Speech can be very difficult for those with Down syndrome. Due to delays in memory and aural learning, as well as co-ordination issues due to lack of muscle tone and control, speech develops very late compared to "typically developing" peers. Most actual speech therapies start after the first year (about 18 months of age), which begs the question, what can be done in the mean time?
One of the areas that you can work on with your infant is developing the face and mouth. These are the same exercises that one would use to strengthen the facial/mouth muscles and increase sensation in preparation for eating. These techniques are courtesy of ICDSP:
Facial massage: Using two fingers or your thumbs, stroke the baby's face from the upper cheek close to the ears down to the corners of the mouth. Then, stroke down from under the nostrils to the top lip. (Do this 3 or 4 times a day before eating)
Palatal massage: Insert a clean finger into the baby's mouth and stroke the roof of the mouth (the palate) from the middle to the side, stopping at the gum line. Return to middle and continue to other side; repeat 3-4 times prior to every feed
Gum massage: Trace along the gums with firm pressure from the front to the back on each side, top and bottom. Do this 2 to 3 times, twice a day.
Chewing/Toy Mouthing: introduce and encourage the child to use a variety of teething rings, soft toys and feeding utensils; introduce horizontally and to the side to encourage biting of the toy. Do this 3 to 4 times, each side.
Along with these techniques is the single most effective tool to strengthen the oral muscles: breastfeeding. As it provides more resistance than bottle feeding, it encourages the development of the muscles of the lips, cheek and tongue and enhances the coordination of these with breathing. Soother use is also encouraged for this reason.
Another area that can be worked on is sound recognition. As children with Down syndrome are primarily visual learners, the goal is to help the infant link sound with facial expression. When the child is alert and relaxed, find a comfortable position that places both of you at eye level. Remove any background distractions such as a radio or the TV and make eye contact with your child as you make sounds. As you make each sound, monitor your baby for any reaction. Encourage repetition by repeating any sounds that he or she makes. You can make non-speech sounds (which include clicks, pops, "raspberries", etc) or speech sounds (which are repeated consonants or vowels or combination). Make exaggerated examples slowly and clearly to help the baby hear and react to the sound.1
Talking, singing and playing with your baby face to face will also encourage the little one to pay attention to sound. Ensuring optimum hearing through frequent assessment will also help them acquire language.
Although statistically, many children with Down syndrome do not learn to talk until much later than their typical peers, it is possible to help them prepare for this eventuality. By encouraging strong facial muscles along with memory, speech and language skills, the child will be able to speak more clearly and have an increased vocabulary. Which, is extremely important for those very first spoken words.
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1. Courtesy of R. Grey, Speech-Language Pathologist at Trillium Health Centre:
One of the areas that you can work on with your infant is developing the face and mouth. These are the same exercises that one would use to strengthen the facial/mouth muscles and increase sensation in preparation for eating. These techniques are courtesy of ICDSP:
Facial massage: Using two fingers or your thumbs, stroke the baby's face from the upper cheek close to the ears down to the corners of the mouth. Then, stroke down from under the nostrils to the top lip. (Do this 3 or 4 times a day before eating)
Palatal massage: Insert a clean finger into the baby's mouth and stroke the roof of the mouth (the palate) from the middle to the side, stopping at the gum line. Return to middle and continue to other side; repeat 3-4 times prior to every feed
Gum massage: Trace along the gums with firm pressure from the front to the back on each side, top and bottom. Do this 2 to 3 times, twice a day.
Chewing/Toy Mouthing: introduce and encourage the child to use a variety of teething rings, soft toys and feeding utensils; introduce horizontally and to the side to encourage biting of the toy. Do this 3 to 4 times, each side.
Along with these techniques is the single most effective tool to strengthen the oral muscles: breastfeeding. As it provides more resistance than bottle feeding, it encourages the development of the muscles of the lips, cheek and tongue and enhances the coordination of these with breathing. Soother use is also encouraged for this reason.
Another area that can be worked on is sound recognition. As children with Down syndrome are primarily visual learners, the goal is to help the infant link sound with facial expression. When the child is alert and relaxed, find a comfortable position that places both of you at eye level. Remove any background distractions such as a radio or the TV and make eye contact with your child as you make sounds. As you make each sound, monitor your baby for any reaction. Encourage repetition by repeating any sounds that he or she makes. You can make non-speech sounds (which include clicks, pops, "raspberries", etc) or speech sounds (which are repeated consonants or vowels or combination). Make exaggerated examples slowly and clearly to help the baby hear and react to the sound.1
Talking, singing and playing with your baby face to face will also encourage the little one to pay attention to sound. Ensuring optimum hearing through frequent assessment will also help them acquire language.
Although statistically, many children with Down syndrome do not learn to talk until much later than their typical peers, it is possible to help them prepare for this eventuality. By encouraging strong facial muscles along with memory, speech and language skills, the child will be able to speak more clearly and have an increased vocabulary. Which, is extremely important for those very first spoken words.
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| I won't say "Mama" for a while yet, but it will be phenomenal when I do. |
1. Courtesy of R. Grey, Speech-Language Pathologist at Trillium Health Centre:
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