It would be too simplistic to define what speech pathologists do as “helping children with their speech”. Whilst it might suffice as a generic answer, if you want to know some of the specific ways a speech pathologist benefits children then you need to dig a lot deeper.

Thankfully, we have saved you that time and effort, as we have already researched this. Now, we could proceed by using some of the terminology related to speech therapy, and the speech therapy goals that a speech pathologist will have for those children under their care. That would mean using terms such as expressive language skills, receptive language, and articulation skills but for most parents, all of that sounds like jargon and means little to them.

What most parents want to know is how a speech pathologist will enhance the development and childhood of their child. They may also be hoping that some of the work that the speech pathologist does will also benefit them indirectly, and the good news is that it will. So, outlined below are ten ways in which a speech pathologist can support your child’s development if that child is having speech and language difficulties.

Make Friends Easier: Having friends is hugely positive for children in lots of ways, but to make those friends in the first place they need to communicate effectively. A speech pathologist will build the necessary communication skills in a child so that making friends becomes easier for them.

Enhance Their Self-Confidence: Not being able to communicate properly or be understood can diminish a child’s self-confidence. Reversing their communication issues and enabling them to express themselves properly can boost a child’s confidence and thus open up far more opportunities for them.

Fewer Tantrums: Even as adults we become frustrated if we are not being understood, and for a child in the same position this can lead to meltdowns and tantrums. Once a speech pathologist has enabled a child’s skills to communicate and more importantly, be understood, the frustration and the tantrums will soon diminish in scale and frequency.

Independent Playing: Play has an important role to play in how speech pathologists help the children under their care, and an additional benefit of this is that children learn how to play independently. This gives parents those much needed minutes at home for carrying out whatever tasks they have whilst their child plays contently close by.

Tidiness: Another benefit that accrues to parents, is their children are more able to recognise words relating to them tidying up their toys as their understanding of language and expressions expands. Now,  parents can tell a child to put their toys away, and that instruction is understood.

Quicker Development: Simple development behaviours like learning to brush their teeth, use the potty, and dress themselves are all quickened and enhanced thanks to a child’s communication skills being expanded due to the time they spend with a speech pathologist.

Learn Sports: Learning to catch, throw, or kick a ball, for example, all require communication skills such as listening to instructions. So, as your child learns these skills thanks to their speech pathologist, they are also more able to learn new sports and physical activities.

Augment Their Scholastic Progress: Understandably, many parents will have this near the top of the desired outcomes list when their child is being treated by a speech pathologist. It stands to reason that the better a child can communicate and understand language the more progress they will make at school.

Express How They Feel: With the speech and language skills they learn from a speech pathologist, a child is more able to express themselves, allowing them to seek support, understanding, and help from parents as they explain how their day has been or outline the problems they may have had.

Express Their Love To Their Parents: Nothing means more to a parent than their child telling them they love them. Often this is not possible due to the child’s speech and language difficulties but can be made possible with the help of a speech pathologist.