Build Better Speech, Language and Literacy Skills

Ultimate Sound Cues are a unique set of Visual Images, Labels and Hand Gestures that represent each of the speech sounds in English.

The visuals help children learn what sounds make up each word. The labels give meaning to the letter names and the hand gestures provide a physical way to show each sound. Together, the cues make learning easier because they provide a fuller more meaningful experience.

Sound Cues provide the information children need to help them say speech sounds correctly and to build their early literacy skills – early reading and spelling.

English is Confusing, Ultimate Sound Cues Help!

Free! You can download my complete Ultimate Sound Cues Program which includes all of the Images, Labels, Hand Gestures and more for no cost. I hope you find it helpful. 

Purpose

I want to provide parents and professionals with the tools they need to help promote speech, language and early literacy. These are the same resources and strategies that I use in my professional practice and that I used with my own kids at home. I want to help you teach your child to talk. 

Speech and Language therapy doesn’t have to expensive or complicated. I have been helping parents help their children for more than 33 years as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.  Let me help you and your child.

Better Speech, Language and Literacy are the Best Gifts any Parent Can Give Their Child

When children have a speech, language or reading delay, parents have questions and concerns:

• When will they start talking? Is something wrong?
• Why can’t they say certain sounds?
• What can I do to help them be understood and less frustrated?
• Other children are talking better than my child, should I be concerned?
• How can I help my child learn to talk?
• How can I help my child learn to read?
• How can I support literacy at home?

If you have any of these concerns, I can help. All of these questions are valid and important to address. As a speech-language pathologist, I help parents understand their child’s communication development.  I can provide you with ideas and materials to help your child develop better speech and language skills.

How a Speech Delay can Affect Your Child:

• Children with good speech are more confident and have better relationships with those around them.
• Children must communicate clearly to reach their social and educational potential.
• Teaching children how to say speech sounds correctly makes them easier to understand.
• Speech sound errors place children at risk for difficulty with early reading and spelling. Studies such as this one from the US National Library of Medicine shows the huge connection between speech and early literacy.

What is Early Literacy

Can Parents work on Speech, Language and Reading?

Absolutely! While taking a child to see a Speech-Language Therapist or other professional is wonderful, the once or even twice a week they can see your child is not enough for the best possible progress. Children learn best when they are given daily stimulation in real life settings.

• You are the one that spends the most time with your child and have multiple chances each day to interact in a meaningful way.
• Frequent and consistent practice, even for just a few minutes each day, is what is needed for good progress.
• Parents know their children best – you are your child’s first and best teacher.
• You should always be enabled to support speech and language development at home as much as possible.  Supporting parents is powerful, effective and is by far the best possible practice.  Research clearly supports Collaboration Between Parents and Speech Therapists.
• Also, working on talking and speech sounds at home can be easy straightforward and fun, if the right steps are followed.

Speech and Language Development Guide

Every child’s speech and language will develop a bit differently.  It is good to keep track of how your child is doing because the more skills that are missing the more important it is to seek help. About 1 child in 10 has a speech delay or a language delay that needs treatment. Early intervention is important because it always results in the best possible outcome.  

My Speech Sound Development Chart can help you know how your child is doing with all of the different sounds.  Here is information on Language Development from Birth to 5 Years of Age.

Are First Words Important?

Parents are eager to hear their child’s first words, but this should not be the focus when assessing a child’s development. It is more important to make sure that children have the essential skills needed to learn to talk. Parents often overlook these skills because they are focused on talking. Saying words is part of development, and I can help children reach this milestone, but I emphasize the importance of providing the groundwork first. You need the base skills before talking can develop.  

• First words are a huge event but when I see children, first words are one of the last things I ask about.
• Talking comes only after essential base skills are established.  However, its is easy to overlook these skills unless you know what you are looking for.

Talking is important – and I can help children get there – but I help parents build the foundation skills needed for talking first.  Children learn to talk one step at a time.  

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Please explore all of the resources on my site.  All of my information is meant to help parents and professionals support children.  

Let me know if you have any questions. I can be reached at SLP@Speech-TherapyAtHome.com 

Garth Schindel – SLPatHome

 

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