The Speech Dynamic Blog

  As a Pediatric Speech Therapist, I like to think of questions like “Goldilocks and Three Bears.” There are questions that are “too easy,” questions that are “too hard,” and there are “just right” questions. Let’s talk about each of these: Questions that are too easy tend to be “quiz questions.” This is when we are […]

  As a Pediatric Speech-Pathologist, I do a lot of talking! There is another strategy I use just as often, and that’s waiting. Waiting is a powerful tool. It provides a child with the opportunity for communication and a meaningful context for language learning. When we wait, we are also giving a child extra time to […]

Brooke Andrews, M.A  CCC-SLP Play is the primary vehicle for all learning in early childhood. Read more on the benefits of play in my article, “Why Play?” here. Children are “hard-wired” to learn through their experiences during play.   Play in an excellent opportunity to work on language with your child. Read on for specific strategies to encourage […]

  Sucking vs Sucking Did you know that babies are born with reflexes that assist them with feeding until they are ready to do the movements on their own? There are 7 reflexes that help your baby with feeding. Most of these reflexes “integrate” or disappear within the first year of life or shortly after. […]

Oral Reflexes and Feeding Did you know that your baby was born with reflexes that assist him with feeding until he is ready to do the movements on his/her own? There are 7 reflexes that help your baby with feeding. Most of these reflexes “integrate” or “disappear” within the first year of life or shortly […]

  Consistent mouth breathing is never normal. A child’s breathing can be compromised for any number of reasons. These include enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergies, chronic illness, recurrent middle ear infections, and chronic upper airway infections. When a child cannot effectively breathe through their nose for any of these reasons, they begin to mouth breathe. […]

If you ever have a chance to observe preschoolers playing “house,” you will notice that even young children change their voice when talking to the “baby.” This “sing songy” speech actually has a technical name called  “motherese” or “infant-directed speech.” This way of talking occurs all around the world and actually helps children learn language. […]

Teaching your toddler to talk vs communicate A parent and toddler are in the kitchen: “Say cookie!” “You can say it” “Say cookie!” “Say I want cookie!” Our little guy is now screaming and crying and inconsolable. The thing I want you to realize that is he would if he could. Think about it, how […]

Ten common speech and language myths:   1. “Baby talk” will inhibit language development ►False “Baby talk” refers to the high pitched, sing song voice we use when we talk to babies. Also called “motherese” or “infant directed speech, “baby talk” actually aids babies in language development: There are a number of ways baby talk […]