CPD – Supporting Children with Speech

Communication is an important part of our lives. It helps us share our thoughts and feelings and connect with others. However, it can be hard for children with speech disorders to communicate. Supporting children with speech disorders early on can help improve their speaking skills and make a big difference in their lives.

In this course, CPD – Supporting Children with Speech, we will discuss how children learn to communicate and how this disorder hinders learning and affects their lives. Throughout this course, you will also discover ways and methods how to support them overcome their struggles.

What is Speech Disorder?

Speech disorder is a medical condition that makes communication difficult. It causes a person to slur, mumble, talk too fast, or talk too slowly. This condition impacts multiple aspects of a person’s life, such as esteem, studies, and social life.

This condition can be caused by a lot of reasons. Firstly, it can be caused by brain disorders or damage like autism, stroke, and the like. Secondly, it can be caused by nerve damage, and lastly, it can be caused by physical causes like cleft lip or palate and even hearing loss.

Since speaking usually develops at the age of 12-18 months, it can be hard for parents to see if their child has difficulties speaking or not, as at those ages, children mostly communicate through signals and body language. Learning symptoms of speech disorder at an early age is a great start in supporting children with speech.

Signs of Speech Disorder in Children

Multiple symptoms can indicate a speech disorder in a child. These symptoms can appear at different stages of life as they can be detected early, at 18 months, or late, at the age of 3. The symptoms below can help determine if a child has a speech impediment, but it is best to consult a speech and language therapist to be sure. This way, you can determine what is the best course of approach to take in supporting children with speech.

Infancy (0-2 years)

• Lack of babbling or cooing by 6 months.
• Not responding to their name or sounds by 9 months.
• Limited eye contact and difficulty engaging with others
• Delay in saying first words after 12 months
• Not using gestures like waving or pointing by 12-18 months

Toddler (2-3 years)

• Limited vocabulary or inability to say simple words by 2 years
• Difficulty putting simple words together to form sentences (e.g., "want cookie")
• Frequent use of gestures rather than words
• Struggling to follow simple directions
• Children may have trouble being understood by family members or caregivers

Preschool (3-5 years)

• Speech is unclear or difficult to understand, even by familiar adults
• Struggles with sentence formation and grammar (e.g., “I went to the park”)
• Limited ability to express needs or ideas
• Difficulty rhyming or recognising sounds in words
• Frequent frustration or temper tantrums when unable to communicate clearly

Early School Age (5-7 years)

• Ongoing difficulty with articulation (e.g., pronouncing certain sounds incorrectly like "th" or "r")
• Difficulty using correct grammar in sentences (e.g., missing words like “is,” “are,” “am”)
• Those of this age may struggle with reading or writing skills, even after supporting children with speech and writing.
• Unclear speech that is still hard to understand by peers and teachers
• Difficulty following multi-step directions

Middle Childhood (7-12 years)

• Persistent speech or articulation problems that interfere with communication in school or with peers
• Struggles with reading comprehension or decoding words
• Frequent difficulty with word retrieval or finding the right word during conversations
• Problems with conversational skills, like not taking turns or staying on topic
• Difficulty understanding complex language (e.g., figurative language, idioms)

Adolescence (12-18 years)

• Ongoing speech problems that affect academic performance or social relationships
• Struggles with public speaking or giving presentations
• Frequent mispronunciations or difficulty producing certain sounds clearly
• Difficulty with complex sentence structures and expressing abstract ideas
• Problems with social language skills, such as understanding sarcasm or humour

Can Speech Disorder be cured?

Speech disorders can’t be fully fixed, but they can get a lot better with the right help. One of the best ways of supporting children with speech disorders is by working with a speech therapist. These professionals are trained to help people improve how they speak and communicate.

Course Summary

The course CPD – Supporting Children with Speech teaches you how children learn to talk and understand language. You’ll explore why language development is important and how it affects a child’s learning and social skills. You’ll also learn ways to help kids improve their vocabulary, reading, and speaking, and how to support those who may have trouble with communication.

This course is perfect for teachers, parents, and anyone who works with young children. It will give you the tools you need to help kids develop strong language skills and prepare them for future success.

By the end of the course, you’ll know simple and effective ways to encourage language growth in kids. You’ll be able to create environments where children can practise speaking, reading, and learning new words, helping them become confident communicators.

Course Programme

The course CPD – Supporting Children with Speech teaches you how children learn to talk and understand language. You’ll explore why language development is important and how it affects a child’s learning and social skills. You’ll also learn ways to help kids improve their vocabulary, reading, and speaking, and how to support those who may have trouble with communication.

This course is perfect for teachers, parents, and anyone who works with young children. It will give you the tools you need to help kids develop strong language skills and prepare them for future success. By the end of the course, you’ll know simple and effective ways to encourage language growth in kids. Concurrently, you’ll be able to create environments where children can practise speaking, reading, and learning new words, helping them become confident communicators.

1. Foundations of Language Development – Understand the Importance of Language Development and Identify Key Stages and Theories of Language Acquisition.
2. Creating a Language-Rich Environment – Discover how to design spaces that encourage talking, listening, and learning. Learn how to use Effective Techniques to encourage verbal expression.
3. Building Early Reading and Phonics Skills – Learn ways of Supporting Children with Speech by early reading through phonics and phonemic awareness. Discover effective techniques to help children recognise letter sounds and patterns.
4. Expanding Vocabulary and Word Recognition – Learn how to introduce new words and expand children's vocabulary. Discover strategies for reinforcing word recognition through reading and conversation.
5. Developing Grammar and Sentence Structure – Understand how to help children develop grammar skills and form complete sentences. Learn techniques for teaching sentence structure and improving communication.
6. Supporting Early Literacy and Speech Development – Learn how to foster early literacy skills through activities like reading and writing. Discover strategies to support speech development for clearer communication.

Entry Requirements

This course is suitable for educators, parents, caregivers, and anyone interested in supporting children's speech development. You don’t need prior experience, but a basic understanding of child development or education will be beneficial. Participants should have a passion for supporting children with speech and a willingness to learn practical strategies for improving speech and communication skills.

CCM: Courageous, Committed, and Motivated

Learning to overcome a disorder takes courage, commitment, and motivation. Along with that, supporting children with speech disorders requires the same qualities, as it involves dedication to helping children find their voice and achieve communication success.

Here at the College of Contract Management, we offer the CPD – Supporting Children with Speech course to empower children, parents, and educators. We believe that with the right courage, commitment, and motivation, anything is possible, and with the proper support, every child can thrive in their communication journey.

Enrol today and take the first step toward making a positive impact on children's speech development!

The schedule for the CPD – Supporting Children with Speech, is nearing completion. We’ll supply all the course materials and tools needed to make your learning effective. Should you need any help, please contact us via email or live chat for quick support.