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Vocal Hygiene for Kids – Habits They Should Keep Children love to use their voice in different ways. Apart from talking they can be seen to sing or whisper. Many a times, they may also indulge in singing loudly at a high pitch, shouting / yelling excessively or even whispering continuously while playing. Habitually using the voice in these manners can be associated with ‘vocal abuse’; resulting in roughness or breathiness (i.e. a change in quality of voice). Physiologically, such vocal abuse affects the child’s vocal cords. The voice box (or larynx) houses the vocal cords (or folds). The vocal cords are muscles that open and close while making a sound and swallowing. When air flows through the cords (as they are tightened slightly), they produce sound. Vocal abuse can alter the pattern of movement or cause growths (polyps / nodules) which also alter the movement and in turn the sound / voice quality. Many a times, the change in voice quality can be spontaneously reversible. However, at times it needs therapy or even surgery to correct. Therefore, teaching a child good vocal habits or ‘vocal hygiene’ is essential to ensure good quality of voice and least amount of wear and tear to the vocal system. Vocal hygiene refers to few simple ‘habits’ to ensure taking care of the vocal cords and voice box. Tips to encourage vocal hygiene and good voice use in your child: When teaching good vocal habits to young children, it must be remembered that they learn best by seeing others (‘modelling’). If they see their parents or caregivers (‘their models’) follow certain habits, they are likely to follow them. Habits are good to make and mostly will be life – long. Some habits that should be encouraged are – Reducing yelling and shouting: The child should be encouraged to use his normal voice (voice that regularly use to speak in) as often as possible. Yelling or shouting on a regular basis are ‘abuse’ to the vocal cords. If the child shouts to show displeasure, s/he should be taught alternate modes to express himself (e.g. using words of feeling). Furthermore, if the child shouts to get people’s attention from a distance – he can be taught to use his body (such as clapping hands) – to call them. Removing any stress on neck muscles while speaking: At times, a child may stress his / her speech muscles while talking. The muscles around the neck or face would be seen to be tense. S/he must be reminded and taught to relax the muscles while speaking. Read more about Voice Care Tips Becoming aware of his / her volume: A child may not always be aware of the volume s/he uses while talking. A parent / caregiver can talk about volume of voice (their and the child’s) during multiple times through the day. The caregiver use sentences such as – ‘Let’s whisper where we should go.’ Or ‘Use a soft voice to ask for what you want to eat.’ These can be encouraged during daily routines, play time or even reading time. Over time, a child may become aware of the loudness of his / her own voice. Becoming aware of changed voice quality: Talking about the changes in voice are important. Exposing the child to understanding breathy, rough vs normal voice can be done while talking about how different people sound. In turn, the child builds an understanding of ‘different’ voice qualities. This will help him/ her to talk about changed voice to the parent / caregiver, as it happens. In the long run, the child would be able to take care of his / her voice better. Drinking adequate water: Hydration of the vocal cords is as important as that of the body. Dry vocal cords can change to the quality of voice. A child should be encouraged to remain hydrated on a regular basis. Many children may forget to drink water during play or during a fun conversation. Regular reminders can be set for them to take a glass or sip of water. Clearing the throat appropriately: There are times when there is itchiness in the throat. It comes naturally to ‘clear the throat’. Consistently clearing of throat is quite harmful to the vocal cords. The child should be instead taught to drink water. If the itchiness persists, a softer way to clear the throat may be to ‘hum’ gently in short bursts. Taking breaks while talking: Children can get engrossed in conversations and forget to give their voice any rest. When with family or supervised caregivers, a child can be ‘reminded’ to take turns while talking or ‘listen’ for a while. Practicing quiet time: At a time through the day, a child can be encouraged to ‘rest their voice’ by practicing ‘quiet time’. It can span from five minutes to an hour, even. Here, the child will be expected to engage in an activity of choice – coloring, book reading, listening to music, playing with blocks or cars, while talking / speaking minimally. This can be considered as a time of ‘forced’ rest for the voice. It can be crucial for those kids who enjoy socializing and engaging in conversations. Understanding when their voice is tired: This can be difficult for many children at first, but with improved awareness of the voice, this can be achieved. Getting a child to understand for instance, when the throat hurts (due to excessive talking / screaming) or when the throat feels dry (due to lack of hydration), is essential. They should be encouraged to rest their voice at that time and take a break from talking. Even learn to drink water is important. Taking care of the voice through use of vocal hygiene should become as habitual as brushing teeth or bathing the body. It will assist in the prevention of vocal issues or disorders. And, as the proverb goes – Prevention is better than cure! Let’s work towards more awareness and improved vocal hygiene! 