I am more interested in my 2-year-old son speaking and making whole sentences than reading at this point. He had a series of ear infections last year that led up to him getting the tubes put in his ears earlier this year. He is a very bright child, but I think that his speech is well behind the other 2-year-old’s in his class at daycare. They are making whole sentences and Jonathan cannot. His words are not clear (some are), but he is showing progress. Could you please email me back and tell me how I could probably fine tune my efforts to help my son began to hold a conversation with me fluently?

You are wise in holding off a bit on the reading front. He’s a little young to begin the full reading program anyway, but even more importantly, he needs to hear language as it is properly spoken and heard. Up until the tubes were put in his ears, language probably sounded to him like he was underwater. His hearing experience is probably quite different now. I’m sure his language skills will dramatically increase as he begins to understand that what he has heard and what he is now hearing are different things.

I’m a teacher at a preschool and have used a Phonics program in my classroom for several years. I would begin to help rebuild his language vocabulary and hearing skills in three ways. First, I would talk, talk, talk to him. He might need to re-associate simple words like door, chair, table with what they actually sound like as compared to how he heard and learned them while his ears were so badly infected. Second, I would read to him as much as possible so that he can hear the proper use of language and word structure. He needs to hear the cadences of language spoken conversationally and written. Third, I would listen to a lot children’s music. Letting him hear rhythms and words put together might help him remember the sounds of words better. Most of us can remember things to music quite a bit better than just the ideas or words themselves. Some Phonics programs offer CDs that introduce letters and sounds which is a great beginning for introducing the reading program. But again, I would hold off until you were more comfortable with his verbal communication and vocabulary skills. As an additional note, I would still work very closely with my pediatrician to ensure that his development stays on task and that there is no additional damage to his hearing. Your doctor will continue to be a source of help in this area. Good luck and enjoy the process of working and learning with your child.