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Public speaking is a skill that can take a long time to master. To better your speaking skills, you have to practice and seek resources that will help you improve one step at a time. Some of the best resources that you can turn to work on becoming a better presenter are books. To help you get started, here is a list of 5 books that will help you become better at public speaking:

You Got This by Lisa Kleiman: You Got This by Lisa Kleiman truly has everything you need to master the art of presenting. Kleiman discusses everything - big and small - that you’ll need to know when writing and delivering a speech. This book covers everything from planning your speech to calming your anxiety and learning how to be confident while presenting.

Speak With No Fear by Mike Acker: It’s completely normal to have some fear and anxiety when going on stage to give a presentation. But what makes a difference between a good speaker and a great speaker is how they handle that fear. Speak With No Fear by Mike Acker teaches you how to take any anxiety you may have and turn it into confidence.

Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo: TED Talks have become extremely popular, and for a good reason. Those who have the opportunity to take part in a TED Talk have excellent public speaking skills and know how to get their message across to their audience. In Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo, Gallo shares nine secrets of all successful TED Talks and how you can use these tips to make your next presentation a hit.

Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds: Public speaking engagements don’t have to be complicated and full of information to be successful. Sometimes the more simple a speech is, the more effective it can be. In Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, you’ll learn how to create simple and powerful presentations that will make a significant impact on your audience.

How Your Story Sets You Free by Heather Box: Last but not least, How Your Story Sets You Free by Heather Box, discusses how using personal stories in your speech can help you connect with your audience. Try to share a story that relates to your speech any chance you get. People enjoy hearing stories that resonate with them, and being truly and authentically you is the best way to do that.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

Speech therapy is such a wonderful asset for many children around the world. It can help kids who may have communication development issues work on bettering their speech and social skills, which can genuinely make a positive difference in their lives. There are so many significant benefits of speech therapy for children and some benefits that you may not have known about. If you’re concerned about your child’s speech development and want to help them work on their skills, a Speech-Language Pathologist can significantly help your child develop those much-needed communication skills during speech therapy sessions. If you’re interested in having your little one take part in speech therapy and are curious about all the benefits it can bring to your child, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the benefits of speech therapy for children:

• Improved communication
• Better social skills
• Improved reading skills
• Improved writing skills
• Strengthens muscles used for speech
• Teaches children how to communicate in different ways
• Lessens communication frustrations
• It helps children gain confidence
• Betters a child’s pronunciation of words
• It allows children to expand their vocabulary
• Works on increasing a child’s independence
• Allows children to work on expressing their feelings
• Can help children understand social rules
• Helps children learn how to speak in sentences
• Helps children form sounds correctly
• Can help children prepare for school
• Helps to reduce anxiety in children
• Works on helping children communicate using body language

There are so many benefits of speech therapy for children of all ages. Speech therapy can truly help make such a positive impact on a child’s mental and physical being and will help them improve on their communication and social skills.

If you’re interested in learning more about speech therapy or are looking to find a speech therapist for your little one, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk to a Speech-Language Pathologist in Chicago. A Speech-Language Pathologist can help your child improve their speech and social skills, and our knowledgeable team would be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

TED Talks can be extremely helpful when it comes to perfecting your public speaking skills. There are so many incredible TED Talks out there that you can watch that will help you learn a thing or two about the art of presenting. You’ll notice that many of these speakers have good body language, know how to connect with their audience, and have the power to almost instantly draw you in. No matter if you’re new to public speaking, have been doing it for a while, or are somewhere in between, here are 3 TED Talks that every public speaker should watch:

Joe Kowan - How I Beat Stage Fright

Stage fright is extremely common amongst public speakers. Having to step up on a stage in front of an audience is terrifying for many people, which can end up hurting their overall performance during a speech. TED Talk speaker, Joe Kowan, knows all too well about stage fright. During his TED Talk, Kowan discusses how stage fright has affected him throughout his career, how he’s learned to deal with it, and discusses how you, too, can beat stage fright.

Julian Treasure - How to Speak so That People Want to Listen

Shortly after you step in front of your audience and begin your speech, you realize that no one seems to be listening. What gives?! Just because you’re confident in your speech and believe in your topic doesn’t mean that everyone else will feel the same way. If you feel like you’re giving a great speech but aren’t being heard by your audience, you’re going to want to watch Julian Treasure’s TED Talk that discusses how to speak so that people want to listen to you. He describes how changing the way you speak and present can draw your audience in and make them more interested in your topic and speech overall.

Nancy Duarte - The Secret Structure of Great Talks

If you’re someone who struggles to write and organize your speech, this next TED Talk is for you. During her TED Talk, speaker Nancy Durate takes a closer at how the structure of your speech can make a huge difference. You’ll learn why some of the most historic speeches were so successful and how to structure your speech or presentation in a way that will captivate your audience.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common developmental disorder that affects 1 in 54 children across the United States. It can cause behavioral, social, and communication difficulties and can be seen in children from a very young age. Though there is currently no treatment for ASD, a Speech-Language Pathologist can help to improve your child’s speech and social development, especially when ASD is caught early on.

