Daily life help
There are lots of ways to support your child in everyday situations. When communicating, for example, you can help your child understand and develop speech better by keeping a few basic rules in mind, such as:
- Keep your face in view
If your child can see what you are saying it will be easier for them to hear what you are saying. If your face is well lit, your child can easily see your facial expressions, and read your lips. So avoid leaning your face on your hand or sitting behind a newspaper while talking. - Speak clearly
Speak clearly and at a normal pace, and remember that there’s no need to shout. If your child has difficulty understanding you, try rephrasing the sentence rather than just repeating yourself. - Avoid background noise
When talking, try to avoid background noise. Turn off the television and close any open windows to muffle noise from traffic. You can also move closer to your child to make your voice louder, or try to find somewhere quieter to talk.
For introductions to other communication methods, use the navigation bar on the left side of your screen.
Exactly how your child would benefit from the techniques mentioned depends on the degree of hearing loss, type of hearing instrument, age, and general abilities. The support of your entire family in finding new ways of communicating is vital to your child’s success.
For more information on how to help your child develop their speech and language skills, please visit our Learning Opportunities page.
