communication

• Pre-linguistic communication


  Communication development before a child says their first meaningful words
• Pre-linguistic communication


  • Lasts 0-13 months
  • Communication takes place between mother and baby since birth in mainly different forms
• Different forms of pre-linguistic communication

  • Touch
  • Pouting, gesturing, and touching
  • Crying
  • Babbling
• Touch


  Babies will be reassured that they feel safe and cared for when their mother is holding, soothing, or rocking them. They may also be massaged in order to bond with parents.
• Pouting, gesturing, and touching

  Children will gesture with their hands before they are able to speak as a form of communication
• Crying


  Babies will cry to communicate that they are hungry, tired, want attention, or are in distress. The cries will need a reaction from carers in early stages to build a secure bond.
• Babbling


  Babies between 2-5 months discover different sounds they can make including bubbling and cooing. They may also begin to scream.
• Eye contact


  A form of communication that occurs when a baby is being cared for by an adult
• Eye contact


  1. Occurs when a baby is being cared for

  2. Adult may smile or speak to the baby in a higher pitch, usually considered a "baby voice"
• Mirroring and copying sounds


  • A baby is likely to repeat sounds they hear and copy sounds made by an adult
• When an adult is caring for a baby

  The baby will smile in response, mirroring the adult's facial expression
• Children who stammer or stutter can be referred by a GP to a speech and language therapist who will devise a programme of speech therapy for them
• Visual impairment


  Loss or partial loss of sight that cannot be corrected to the normal level
• Visual impairment


  • Child's ability to engage in eye contact will be affected
  • Child's ability to understand non-verbal communication such as body language or facial expression will be affected
• Children who are visually impaired


  Learn to read and write in a different way
• Speech disorder


  It will not be very obvious that a child's speech is impaired while they are old enough to speak, except if they are born with birth defects
• Selective mutism


  A child finds it difficult to speak especially around a large group of people, typically due to any of a phobia
• Other than selective mutism, the child may be able to speak to family members and has a speech disorder