What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Though not every cause of autism spectrum disorder is known, some things can make a child more likely to develop ASD. Here are some of the factors that scientists believe can potentially cause ASD:

• Genetics Children born to older parents
• Children who have siblings with ASD
• People who have certain chromosomal conditions
• Children who were born to mother’s that took the prescription drugs valproic acid or thalidomide during pregnancy

What Are Some Signs of ASD?

If you’re concerned that your child has ASD, there are many warning signs that you can look out for. Here are some of the most common signs that a child may have ASD:

• Not talking as much as other children around them
• Doesn’t smile when you smile at them
• Avoids eye contact
• Has trouble telling you their needs
• Doesn’t respond to their name
• Has repetitive movements
• Doesn’t point at objects they are interested in
• Consistently repeats phrases or words
• Has a hard time understanding other peoples feelings
• Gets very upset when they don’t like a particular sound, taste, or smell

Where Can My Child With ASD Go to Work on Their Speech and Social Development?

A Speech-Language Pathologist can help your child work on improving their speech and social skills. If you find that your child is showing signs of autism spectrum disorder or is falling behind in their speech and language development, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk to a Speech-Language Pathologist in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you decide if speech therapy is right for your child.

An informative speech can be tricky to present if you haven’t previously given one. The goal of this type of speech is to get across valuable information about a topic that your audience will retain once your presentation is complete. If you have an informative speech coming up and looking for some tips on approaching it, don’t stress! Read on for eight great tips for giving an informative speech that presenters of all experience levels can use:

1. Open With a Strong Statement: The first thing you should do when giving an informative speech is to open with a strong statement. Let the audience know what your speech is about and why it’s important. Then, introduce everyone to your main topic and briefly go over the points that you’ll be making throughout the presentation.
2. Be Confident: It’s crucial that you’re composed and confident while giving an informative speech so that your audience can see that you’re an expert on your topic. Walk out onto the stage, take a deep breath, stand up straight, and be sure to project your voice. Let your audience know that they can trust the information you’re giving them and that they’ll walk away learning something new.
3. Explain Why Your Topic is Important: While giving your speech, be sure to go into some detail as to why your audience should care about the information you’re sharing and how it can benefit them going forward. Even though you know why your topic is important to you, it may take some convincing to get your audience to feel the same way.
4. Avoid Going Into Too Much Detail: The next tip for giving an informative speech is to avoid going into too much detail. Write down 3-5 points that you want to get across during the entirety of your speech, and stick solely to discussing those points and only those points. Try and avoid going into too much detail as it can lead to you losing your audience’s attention.
5. End With a Call-to-Action: Throughout your speech you’ve given your audience a whole lot of new information about your topic. Now, let them know what they should do with this information. For example, if your speech is about keeping your town’s local parks clean, consider asking your audience to spread the word about ways to keep those parks clean, or even ask them to consider joining a local park clean-up organization.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

Those with a receptive language disorder have a difficult time understanding what other people are saying to them both verbally and in written form. Receptive language disorders can begin in children from a very young age, which is why you must be able to notice the warning signs early on. If you’re concerned that your child may have a receptive language disorder, read on for signs to look out for and how a speech-language pathologist may be able to help:

Signs of a Receptive Language Disorder in Childen:

• Doesn’t always seem to be listening to what others are saying to them
• Has a hard time understanding the meaning of words
• Struggles to follow directions
• Has a hard time focusing
• Only completes half of a task
• Has trouble comprehending complete sentences
• Struggles to learn new words
• Frequently misunderstands directions
• Isn’t interested in talking to other people
• Has a hard time answering questions
• Responds to questions with answers that don’t fit the question
• Doesn’t get when jokes are being told
• Rarely discusses their feelings

How a Speech-Language Pathologist Can Help

If you find that your child is showing signs of a receptive language disorder, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) may be able to help. An SLP can help diagnose your child and recommend a treatment plan that fits their individual needs. They will work closely with you and your child to help answer any questions or concerns that you may have so that your child can work on developing their speech and language skills.

Please feel free to contact us to talk to a speech-language pathologist in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.

Giving a presentation is kind of like telling a story. You have a beginning that draws your audience in, an engaging and informative middle, and finally, you wrap up with an ending that your audience will never forget. It’s essential to have all of these elements in your speech, as they coincide with one another. If you don’t have one of these components, your presentation won’t feel whole and could leave your audience feeling confused. Out of the three, speakers usually struggle the most with trying to come up with the perfect way to end their presentation. It can be challenging to develop a powerful ending that leaves a positive impression on your audience - we get it!

If you find that you’re someone who’s struggling with finding the perfect way to end a speech, keep reading on for some powerful ways to wrap up your next presentation:

Use a Call to Action

The first way that you can wrap up your next speech is by using a call to action. Get your audience’s attention and let them know what you would like them to do based on your presentation. For example, suppose the topic of your presentation is “how to be more financially responsible.” In this case, your call to action could be for your audience to go and make a list of ways to cut back on their spending each month and put that extra money into a savings account.

