Generally, your child can start speech and language therapy with Sparkles once they are able to sit unaided, but each child is different and placed in a group according to ability and not age.
Our speech and language therapy sessions take place at Children’s Centres in High Wycombe and Aylesbury. Each weekly session is 45 minutes long, and held in groups of no more than 3 children with their parent / carer.
Children with Down’s syndrome will usually experience challenges with communication to varying degrees, including receptive (understanding) language and expressive (speaking and composing sentences) language skills.
Carried out by specialist Speech and Language therapists, the sessions are based on Makaton: a system designed to support spoken language where signs and symbols are used alongside speech, in spoken word order.
Our speech and language therapy focuses on helping your child to talk, but also covers the essential skills needed to communicate effectively. The sessions include:
- Music, songs and games
- Listening and comprehension
- Turn taking
- Picture and word matching
- Lip seal and tongue control exercises
- Phonics
- Combining words and sequencing sentences
