14  Resource: Communication

14.1 Building pre-verbal Communication

Here is a video by Anjali Barretto, a speech therapist at Sethu, Goa on building pre-verbal communication. Key points she mentions are:

• Engagement is the building block of communication
• when your child is having fun the chances that they engage and communicate with you is much higher so play every day
• remember to follow your child’s lead
• change the way you speak
• pause or wait and then respond
• manipulate the home environment to encourage your child to use whatever communication skills they have

Please note that these interventions are shared for general guidance. Designing and executing interventions - more importantly - noticing how the child responds and modifying the interventions so the child does not get distressed, is a specialist job. Consult qualified therapists as necessary.