Dr. James MacDonald 332 Mimring Columbus, Ohio 43202 Phone/Fax 614 447-0768 macdonaldj86@gmail.com

Communicating Partners

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Why do Children have difficulty learning to talk

The following are only a few of the common problems we have seen:

LIMITATIONS IN HEARING
Frequently, temporary medical conditions effect young children's hearing as well as actual biological hearing problems.
SLOWER MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT
It is harder for some children to make the rapid movements needed to combine speech and sound for language.
SLOWER UNDERSTANDING OF ADULT LANGUAGE
It is more for our children to process long strings of information that they are often exposed to.
LESS PRACTICE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE
Some children often spend much less time interacting with people and practicing their communication.
TOO PASSIVE A ROLE IN SOCIAL LIFE
Some children are too often on the taking than the giving end of relationships, thus affording less of the active participation they need for speech development.
OLD NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION WORKS TOO WELL
Especially within families, some children develop elaborate ways to communicate with movements, gestures and sounds that are effective at home but not in society. The children often have little need to use words that are more difficult.
LOW EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
Many people do not engage some children in communication much because they do not expect them to talk or be understood.
PEOPLE TALK FOR THEM
Often, children appear not to talk when others talk for them.
NOT ENOUGH TIME TO TALK
Frequently, people do not wait long enough to allow a child to respond. Some children often act very passively as if they know they won't have much chance to talk.
OVER STIMULATION
Our children are often exposed to much more language than they can try to do. It's like throwing several balls at a child learning to catch.
TOO MUCH "SCHOOL" LANGUAGE; NOT ENOUGH "COMMUNICATIVE" LANGUAGE
Much language we teach our children, like numbers and colors, are not very useful in daily communication. Children need to have a practical life vocabulary if they are to practice their language regularly.
TOO MUCH PERFORMANCE LANGUAGE; NOT ENOUGH SOCIAL TALK
Many children use language to recite things and perform show and tell feats. But, they often do not have the easy conversations that build friendships.
TOO MUCH PLAYING ALONE
Children can learn a lot by playing alone with toys. But, in order to learn communicate they must play with people who are doing things the child can do.

Next: What do children need to do before they talk?

Dr. James MacDonald 332 Mimring Columbus, Ohio 43202 Phone/Fax (614)447-0768 macdonaldj86@gmail.com