believe that at home a child will feel more confident, freer, and less embarrassed. Unfortunately, in this case, the home environment just gets in the way. Children feel not only freer, but also more relaxed. This means they are poorly prepared to work. When they come to the Center, they know that they have come to study. Now the teacher will come and you will need to complete assignments, draw, do gymnastics for the tongue, and so on. At home, this mood disappears, which means that the speech therapist has to spend most of the time trying to restore the working spirit.
Teacher-speech therapist Elena Viktorovna Lantsova
So, you have decided to start teaching your child on your own before you have the opportunity to get qualified help.
Before you begin, prepare everything you might need.
- A large tabletop mirror so that the child can monitor the correctness of his performance of articulation gymnastics exercises. “Lotto” of various topics (zoological, biological, “Cookware”, “Furniture”, etc.).
- It is also good to purchase dummies of fruits, vegetables, sets of small plastic toy animals, insects, vehicles, doll dishes, etc. (or at least pictures)
- Cut pictures from two or more parts.
- Until your child’s speech underdevelopment is completely compensated, your hobby should be collecting various pictures that may be useful in preparing for classes (colorful food packaging, magazines, posters, catalogs, etc.) Get a large box at home where you will put your “collection” "
To develop fine motor skills, purchase or make games yourself: plasticine and other materials for modeling, construction sets, lacing, counting sticks, etc.
- A notebook or album for sticking pictures and planning lessons.
The main difficulty for parents is the child’s reluctance to study. To overcome this, you need to interest the baby. It is important to remember that the main activity of children is play.
All classes must follow the rules of the game!
You can “go on a trip” to the Fairytale Kingdom or visit Dunno. A teddy bear or doll can also “talk” to the baby. It is a rare child who will sit still and absorb knowledge.
Do not worry!
Your efforts will not be in vain, and the results of your studies will definitely appear.
Recommendations from a speech therapist
To achieve results you need to practice every day. The following are held daily:
• games to develop fine motor skills,
• articulation gymnastics (preferably 2 times a day),
• games to develop auditory attention or phonemic awareness,
• games for the formation of lexical and grammatical categories.
The number of games is 2-3 per day, in addition to games for the development of fine motor skills and articulatory gymnastics.
Don't overtire your baby! Don't overload with information! This may cause stuttering.
Start practicing with 3-5 minutes a day, gradually increasing the time. Some classes (for example, on the formation of lexical and grammatical categories) can be carried out on the way home.
The duration of a lesson without a break should not exceed 15–20 minutes.
Later, the child’s attention will dissipate, and he will not be able to perceive any information. Some children cannot concentrate even during this time, because each child is individual. If you see that your child’s gaze is wandering, that he no longer reacts at all to your speech, no matter how hard you try and attract all the play moments familiar to you, then the lesson must be stopped or interrupted for a while.
Introduce your child to children's literature! Try to read at least a few pages to your child, look at the pictures of the text you read, describe them, ask your child questions about the text.
“When can you get everything done?” - you ask. Reading books can be postponed until the evening before bed.
Perhaps other teachers will consider this wrong, because it is at this time in the evening that the child is tired and his attention is scattered. Checked! Reading before bed becomes a child’s favorite pastime - after all, for another 15-20 minutes you can stay awake, chat with parents, and share your secrets.
It is advisable that the theme of the literary work coincide with the lexical theme of the week.
Use visual materials! It is difficult for children to perceive words separated from an image.
For example, if you decide to learn the names of fruits with your child, show them in their natural form or use dummies and pictures.
Speak clearly while facing your child. Let him see the movements of your lips and remember them.
Don't use the word "wrong"! Support all your child’s endeavors, praise even minor successes. Don't ask him to pronounce the word correctly right away. It’s better to just repeat the sample pronunciation of this word yourself.
Don't be afraid to experiment! You can invent games yourself. It all depends on your imagination.
You can adapt (simplify) complex games if the child does not perceive them in the form in which you propose them.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today! Patience and success to you!
How can a speech therapist work online?
Development trends in the modern world lead to the increasing popularity of online work and some services can now be provided remotely. Speech therapy practice is no exception - programs such as Skype or Zoom help successfully conduct speech correction classes for children, adolescents and adults. Online speech therapy work is a good alternative to regular speech therapy classes when it is not possible to personally visit a speech therapist due to geographic distance.
Advantages of online work
- You can study in comfortable conditions without leaving your apartment or office.
- It is easier to ensure continuity and regularity of correctional work.
- Online speech therapy classes are more profitable in terms of time and financial costs.
Disadvantages of online work
- It is difficult to establish personal and emotional contact with the student.
- In the process of speech therapy work with young children, it is necessary to involve parents in classes.
- Dependence on the uninterrupted operation of the Internet and the serviceability of the device with which the lesson is conducted.