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Online Speech Therapy For Adults and the Elderly 1SpecialPlace is not only for kids, but also for grown-ups. We are a multidisciplinary team which is trained and equipped for the intervention and treatment via online speech therapy for adults and the elderly. An online Speech Therapy expert can help you from the convenience of your home and save you the exhausting trip to the the Speech Therapy center in your locality. All you need to get our Online speech therapy at home for adults service is a computer and a broadband internet connection. Online Speech Therapy or Telepractice is the use of technology to provide therapy via high speed internet, webcam, headset with microphone or any other form of communication. Speech therapy online is a clinical arrangement where the patient and a certified speech therapist communicate and interact face-to-face over the Internet. Online Speech Therapy for Adults is customized and tailor made to suit your needs. We’ve assisted a lot of adults with the following issues: Stammering/Stuttering Aphasia secondary to Stroke/Accidents Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Voice Problems Unclear Speech/Pronunciation Accent Modification This communication is of 3 types : Pre-Session communication : It consists of collecting payments, booking appointments, sending booking confirmation, reminders and giving easy options to reschedule or cancel. Pre-Session communication is essential to maintain healthy relationship with clients by avoiding any confusions and also to ensure revenue coming in smoothly for your practice Ongoing-Session communication : This primarily consists of video conferencing and other associated features that assist therapists in a therapy session. In traditional video conferencing solutions like Skype, the interactive features needed for speech therapists are not present. These also make it super difficult for clients to join sessions. Hence it is important to choose the correct video conferencing platform Post-Session communication : After a session has been successfully completed, it is important to communicate what happened during the session, any followups needed, session recordings or materials used during the session. This is essential to improve client retention by keeping them apprised and up to date about their therapy progress. Session recordings are a key differentiator which give an edge to online therapy over offline therapy. Hence it is essential to ensure that your therapy platform supports session recordings and provides easy access to them. Speech Therapy for Adults It is highly effective for those who are looking for convenient flexible options. You can access these sessions from your home/office/college. It’s also a tremendous aid for adult carers who have to take their loved ones to local centres for therapy. Speech Therapy online works just like speech therapy delivered in a centre/clinic. The only difference is that you will meet your therapist online. You’ll see the therapist on a large screen, and he or she will be able to view, talk to, and interact with you in real time. There are various exercises and techniques that can be done in speech therapy online sessions all of which will aid in improving your speech. Problems that we treat via Online Speech Therapy – Delayed Speech & Language Autism Spectrum Disorder Unclear Speech Stammering Cerbral Palsy Learning Disability Intellectual Disability Hearing Loss Apraxia of Speech Down Syndrome Cleft Lip/Palate Childhood Developmental Syndromes ONLINE SAFETY All sessions at 1SpecialPlace are conducted in a safe and personalised environment. You are given a special ‘Online Room’ for yourself where the therapist helps you with a variety of activities and exercises. All 1SpecialPlace therapists are certified and highly qualified professionals who work according to latest standards. Online Speech therapy in India ( aka Telepractice or Tele Speech Therapy)  is the use of technology to provide speech therapy via high speed internet, webcam, headset with microphone or any other form of communication. Online therapy is a clinical arrangement where the patient and a speech-language certified pathologist communicate and interact face-to-face over the Internet. The session involves a suite of therapeutic exercises including listening, speaking, reading and writing. How to start? Please call (+919811210640) or email us (info@1specialplace.com) or fill our contact form. We provide an online demo of our services, free of cost, which also includes therapy videos and sample reports Book your session now #onlinetherapy #Speechtherapyonline #OnlineSpeechtherapyinIndia #speechtherapy #OnlineSpeechTherapy

7 Ways of Helping Children who are Reluctant Talkers The term ‘reluctant talker’ is broadly used to describe children who may be selectively mute in situations outside home due to anxiety, shyness and lack of confidence. It may co-occur with developmental language disorders or delays in language development. Why are some children reluctant talkers? 1. Exceptionally Shy Being shy is a personality trait and children who are shy may be wary of new settings or people. They are often quiet initially and take time to feel comfortable. These children however welcome help from trusted adults and may join in by communicating using gestures and non-verbally. 2. Selective Mutism Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by the child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social situations, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secured and relaxed. 3. Learning a new language Children who are new to hearing and learning a new language might be going through a ‘silent period’. Young children, for example often find it difficult to separate from family members and adjust to a preschool or a day care setting where they hear a new language other than their home language. 