The basic method is sensory-motor correction, that is, a set of exercises from several blocks, each of which is aimed at activating certain areas of the brain. The main goal is to establish a connection between the body and the psyche. This is very important for launching not just speech, but communicative interaction of the child with others with the help of words. And the first block is breathing exercises. We often work with children from the autistic spectrum, and we have to teach them the simplest actions that we do not even think about and perform them mechanically - for example, blowing something on purpose. And, at first glance, we do very simple things first in class - breathe actively, teach to regulate breathing, blow - but these exercises help to activate and start the energy potential of the brain. To this block, you can include stretching exercises. They normalize the general tone of the nervous system, which can be either lowered (hypotonic) or elevated (hypertonus). Children with hypotension are characterized by decreased activity, lethargy, inhibition. Hypertonus is, on the contrary, motor disinhibition, emotional lability, inability to concentrate attention, concentration. Working with the body, stretching the muscles, exercises on the ball soothes, leveling the state of the nervous system of the child.

- So, the work of a speech therapist is not only work with a speech apparatus, repetition of sounds, massage of the speech zone, but also work with the body and movements?

- Of course! Have you ever wondered why before a child's speech comes-a conscious speech, and not just individual sounds-he often likes to whirl around? Watch somehow. In fact, children arrange themselves training vestibular apparatus. Therefore, the exercise cycle of sensorimotor correction also includes exercises for the development of the vestibular apparatus, which is directly connected with the cerebellum. Our fine motor skills - the ability to perform precise small movements, such as threading a needle, is also the work of the cerebellum. Therefore, we spend a lot of time and attention on cerebellar stimulation, such as the use of a balancing board, rotation around its axis, balance exercises, etc.

- Everything sounds simple enough - to rotate, stretch, blow, breathe. It seems to be nothing complicated! And does it really give a result and the children start talking?

- The result is a painstaking regular work. Remember how athletes train - they daily do such routine exercises as stretching, running. So in our case: however tiresome and tedious, it is necessary to repeat these exercises for a long time. I understand how hard it is for parents who bring up children with a developmental feature, how much stress they have in their lives, how much patience is required every day. But only regular classes will give results. Children are different, someone needs more time, someone is less, it is difficult to give forecasts here.

- In addition to sensorimotor exercises, LOQUAR Center also uses hardware correction methods - in particular, TOMATIS therapy and bioacoustic correction (LHC). However, many parents note that they did not notice any positive changes in the speech skills of children after undergoing hardware therapy.

About the Company: Aimee Capple is a clinician who is experienced with both children and adults. She is one clinician for the entire length of your service request, someone who has been working in the local district for the past 10 years.