Speech Therapy Durham: How to Set and Achieve Goals Successfully
Being a parent of a child in need of speech therapy in Durham can be challlenging. Not just because of the related conditions associated with speech disorders but also because of the internal battle parents usually have within themselves. Such would be the feelings of guilt and inadequacy in providing for your child’s needs. That is why setting and achieving goals in speech therapy is crucial for making meaningful progress, if properly done. Here at speech link we are committed to helping you set meaningful goals and expectations when it comes to your child’s speech and language needs. Regardless of if you’re seeking speech therapy in Durham or anywhere else, having a clear plan can make all the difference in your therapy journey.
Here are some tips to help you set goals correctly and achieve them
Goal should be clear and specific
As a first step, through the process of a speech and language assessment we can help identify the speech and/or language concerns that you or your child are having. Therefore, as you start your speech therapy, you also need to pinpoint what we’d like to achieve from it, together, as a team. In speech therapy, goals can vary. This may be to be able to communicate needs, improve articulation or fluency, or enhance communication skills for social interactions. It is best to collaborate with your speech therapist to set functional goals.
In this with these goals should be SMART—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of a general goal like “speak more clearly,” you can change it to “pronounce the ‘s’ sound correctly in 80% of words during a 10-minute conversation by the end of three months.”
Divide Big Goals to Smaller Steps
Long term goals can be overwhelming. As such, you need to break them down into smaller and more manageable steps. For instance, if your goal is to improve your child’s sentence formation, you can start with simpler tasks like forming correct sentences with basic vocabulary. Later, you can gradually advance to more complex structures. This step-by-step approach helps motivate and track the progress of your child.
Practice Consistently and Regularly
Repetition and consistency are key factors in speech therapy. Therefore, you need to set up a regular practice routine that fits into your kid’s daily schedule. This might include practicing speech exercises at home, using recommended tools or apps and taking part in therapy sessions. A consistent routine ensures that you are continuously working towards your and your child’s goals. This reinforces what your child is learning during sessions.
Monitor and Record Progress
Tracking progress is important so you can understand how well your child is doing. Similarly, you also get to identify which areas need adjustments. In line with this, you can either use a journal or an app to record your child’s achievements and challenges. After which, you may share these with your speech therapist during sessions. Having this ongoing feedback loop allows for real-time adjustments to the goals and strategies.
Positive Reinforcement
Always celebrate milestones achieved by your child, no matter how small. Recognizing and rewarding progress can further motivate your child. Hence, making the journey more enjoyable. However, in case of setbacks, don’t be discouraged. You and your child can use these as opportunities to flexibly reassess and adjust your goals.
Work with Your Speech-Language Pathologist
Your Speech-Language Pathologist plays a vital role in your goal-setting process for your child’s speech therapy, in Durham. Hence, constant communication with them ensures that your goals are still aligned with the therapy needs and progress. Similarly, they can also give guided and personalized strategies to help you and your child navigate challenges effectively.
Here in SpeechLink, we understand the challenges faced by parents of kids undergoing speech therapy in Durham. Therefore, we want to make sure to also provide guidance, as needed, in conjunction with the sessions we provide. Get in touch with us today and we can get started on your child’s speech therapy journey.