4. Delayed language development Some children might still be developing age appropriate speech and language skills. Such children might seem shy or lack the confidence in expressing themselves using verbal language unlike their peers. When should you be concerned? Every child is unique and they take certain time to develop their communication skills . However, if you notice any of the above signs in your child, you should be concerned and seek help. There is no particular age that can be guaranteed at which your child may overcome their problems and begin to communicate effectively. Hence, seeking help early will alleviate their roadblocks and help them communicate better. How can you help a reluctant talker? Some of the strategies when used effectively can help children talk more quickly than if you continued to use old methods that may have not worked with them. A speech-language therapist can help you help your child develop a greater sense of confidence in communicating. Acknowledge the child’s condition and connect with your child. Create a communication friendly environment Learn effective communication style – the Dos and Donts Prepare and practise ahead of a social situation Change one thing at a time for your child to navigate to higher levels of communication load Try expression of language through creative ways Build confidence through daily routines Supporting Reluctant Talkers Join our online course to understand how to help reluctant talkers Book your sessions now For more ideas check out our other blogs #communicationskills #developmentallanguagedisorders

Here’s Why You Should Talk To Your Baby You may think your baby does not understand a word you’re saying but fact is your newborn baby has been learning language since before he was born. Babies have been endowed with skills that help them learn language naturally. This set of skills helps them acquire an understanding of the surroundings, assist them in expressing themselves, and in interaction with the environment. Listening Skills: The listening skills help the baby recognise and attach meaning to whatever he is hearing. Hence, you should talk to your baby from the first day of his life. He is listening to the fine details of your voice, a voice which he prefers over other sounds. Vocal Skills: Initially your infant’s vocal skills consist of primarily cries, burps and maybe some ‘oooo’ sounds. Soon the baby learns to make noises that almost sound like words you speak. Vowels, ‘coos’ and ‘goos’ emerge and make way for a more complex repertoire of sounds. As they grow, infants experiment more and more with their mouth, tongue and throat. As parents, you should always react to these sounds your infant is making. When he makes these sounds, go ahead and make them back. Very soon, the two of you will be having a whole “vocal” conversation. Interaction Skills: Babies always have certain preferences that directly lead to wonderful interactions between them and their caregivers. For instance, during the first few months after birth, infants prefer looking at objects varied in shapes and lighting. They like to see something that has angles and curves, as well as differences or contrasts in lightness and darkness. Parents should hold the baby so that they can look at their face. This is an excellent position for boosting his visual skills. The initial smiles which are non-social, are soon shaped into interactive smiling gestures. The way you react to your baby’s smile helps him understand this tool for expressing happiness. These preferences of your  newborn baby to your face and voice pave a path for future meaningful interactions. Joint Attention: This is an essential skill that your child needs for developing language. Joint attention is when two or more individuals are focused on, or observing the same object, person or event. This skill is important because when you both are looking at the same object, your comments about that object have more meaning to him. He will benefit from your language models (the way you speak and express) because the language you use is directly tied to the object of his focus. This post originally appeared on HuffingtonPost #newbornbaby #TalkToANewbornBaby #talktoyourbaby #WhyYouShouldTalkToYourBaby

Online Speech Therapy in india Sessions Don’t have a Online Speech Therapy in india professional near your you? Not sure if your child has a problem ? Looking for guidance on Speech Issues? Looking for alternate Professional opinion? Stammering Issues? Take our online consultation from the convenience of your home and help your loved ones Our personalized Online speech therapy works for people of all ages and ailments, and it’s also convenient and fun. In fact, our customers tell us that they don’t feel like they’re doing “therapy work” throughout their sessions. Speech is how you express yourself; it’s what we hear. Language is not only what you wish to convey; it is also what we believe. When you have excellent speech and language, you can fully express yourself and connect with people. We’ll collaborate with you to create your own specialized strategy and uncover your most effective communication. Online speech therapy can treat a wide range of speech and language impairments, including articulation difficulties, fluency disorders, and any other disorder related to Aphasia and Dysarthria. Your child will benefit more from online speech therapy with video interfacing and interactive tools. People in remote areas with little or no access to speech therapists can book online sessions with Best Speech Therapist India through speech therapy platforms. Clients with mobility limitations may benefit from online speech therapy at home. Both children and adults can benefit from speech therapy. With our exclusive Online Speech therapy exercises and best therapist in India, receive cutting-edge treatment from the comfort of your own home. At 1SpecialPlace you have the right to be confident in your communication and to learn from the finest. Book your appointment now For more ideas check out our other related blogs #OnlineSpeechTherapy #OnlineSpeechTherapySessions #speechtherapy #speechtherapysessions