Summarize Your Presentation

Another powerful way that you can wrap up your presentation is by recapping with a summary. Find 3-5 key points that were included in your speech, and bring them to your audience’s attention. Briefly go over each point and provide your audience further insight into why it was important. People are more likely to retain the information you’ve given them if you refresh their minds with a quick recap before they leave.

Answer Questions

Save some time at the end of your presentation to answer any questions that your audience may have. Allow individuals to ask questions that pertain to your presentation one at a time, and proceed to answer them with a quick and concise answer. When you give your audience the chance to ask questions, they’ll better understand the big picture of your presentation.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

The weather is getting warmer, and the sun is shining. This can only mean one thing… Summer is just around the corner! One of the best parts about this time of year is that families can go outside and enjoy some great activities together, and a lot of these summertime activities can help work on your child’s speech.

Ready to have some fun in the sun? Here are some of our favorite summertime activities to help improve your child’s speech:

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors while working on your little one’s speech and development. Start by making a list of items that your child will have to find and then read them off one at a time. Some of the items on the list could include a flower, a leaf, a small rock, etc. Have your child bring the items back and then proceed to ask them simple questions about each object, such as “what color is this?” or “is this hard or soft?”.

Draw With Chalk

Another fun activity that you can do with your kiddos is to draw with chalk. Pick up a pack of colorful chalk and go outside on your driveway or sidewalk. Take turns with your child on deciding what you’ll both draw, and then proceed to get creative. For example, if your child says that you both should draw a duck, ask your child questions such as what color the duck should be, if it should be big or small, what the duck’s name is, etc.

Follow the Leader

One last activity you can partake in this summer is the classic game, follow the leader. During this activity, you’ll take turns with your child being the leader. As the leader, you’ll shout out and perform simple moves that the other person will need to follow. Some examples of actions that you could do include jumping, clapping, spinning around, dancing, etc. Continue to take turns being the leader until you both get tired!

We hope that you enjoy these fun activities with your little ones this summer! As always, if you find that your child is falling behind in their speech and language development, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk to a Speech-Language Pathologist in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.

Public speaking isn’t a skill that comes naturally to everyone. It takes most public speakers a lot of time and practice to become a master of their craft. They have to consistently work on their skills and focus on the areas of their speech that need the greatest improvements. Many speakers choose to work on their skills while at home because this is where they feel the most comfortable and relaxed. Taking some time out during each day to perform simple speech-oriented activities can genuinely make a difference. If you’re looking who’s looking to improve your public speaking skills but aren’t sure where to begin, these at-home activities can help give you a jumpstart:

Record Yourself Speaking

The first activity you can try at home to improve your public speaking skills is to video record yourself giving a speech. Get a video camera or use the video recording feature on your phone and set it up in a quiet part of your house. Then, take some time out and practice giving an upcoming speech in front of the camera. Once you’re done, play the video back and make some notes on things you did well and things you could improve on. This will help you to get a sense of how the audience sees you and allows you to make changes as needed.

Describe Your Favorite Show/Movie

Another activity that we enjoy is describing a favorite television show or movie to someone else. Pick one of your all-time favorite shows or movies and tell another person everything about it. Describe the plotline, talk about the actors, discuss some of the best moments, and name some questions you have about the show/movie. This will give you an excellent opportunity to work on your speaking skills while also getting to talk about something you love. The best part about this activity is that you can do it over a video call, over the phone, or in person.

Watch Public Speaking Performances

Take a look at this list of the 25 most popular TED Talk videos of all time and pick one or two videos that interest you. Watch each video one at a time and take note of what the speaker does that you like. For example, maybe the speaker has good movement and gestures, or perhaps they’ve mastered using storytelling to draw in their audience. You then can take what you’ve learned and try to mimic those actions during your next speech.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

Delayed speech development can be hard for a child both emotionally and socially. They may become easily frustrated and distraught knowing that they aren’t developing their skills at the same pace as the children around them. Thankfully, there are some things that you can do to help your child avoid having to go through emotional and social distress. When caught early on, you and your child can face their delayed speech development head-on and improve their communication from a young age.

Q: What impact can delayed speech development have on my child’s emotional and social development?

A: Children who are falling behind in their speech development may find it challenging to make friends which can be extremely frustrating for them. They may avoid speaking or sharing their thoughts because they feel like nobody understands them. This can cause long-term social anxiety and delayed development emotionally, socially, and academically.

Q: What are some common signs of delayed speech development in children?

A: In children who are 1-2 years old, your child may have delayed speech development if they don’t use hand gestures, haven’t said their first word, or if they point to items rather than asking for them. In children 2-3 years old, you should look out for signs such as they can’t put together three-word phrases, they have a hard time following simple instructions, and they have trouble communicating with other children their age. Last but not least, if your child is 3-4 years old, you should look out for signs such as your child doesn’t speak in sentences, can’t answer basic questions, or they don’t express their feelings.

Q: What should I do if my child is showing signs of delayed speech development?

A: If you find that your child is falling behind in their speech and language development, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can help. An SLP will work with your child to help them overcome any communication difficulties they are experiencing and help them catch up with other children their age in terms of their speech development. If you think that your child could benefit from speech therapy or have questions about speech therapy, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk to a Speech-Language Pathologist in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.