Ming from Agents of Speech explains why kids with speech delays stop trying to communicate when talking is hard. Using sign language, boards, or texting keeps them motivated to express themselves, which actually helps them learn to speak later. A 13-year-old who texts instead of speaking shows how it works.
Communication intention is king is the most important thing you need to care about. Why? When a child doesn't know how to use speech sounds correctly, what happens is that their intention for communication goes down. What it means is that they don't.
Really want to talk to you, right?
Because talking is hard.
They don't know how to communicate with you.
They get frustrated.
They lash out.
So therefore, if they have a way of talking to you, whether or not it's through like.
Sign language or using.
Like communication boards, then that will keep their communication intention up. Then you can use that to teach speech. Because if they don't want to talk to you, then if you want to teach them to talk, it's very difficult. So I heard.
From a parent who.
Consulted me who.
Said, hey, I have.
A child who is like 13 and he actually can type on WhatsApp or text. And then she can say like, mommy.
I'm hungry, come back soon.
But she's non verbal. And then the mom asked her, why don't you talk? And then she texted, well, I don't see a reason to talk. That's so difficult.
If you get to a point where.
The kid doesn't want to talk to you, then teaching speech will not make.
Sense to them because they're like, I don't want to talk to you already.
And talking is so hard.
Why should I.
