How Does Speech Therapy Support Children With Down Syndrome?

All children will develop their communication skills at their own pace. For children with Down syndrome, speech and language development may take longer and can come with some other challenges, and this is where speech therapy can help. 

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help a child build the skills that they need to communicate, whether that means learning their first words, putting words together, improving speech clarity, or finding another reliable way to express themselves. 

Speech therapy does not look exactly the same for every child with Down syndrome. A good therapy plan is based on the child’s individual strengths, needs, interests, and communication goals. Book an appointment to get started!

How Can Down Syndrome Affect Speech and Language? 

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that is caused by having an extra copy of chromosome 21. It can affect development in multiple different ways, and children often need additional help with their communication skills.

Children with Down syndrome often have speech delays, and when they are young, they may understand more language than they are able to express. Speech clarity/intelligibility can also be a challenge, meaning that a child may know what they want to say but struggle to make their words clear enough for others to understand them. 

Speech intelligibility can vary a lot among children with Down syndrome and may continue to develop throughout childhood and adolescence. Hearing is another important consideration as children with Down syndrome have a higher risk of having hearing loss and ear infections. Hearing difficulties can in turn affect communication development.

What Does Speech Therapy Work On? 

Speech therapy for a child with Down syndrome may address several different areas of communication. 

Early Communication Skills

Speech therapy can begin before a child is even using spoken words. Early speech therapy sessions may work on skills like imitating sounds, using gestures, and communicating their wants and needs. These are all important foundational skills that help prepare children for more complex communication later. 

Vocabulary and Language Development

An SLP may help a child learn new words and understand how they can combine them into small phrases and sentences. As the child’s skills develop, the focus of speech therapy may shift to combining words, answering questions, describing events, following directions, and using more complex language. The specific goals depend on what the child can already do and what they need to communicate successfully at home, at school, and in the community.

Speech Clarity

Some children with Down syndrome may be difficult to understand, and an SLP can assess a child’s speech sounds and determine which areas may be affecting intelligibility. Speech therapy may include practicing individual sounds, words, and phrases before working toward clearer speech for everyday conversations. The goal is not simply to make a child sound “typical,” but to help them communicate as clearly and effectively as possible. 

Alternate Ways to Communicate

Speech is not the only way that children can communicate. Some children with Down syndrome benefit from gestures, signs, picture-based communication, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). AAC can range from simple picture boards to electronic communication devices. 

Using AAC does not mean that you are giving up on using spoken language. Instead, it gives the child a reliable way to communicate while their spoken language is developing, or when speech is hard for others to understand. 

Social Communication

Communication involves more than saying words. Children also need to learn how to participate in conversations, take turns, respond to others, make requests, share information, and communicate appropriately in different social situations. An SLP can incorporate these skills into play and everyday activities, making therapy functional rather than simply practicing particular words or sounds. 

When Should a Child With Down Syndrome Start Speech Therapy

There is no single age when every child with Down syndrome should begin speech therapy. Some babies may benefit while others may wait until specific communication difficulties become apparent, but many do start before the age of 3. The important thing is to look at the child’s individual development rather than waiting for a particular age. 

Early support can be especially valuable because communication skills build on one another. If a child is having difficulty developing speech, language, or other forms of communication, talking with their pediatrician and seeking an evaluation from an SLP can help identify what kind of support may be appropriate. Hearing should also be monitored because hearing loss can interfere with speech and language development, and if there are concerns, getting tested is recommended. 

What Can Parents Do at Home To Help With Communication? 

Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting the child’s communication between therapy sessions, and simple everyday activities can create many opportunities to practice communication. Talk about what you are doing together, give your child opportunities to make choices, pause to allow them time to respond, read books together, and encourage gestures, sounds, signs, or words to communicate. Most importantly, respond to your child’s attempts to communicate. A sound, gesture, sign, picture, or word is an opportunity to build on what they are already doing. 

Supporting Your Child’s Communication Journey

Children with Down syndrome have a wide range of communication abilities and needs, and their speech therapy plan should reflect that individually. Whether a child is working on their first words, expanding their vocabulary, improving speech clarity, developing social communication skills, or using AAC, an SLP can help create practical goals that support their communication. 

If you have concerns about your child’s speech or language development, consider speaking with an SLP. Schedule your free introductory call to get started. 

Looking for information about insurance coverage? Great Speech has the answers. Our speech therapy services are covered by most major insurance providers nationwide, with plans accepted from Cigna, Aetna, Centivo, Curative, HealthNet, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Geisinger, & more! Check out our insurance page to find out if you’re covered.