Previous member of our Rehabilitation team, Pamela Thompson, M.Ed., CCC-SLP spoke at a past Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society meeting offering advice for parents of kids with Down Syndrome.
Pam describes one of the biggest impediments for children with Down Syndrome learning to speak as being tied to the muscle tone of the tongue. She noted that beginning speech therapy as early as possible, even as an infant, is ideal to enable the building of strong oral muscles as a child grows. Pam goes on to say though that it’s never too late to start speech therapy, as “research now shows that Down Syndrome children can make progress in their speech and language up into their 20s”.
A consultation with a speech therapist and occupational therapist can equip you and your child with exercises helpful in building good oral muscle tone and in managing the feeding transitions in their life. These transitions, from breast to bottle, bottle to cup, stage foods to textured foods and beyond requires different sets of muscles being activated.
Pam is a big proponent of teaching sign language to kids, as well. She describes sign language as a way to give all children a means in which to communicate their needs even before they acquire speech. It increases overall language acquisition and reduces a child’s frustration in not being able to effectively express themselves.
Most importantly, Pam encourages families of children with Down Syndrome to maintain high expectations for their children, and to above all seek out speech, physical and occupational therapists who share and support those expectations.
Reach out to make an appointment with any of incredible clinicians who make up our Rehabilitation team at Savannah Speech & Hearing by emailing Rehab@speechandhearingsav.org.
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