Early communication skills

This area includes information and resources for the following topics:

Early speech and language skills development

Oral-motor development

Information for speech and language therapy providers

Keyword signing and Makaton

Hanen programs

*Publications marked with this symbol are available for DSV members to borrow from the DSV Resource Library.

Early speech and language skills development

*Kumin, Libby (2003) Early communication skills for children with Down syndrome. A guide for parents and professionals (Woodbine House)
Excellent comprehensive handbook which both gives parents comprehensive information about early communication in children with Down syndrome and also includes a wealth of advice and home activities to support the development of communication skills. Recommended for all families of young children.

*Buckley, Sue and Gillian Bird (2001) Speech and language development for infants with Down syndrome (0-5 years) Down Syndrome Issues and Information series, Down Syndrome Education International.
Comprehensive information module and program of activities and advice designed to assist the development of speech and language skills from birth to five years. Includes checklists for evaluating development of skills. Recommended for all families of young children.

*Kumin, Libby (2002) Starting out: speech and language intervention for infants and toddlers with Down syndrome in William Cohen et al (eds) Down syndrome. Visions for the 21st century, ch 29 pp 395-406
Useful background information for families interested in understanding the basis of speech and language learning. Includes definitions and discussion of speech, language and communication, and looks at the skills and non-verbal communication that are mastered before language and speech development.

*Speech and language activities for pre-school children with Down syndrome (2007) (DVD) Development in Practice series, Down Syndrome Education International
This DVD explores activities for promoting communication, speech and language development for preschool children with Down syndrome from 18 months to 4 years. There is a comprehensive description of the material and reviews at http://www.down-syndrome.org/resources/2089/

*Discovery. Pathways to Better Speech for Children with Down Syndrome (2005)
(DVD) Will Schermerhorn, Blueberry Shoes Productions
This film, made by a film-maker and photographer who has a son with Down syndrome, shows how to encourage better speech and communication from an early age.

*Pieterse, Moira & Robin Treloar (1989) Communication skills Book 3 in Small Steps. An Early Intervention Program for Children with Developmental Delays Macquarie University Press
Provides a good inventory of pre-verbal skills and early language together with suggestions and activities to support early language development.

Duffy, Tessa (2004) Ask the speech and language therapist. Speech, language and communication for children Top Twenty Questions! Down Syndrome Association, UK

*Schwartz, Sue (2004) The new language of toys: teaching communication skills to children with special needs, a guide for parents and teachers (Woodbine House)
How to use toys to support your child's developing communication skills.

Oral-motor development

Down Syndrome Centre Advisory Panel, Ireland
http://www.downsyndromecentre.ie/advisorypanel/
The following are three samples of articles by Marinet Janse van Vuren, available on the Down Syndrome Centre site (2009). There are many more on a wide range of topics!

Tongue excercises
Oral-motor therapy
Lip exercises to strengthen weak muscle tone in cheeks

Guidelines for speech and language therapy service providers

*Kumin, Libby (1999) Comprehensive speech and language treatment for infants, toddlers and children with Down syndrome in Down syndrome: a promising future together, Terry J. Hassold and David Patterson (eds), ch VI pp145-153, Wiley-Liss.
Also available at: http://www.ds-health.com/speech.htm
Discusses some of the considerations for speech and language therapy programs relevant to a child with Down syndrome and gives a brief overview of intervention appropriate to different age groups. (The legislative background refers to the US and is not relevant to Australia.)

Buckley, Sue and Pat Le Prevost (2002) Speech and language therapy for children with Down syndrome
Detailed guidelines and advice for speech therapists, including a summary of the specific speech and language needs commonly associated with Down syndrome and recommendations for service provision.

Keyword signing and Makaton

Keyword signing is used extensively worldwide to support the teaching of communication and language skills for babies and children with Down syndrome. Both the DVDs listed above also include material about keyword signing.

Buckley, Sue & Gillian Bird (2001) 'Signing' in Speech and language development for infants with Down syndrome (0-5 years) Down Syndrome Education International, pp14-18

About Makaton, The Makaton Charity, UK
Introduction to Makaton, what it is, why it is useful, how to use it... site includes some free downloadable resources and the charity's complete catalogue.

Makaton Australia
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/sed/makaton/

Scope (Vic) Ltd (2008) Nursery rhymes to sing, see and sign The Communication Resource Centre
Fifteen familiar nursery rhymes with printable signing guidelines. A great fun introduction to keyword signing for you and your baby.

Hands Can Talk
http://www.handscantalk.com.au/
Hands Can Talk was developed by an Australian mother who used Makaton to support early communication skills for her daughter, who has Down syndrome. She is author of a number of resource books for signing with babies and young children.

Singing Hands, UK
http://www.singinghands.co.uk/
Makaton-trained parents who started their own company to promote singing and signing with babies and young children. Produce some excellent resources for singing and signing with your child.

The Hanen approach

Working from the premise that parents are the best speech and language learning resource for their child, the Hanen Centre developed a suite of early intervention programs for children with language delay. For information about the Hanen approach, visit the Hanen Centre website at http://www.hanen.org/

Grosfield, Jane (1999) 'Communicating with your child: observe, wait and listen' in Disability Solutions Vol 3 issue 4 pp10-15
Introduces the Hanen approach.