What learning activities will you apply for learners with speech and language impairment

Speech impairments include difficulties with articulation, voice strength, or the complete inability to produce speech. Stuttering, stammering, disfluency, hoarseness, breathiness, or breaks in volume or pitch are considered impairments as well. Speech impairments can be caused by cleft lip or palate, or by cerebral palsy, autism, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities or have no known cause. This article will give you some teaching strategies for students with communication disorders. 

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Students with speech impairments may be difficult to understand and experience problems expressing ideas. These students may be reluctant to answer questions in class, and in particular, give presentations individually or in a group. Educators must be patient and encourage the student to participate in classroom activities, giving her adequate time to speak. Teachers should speak to the student as they would any other student. Do not interrupt or try to complete her thoughts. Ask her to repeat her message when necessary; do not feign understanding.

Specific Strategies for Teachers

Educators should create an environment of acceptance and understanding in the classroom, and encourage peers to accept the student with speech impairment. Practice and maintain easy and effective communication skills by modeling good listening skills and by facilitating participation of all students in classroom discussions and activities. If a student requires a sign language interpreter or the use of augmentative communication, provide adequate space and time to accommodate these forms of communication.

Some students with severe communication disorders will have deficits with the analytical skills required to read and write. Individual instruction may be necessary to remediate these deficits, but should be provided discreetly to avoid embarrassment and possible resistance. Teachers should constantly model the correct production of sound. Maintain eye contact with the student, then tell her to watch the movements of your mouth when providing direct instruction. Ask her to copy these movements when she produces the sounds.

When introducing new vocabulary, help a student with speech impairment practice difficult words. Dividing words into syllables and pronouncing each syllable will improve speech, reading and writing. Using many different listening activities will also aid the student in comprehending and determining her own production of sounds. Ask her if she hears the individual sounds in words by having her answer “yes” or “no.”

More specific teaching strategies for students with communication disorders include:

• Allowing more time for a student to complete activities, assignments and tests.
• Having a student sit near you to easily meet her learning needs.
• Discussing possible areas of difficulty and working with the student to implement accommodations.
• Always asking before providing assistance, and using positive reinforcement when the student completes an activity independently.
• Using peer assistance when appropriate.
• Modifying activities or exercises so assignments can be completed by the student, but providing the same or similar academic objectives.
• Creating tests that are appropriate for the student with speech impairment (for example, written instead of oral or vice versa.)
• Providing scribes for test taking if a student needs assistance.
• Making sure the student understands test instructions completely and providing additional assistance if needed.

Remember, patience is extremely necessary in teaching students with speech impairments. Accepting and accommodating an individual’s speech will benefit educators, classmates, and of course, the student herself by sharpening listening skills and promoting learning and understanding. After all, everyone’s voice deserves to be heard.

Image by Henning Westerkamp from Pixabay

Speech & Language Activities for Children

There are many easy activities that you can do with your children to encourage better speech and language skills. If you’d like to jumpstart language acquisition, consider making these speech and language activities with your children a part of your everyday lifestyle.

Birth to 12 Months

Simple Games: Did you know that playtime activities are a great way to develop your child’s speech and language skills? There are lots of fun speech activities that you can play to work on language skills, but consider the following: pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo, and waving bye-bye.

Use Everyday Tasks: Everyday speech activities are perfect for proper developmental language skills. As you’re going about your day with your baby, simply talk about what you’re doing, where you’re going, or who you’re going to see.

Repeat and Imitate Language: Although babbles, coos, and gurgles may just be baby talk, you should still respond to these utterances as if they were real language. While you’re doing so, remember to imitate your baby’s laugher and facial expressions.

Teach Animal Sounds: When your children learn animal sounds, they’re on their way to faster talking. Some great ways to introduce your children to the world of “roar” and “moo” is to engage in language activities like singing songs that incorporate animals, reading a book with animal sounds, acting like your favorite animal, and utilizing animal sound apps.

1 to 2 Years

Observe and Comment: Throughout the day, point to familiar objects and say their names. There’s no need to feel as though you need to fill all of the silences with banter. Just casually comment on the things that your children are doing so that they can learn new vocabulary.

Watch Your Language Level: Avoid using complex sentences that your children aren’t going to understand. Speak to your children using simple, grammatically correct speech that they can easily imitate. Here’s a great example: “More juice?”

Imitate Sounds: Make speech and learning development fun by imitating sounds with your children. Such sounds may include fire sirens, chirping birds, barking dogs, or running water.

Expand On Words and Sentences: Rather than asking your children to repeat words, consider expanding on their words and sentences. If your child says “apple,” respond with “You want more apple?”

Don’t Forget OWL:

• Observe the things and activities that interest your children.
• Wait about 20 seconds for your children to initiate.
• Listen to what your children have to say.

2 to 3 Years

Be A Great Role Model: During this critical age range, it’s important to model the behavior that you’d like to see from your children. The best way to accomplish this goal is to use clear and simple speech that your children can easily imitate. As you’re engaging in conversation with your children, remember to face them as you are speaking. Don’t forget to always model correct pronunciation.

Communicate Regularly: Even if it’s just for a few minutes every day, spend some quality time with your children without any distractions. During this interaction, gently ask your children to repeat words and phrases that you don’t understand. Instead of asking “yes” or “no” questions, ask your children questions that require a choice. Here are some great questions: Do you want a snack? How do you feel today?

Engage in Daily Language Activities: When it comes to speech and language development, you can make an everyday activity a learning one. Singing songs with your children is a great way to encourage proper speech and literary development. Just make sure that you sing songs that contain rhythm and rhyme. Do you have many family photos lying around the house? Encourage your children to describe what is happening in the photos with simple phrases and sentences.

Read Books, Books, and More Books: Many studies have shown that books are a great way to help children develop optimal language and early literacy skills. That’s why as a parent, it’s a good idea to use books to expand on your children’s vocabulary. When you are reading a book to your children, consider pointing to objects, using synonyms for familiar words, and describing the pictures in a book. To encourage better literary skills at this age, make sure to choose books with simple sentences.

The Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center Is Here To Help!
If you have any concerns about your children’s speech, language, or hearing development, you should schedule a consultation with the Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center immediately. Our Center offers screenings, evaluations, and treatment for children in the Northeast Florida, area.

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