Join pediatric speech-language pathologist Laura Mize, M.S., CCC-SLP from teachmetotalk.com as she discusses tips for helping a late talker learn to communicate. 

In this fifth show in my series 11 Skills Toddlers Must Use BEFORE Words Emerge, we'll be talking about the second skill:

RESPONDS TO PEOPLE

I can't overemphasize how important this skill is in helping a child learn to communicate. Here's why... Communicating always involves at least 2 people. When a child doesn't routinely respond and interact when you try to talk to him, play with him, or teach him something, it's highly unlikely he's learning.

In my experience, parents first begin to suspect there's a problem with a child's development when he or she seems to ignore other people or avoid contact. Not responding to other people is a core deficit for autism.

The good news is...YOU CAN MAKE IT BETTER!

Using the simple, straightforward tips in this podcast, you'll help a child learn to notice you and eventually, begin to interact with you. Here's the post at teachmetotalk.com for this show.

Need more help? I have a therapy manual designed to teach you how to help a child learn to respond. Here's the link to my book Teach Me To Play WITH You which will give you step-by-step instructions for 50+ different little social games and easy play routines for toddlers who don't consistently respond to other people.