There are many different types of Down syndrome speech therapy activities and exercises that are used to help children with Down syndrome to learn how to speak. These activities can range from simple sign language and/or gestural communication, to more complex exercises, such as having the child try to imitate a therapist’s voice, or even trying to pronounce words. In order for these activities to be effective, it is important that they are done on a regular basis and that the therapist is not only present throughout, but also actively participating in the therapy session.
Down syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s cognitive, physical and physiological ability. Children with Down syndrome do not develop speech in a typical manner and require specific speech therapy methods to improve their communication skills. Many parents of children with Down syndrome worry about the child’s speech development. Parents can learn many different games and activities to improve their child’s speech development at home.
Some of these activities can be completed at home and others will require a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Children with Down syndrome, who are receiving speech therapy, will benefit from having a balanced number of activities that include verbal, non-verbal, and vocal practice.
Speech therapy should be started as soon as possible after your child is diagnosed. The earlier a child begins speech therapy the better the outcome will be. Here are a few simple activities you can do at home with your child to help improve his/her speech and language skills:
- Read books together daily.
This helps build vocabulary, sentence structure, and listening skills. Point to the pictures while reading aloud which will help build the association between words and objects. Sing songs together or play music while dancing around the room which will help develop rhythm and intonation skills. Talk about what you are doing (i.e., “I’m cooking dinner.”) or what you see.
- Home Speech Therapy Games
Parents can play games and perform activities with their children to help them learn new words. Before beginning home speech therapy, parents should consult their child’s speech therapist for advice on which activities are most appropriate for their child. Parents can work on expanding their child’s vocabulary by playing word association games such as “Simon Says” and “I Spy.” Parents can also practice forming simple sentences with their children using objects they own. For example, the parent and child can look at a picture of a dog together and the parent can say, “I see the dog.” The child can then repeat the sentence and eventually put it together without help from the parent.
Down syndrome speech therapy activities are a great way to get students involved in speech and language therapy and teach them about the ways that their peers with Down syndrome differ from them. Students can practice speech sounds and words, begin to understand how their peers communicate, and develop a deeper understanding of their own communication abilities.
Down syndrome speech therapy is a system that includes an assessment to determine the child’s communication strengths and weaknesses and an individualized plan of intervention. Treatment may include specific strategies to improve language, social skills, self-help skills, social interactions, and motor development. Therapists work with families and children to develop strategies that suit their needs.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the physical and mental development of a child. It is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 in most or all of the body’s cells. Down syndrome may cause developmental delays and problems with thinking, reasoning and learning.
Down syndrome speech therapy is an important step in helping children with this condition develop their verbal skills. This type of treatment focuses on strengthening muscles and improving communication skills through repetitive exercises and games.
Down syndrome speech therapy activities are designed specifically for children with this condition. They include games like “Story Time”, “Simon Says” and “Name That Tune”. These types of games help children practice their verbal skills while having fun at the same time!
Other activities such as reading aloud or listening to music can also be beneficial for those who have trouble speaking clearly due to their condition’s effects on muscle control; these types of exercises are usually done alone as part of a larger plan that includes physical therapy exercises too.