[michsm]

I received a new placement last night. Both children have problems with speech and I can't understand a single word they are saying. Any advice to help our communication problems?

[Elle83]

I've been there too. Tell them to slow down, ask them to point or draw or ask questions like "Is it something you eat?",What color is it?". I could not understand a word my two said when they arrived and now I can understand 95% - it just took time to understand that dutin = trashcan and bood = fruit etc.

[CaddoRose]

Depending on their ages, it could be helpful to do things like take them into the kitchen and point to things and say "milk" and see what they say it is. We had a 2 yr old for a weekend who spoke Spanish and by day 2 we could communicate pretty well. It shouldn't take long for you to figure out their speech patterns.

[hrisme]

You can use photo cards as a way to communicate, I've used this approach with several of my preschoolers who were non-verbal or speech delayed. For my purposes, I laminated several cards & placed a laminated square with velcro on it, then stuck the cards to the square. I had squares in each of the main areas of our classroom with the objects the children requested frequently, you could adapt this in the home by having cards in the kitchen, bathroom, etc. It's worth a shot!

I had a 1 1/2 year old today & could not for the life of me understand what she was asking for, she threw herself on the floor in an all-out toddler fit & screamed nonstop for 20 minutes. After which she picked herself up off the floor, walked over to the fridge, opened it by herself, and removed her cup of milk. Gee--think you could have tried that BEFORE the fit???

[EandDmom]

I couldn't understand a thing our 2 year old said when we got him I was always asking his sister what he said and thankfully she translated. Now 2 weeks later I get it about 90% of the time. I just have to have him repeat it several times once in awhile. My dh still doesn't get what he is saying alot of the time but he doesn't get to spend as much time with him as I do. Luckily, he doesn't get frustrated with us and just keeps repeating it to me until I finally get it. The laminated pictures are a fabulous idea and I'm so going to make some up to have on hand.

[Robbin]

What are the ages?

I do some signed English (sign language) and it is very helpful for children who have problems with communication, it's not just for the deaf. I combine the sign with the word. They say it can be a communication tool for young children.

[HopefulMommy]

Originally Posted by Robbin

I do some signed English (sign language) and it is very helpful for children who have problems with communication, it's not just for the deaf. I combine the sign with the word. They say it can be a communication tool for young children.

I totally agree. I Love "Baby signing time"!!! It was great with my nieces from about 12 months until I could understand her

Plus I thought they were well done dvds and I had a good time watching them

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

When Sam started speech therapy the therapist made a poster to put on the fridge with a cup, fork, spoon, bowl, etc and I added the labels to some of his fav foods. Then he can point to the pic, I tell him the word, and he has to repeat it to get it. We have come a LONG way in two months and no longer need the poster.

Kim

[michsm]

Well it has been a couple of days and I am starting to understand a little of their lingo. The problem is they are 5 years and are very stubborn when it comes to repeating themselves slowly or saying the word the correct way to get what they are asking for.
We are working on it though, I can be kind of stubborn too. They understand each other perfectly fine. Sometimes I feel like I am on another planet.

They are going to be starting speech therepy as soon as it gets set up.

I think I will start learning some signs. I think that sounds like a great thing to know. I know this will probably not be the last time I encounter a communication problem.

Thanks for the advice!

[meshsgrl]

I have a 5 yr old here... I cant understand him if he speaks full sentences, but can understand words when he needs something. His 2 sibs younger then him speak much better!! I gets offended when you cant understand what he says!!

[Scrapsathome]

The most important (and frustrating after 2 days of screaming) words we ever finally figured out were

want muh muh = want my milk

They just wanted to go to sleep with their milk cup and here I was trying to comfort them that they'd get to see their mama soon.

Jess