How to Help at Home With Speech Delay in Toddlers

Once a baby becomes a toddler, his vocabulary should increase, causing him to form sentences. Hearing a toddler say "The dog runs outside," or "I like cookies," is enough to put a smile on a parent's face. Some toddlers, however, experience speech delay. According to KidsHealth, speech delay is caused by oral impairments, hearing problems and oral-motor problems. Parents can do several things at home to help their toddler with speech delay.

Instructions

    • 1

      Read to your toddler. Read nursery rhymes or short stories with pictures. By reading to her, she can listen to how certain words are pronounced and she can even memorize that story.

    • 2

      Communicate with your toddler often. Talk to him throughout the day even if he doesn't understand everything you say. For example, name the foods you buy when you take him grocery shopping with you or point out sounds you hear when you take him on a walk.

    • 3

      Use proper speech around your toddler. While you may be tempted to use baby talk around her, it won't help her speech development. By listening to you, she will learn how certain words are supposed to be pronounced.

    • 4

      Do not pretend to understand your toddler if you really don't. Instead, ask him to repeat what he said or show you by drawing a picture. If he pronounces a word incorrectly, tell him how to pronounce it properly.

    • 5

      Pay attention for symptoms of ear infections. If your toddler has an ear infection, she may not hear all the sounds around her. Take her to a doctor immediately if you think she has an ear infection.

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