- It is impossible to implement correctional tasks that require the personal participation of a speech therapist: massage or mechanical sound production.
The experience of speech therapy work shows that if properly organized, distance speech correction classes can be no less effective than speech therapy classes in person with a speech therapist.
What equipment is needed for online speech therapy work?
LAPTOP OR PC WITH WEB CAM
A laptop and PC have a significant advantage over even the most expensive and new mobile devices and tablets.
Firstly , a large screen and a clear image help you see all the movements of the articulatory apparatus. Poor quality images or small screen sizes make visual control difficult for the speech therapist. Consequently, assistance may not be provided correctly.
Secondly , the laptop is stable on the table surface, unlike a tablet or phone, which can fall. If this happens during the demonstration of pictures or the method of performing the exercise, the lesson will be interrupted at the most crucial moment.
Thirdly , a laptop and PC allow you to display a screen on which your e-books, speech therapy manuals or pictures can be opened. This is more difficult to do on a phone or tablet.
Fourthly , the loading speed and operation of various programs on a PC and laptop is much higher than on mobile devices. It's easy to get confused with apps on your tablet. Moreover, phones and tablets regularly receive messages and calls, which significantly reduces the quality of work.
HEADPHONES AND MICROPHONE
Headphones and a microphone are not necessary, but they greatly improve the quality of the experience. Thanks to headphones, only you hear your student and the sound does not spread to neighboring rooms. Headphones also help to track all the nuances of sound pronunciation or voice sound. And the microphone will help you control the volume of your own voice.
What programs are suitable for online speech therapy work?
SKYPE Skype is the most popular program with high-quality video calling. Skype is great for individual lessons with children and adults. Advantages of speech therapy work on Skype:
- the program is easy to install, has simple functionality and an interface that both children and adults can understand;
- Skype allows you to share your screen, on which your pictures or speech therapy manuals can be opened.
ZOOM Zoom is a conferencing platform that will help you conduct not only individual classes, but also group ones. Zoom is a little more complicated than Skype. But Zoom provides equally high-quality video communication and also allows you to share your screen. Advantages of working in Zoom:
- allows you to work simultaneously with a small group of students;
- ensures complete confidentiality of speech therapy work;
- allows you to demonstrate only the screen with the necessary speech therapy aid.
Zoom or Skype must be downloaded and installed on your computer. If you use these programs from a browser, they will slow down and freeze.
Recommendations for online speech therapy classes
1. Organize your workplace in a separate room where no strangers will be present. 2. Consider the lighting - work in front of a window during the day, and use additional light in the evening. 3. Prepare in advance manuals, tools or toys that will be useful to you during the lesson. 4. Copy all electronic manuals into a separate folder called “Classes on Skype” 5. Store links to various online resources in a single text document. 6. The structure of the lesson and the order of work do not differ from a regular speech therapy lesson. 7. Involve parents in the activities - ask them to sit nearby and provide assistance if necessary. 8. Warn your students that lessons on Skype must be taken responsibly:
- get in touch on time; - study while sitting at a table; - Put yourself and the room in order.
The most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident while working. Carry out correction work without fuss. Behave as naturally and enthusiastically as you would in a regular speech therapy session. We hope our recommendations will help you work online easily and effectively!
useful links
Speechbolix is an online training program for stuttering correction in adolescents and adults. Dictionbolix is an online program for improving diction, developing erudition and improving communication.
Why do different speech therapists have different prices?
The price of classes depends very much on the professionalism of the person who will work with your child and on the location of the classes.
If the speech therapist has additional medical education, the cost will be higher. Also, the markup is due to the fame and reputation of the clinic.
In some places, the price also depends on the diagnosis and age of the child . Older children are more difficult to relearn, because of this they need more classes, and they are more expensive. It should be borne in mind that in different clinics, class times may vary, and, accordingly, prices are also different because of this.
What kind of doctor is a speech therapist?
A speech therapist is a specialist who helps children with improperly formed speech or in case of late development. Doesn’t the baby know how to pronounce “r” and “l”, or even says “fyfki” instead of “bump”? A competent teacher will not only teach the child the correct pronunciation of words and sounds, but will also help develop memory and attention .
People often make the mistake of thinking that the work of a speech therapist consists only of producing sounds. In addition to this obvious side of working with speech, there are also classes with grammar, vocabulary and prosody (diction, intonation and stress), because in the child’s speech there may also be implicit problems when, instead of one word, a completely different word is pronounced, or only part of it.
In speech therapy practice, there are several ways to produce sounds. The first is imitation . It is based on conscious attempts to repeat the pronunciation of sounds by a speech therapist. The second method involves the use of special probes or spatulas. Nowadays, they very rarely resort to the second method due to the fact that children are afraid of the “scary pieces of iron.” Probes are used only in extreme cases (for example, with deaf children), often replacing them with improvised means familiar to the child in everyday life.
