Chloe Takes Centre Stage
At a recent school assembly, 11-year-old Chloe walked out in front of her entire school, took hold of the microphone, and confidently presented a certificate to a fellow schoolmate.
That kind of public speaking is a challenge any young person can be proud of. For Chloe, it also shows the huge impact speech and language therapy (SLT) can have for children born with Down syndrome. Chloe’s mum, Leoni, reflected proudly on the amazing progress her daughter had made.
“It was a wonderful moment that highlighted just how far she has come in her communication journey.”
Starting Early
Down syndrome can present a range of complications for young learners and, while every child will have unique needs, delayed speech development and communication impairments are among the more common. Without support for their unique speech, language, and communication profile, many with Down syndrome will remain non-verbal throughout life.
Chloe’s parents learned about the importance of speech and language therapy and the massive impact it can have for kids living with Down syndrome just ahead of her first birthday. They wasted no time getting to work.
“We were keen to get started as early as possible to give her every opportunity to develop strong communication skills and be able to express herself, connect with others, and participate fully in the world around her,” says Leoni.
The therapy journey began with Chloe using basic sign language to communicate before vocal expression. Leoni recalls that as Chloe began babbling, her therapist started to focus on spoken language.
“I can't remember exactly how long it took before we started noticing a difference, but I do remember being amazed at how quickly she picked up basic signs and was able to communicate her wants and needs more effectively.”
School Strides
Nearing the end of primary school, Chloe is working on clarity of speech, storytelling and retelling skills, and reading comprehension. She is being challenged to answer questions that require deeper thinking, like “how?”, “why”, and “what do you think?”.
“She is being encouraged to build on conversations with new ideas, rather than returning to familiar topics, and to show interest and curiosity in what other people are talking about,” says Leoni.
Chloe’s speech and language therapy programme is designed to compliment her academic life. Her therapist, Elena, works closely with both the family and school to ensure everyone supporting Chloe shares the strategies and goals involved in therapy. It goes much further than talking; speech and language therapy assists in understand more abstract concepts that are important for maths and developing phonological awareness skills fundamental for literacy.
Chloe is tackling her schooling with independence and confidence, her communication, social, and learning skills bolstered through a programme of frequent, individualised therapy. Leoni’s is looking forward to seeing her daughter take the next steps with intermediate and secondary schooling.
“We are excited about the opportunities ahead and want to ensure she has the skills and support she needs to make the most of this next chapter.”
As well as working hard at school (reading and art are her favourite classes), Chloe likes to play just as hard. She loves swimming, enjoys playing the videogame Roblox with her little sister and visiting the shopping centre, and has an expansive imagination when playing with her dolls and kitchen set. In fact, she’s a budding foodie who loves going to family lunches and, according to mum, her favourite thing in the world is pizza!
Making Connections
Chloe’s social life has also been positively impacted by speech and language therapy. Leoni has watched her ability to communicate her thoughts, feelings, and ideas flourish, giving her the confidence to engage with peers, participate in play, and build friendships.
“It has opened up opportunities for social connection that might otherwise have been much more difficult and has had a significant positive impact on her everyday life.”
But perhaps the most precious connections that Chloe’s communication skills have strengthened are those between her family. Leoni remembers in the early years, speech and language therapy helped a great deal in understanding what their baby needed and wanted. Now she’s older, therapy has helped Chloe build strong relationships between family and friends.
“It has given her the tools to share her thoughts, personality, and ideas with the people around her, including her very cheeky sense of humour, which brings us so much joy.”
Ready for the Future
Supported with speech and language therapy, Chloe is set to continue growing into a confident young adult. Leoni says it is exciting to imagine what the future will hold for her daughter as she continues to develop more independence, confidence, and skills each year.
“Along the way, we're also looking forward to making more memories together, spending quality time with family and friends, and simply enjoying life as a family while celebrating all of Chloe's achievements, big and small.”
