5. Make use of your support system!
Speech-language pathologists understand that when a client has a strong support system in place—someone (or someone!) who consistently shows up and engages in their speech therapy—they are more likely to succeed. They also do it at a faster rate.
A parent, caregiver, adult child, spouse, sibling, closest friend, or even a coworker might serve as a support system. Basically, it’s anyone you feel at ease with and who is invested in your success. Your speech therapist can demonstrate how they can continue to assist you outside of speech therapy sessions.
6. It is rarely a smart idea to “wait and see.”
Some children may be “late bloomers,” and their delayed speaking is not caused for concern. But we can never presume such until it is validated by a specialist. Similarly, some individuals may sustain a head injury or have a stroke and recover fully. If you have any concerns, it is never too early or too late to consult with a speech-language pathologist.
There is no disadvantage to getting a speech and language evaluation to ensure that everything is going as planned. Either you get peace of mind, or you get the education and expertise you need to begin addressing your communication difficulties.
7. Everything we do has a purpose, even if it appears to play.
In my years as a speech-language pathologist, I’ve heard clients say, “We used to go to speech therapy but stopped because they didn’t actually accomplish anything. “They were simply sitting with my mum,” or “they were just playing with my toddler.”
Many persons cannot make progress in speech and language by completing worksheets at a desk. Speech therapy is all about incorporating strategies into your daily life. Your speech therapist should describe your therapy goals as well as the tactics you will use to achieve them.
If you’re a caregiver for a child in treatment, know that we’re not just playing when we spend a session stacking blocks and knocking them down! We could be aiming for significant linguistic goals like following multi-step instructions or learning positional ideas.
If you are a spouse or an adult child of a parent having therapy, you may allow some stillness to fill the room to assist your loved one in analyzing words so they can develop an acceptable answer. Everything your speech therapist does in a session provides information to them.
