PRE-LINGUISTIC SKILLS

Pre-Linguistic Skills:

As the name suggests, pre-linguistic skills are those developed before language development. By the term language, we mean the mode of communication.

We all know that a newborn child does not walk immediately after birth. Similarly, a child needs to develop several skills to speak. Before speaking, a child needs to see, hear, smile, make sounds, babble, imitate, and understand speech and gestures. By developing these skills, a child can initiate speaking.

Basic pre-linguistic skills:

· Looking at sound source or the speaker's mouth

· Smiling at speaker

· Listening to people's voice and various sounds

· Imitating gestures and vocal sounds

· Waiting for his turn

· Attending to activities done together

· Understanding the gestures and spoken words

· Expressing using gestures or speech

Importance of pre-linguistic skills:

Pre-linguistic skills form the basis of speaking. It helps the child to get ready to talk. If a child has difficulty seeing, hearing, understanding, or has any disorders of attention, concentration, and memory, it can affect the child's ability to speak.

A child with pre-linguistic difficulties can exhibit issues in behavioral skills, play skills, social skills, higher cognitive skills, receptive language skills, and expressive language skills.

Identification of pre-linguistic difficulties:

A decrease in the skills appropriate for the child's age can indicate that the child's pre-linguistic skills are affected. A decrease in eye-contact, social-smile, making sounds, babbling, imitation, gaining attention, and play skills, can indicate pre-linguistic difficulties.

Activities to improve pre-linguistic skills:

It is essential to spend quality time with the child. Activities focused on the affected skills can help in improving the pre-linguistic skills.

· Talk to the child regularly

· Use different vocal intonation patterns for better focus

· Focus on eye-contact

· Reduce background noise and distractions to improve the child's attention

· Follow face to face conversations for better understanding

· Use simplified language

· Work on group activities to improve turn-taking

· Work on activities to improve joint-attention

· Read stories regularly

· Play interactive games

Professionals to treat pre-linguistic difficulties:

Based on the skills affected and the severity of the problem, a speech therapist, or an occupational therapist or a combination of both can help in improving the pre-linguistic skills. A multidisciplinary team can be involved based on the condition.

Problems faced if untreated:

If left untreated, it can lead to various disorders like receptive language disorders, expressive language disorders, social communication disorders and pragmatic disorders.

Hence, it is essential to check on the pre-linguistic skills during a child's early development.

“SEE, HEAR, UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK”