“Joint Attention” why is it important for language learning in children?

“Joint Attention” why is it important for language learning in children?

Written by: Ms. Sai Harika Boppana, BASLP

                   Consultant Speech pathologist

                   Dhara Speech Therapy Clinic, Hosur - TN

           

                    To learn about something, we need to pay attention to what is being said or written. When two people attend to the same object by shifting eye gaze between the partner and object during a conversation or an interaction, then that momentum is called “Joint attention”. Joint attention also includes pointing, use of gestures and body language. In children Joint attention plays an important role in language learning.  Joint attention is developed in children around first birthday. It is the most important and the first social skill that children need to develop during their early years. Through joint attention children make sure that the parent is paying attention to the object or item they are referring which will develop the initiation skills in children.

                            In Autism Spectrum Disorders, this skill is impaired thereby leading to the inability to learn language and initiate communication. Most of the kids with autism communicate non-verbally by pulling parents towards the object they need. If their needs are met then they continue following the same and thus language learning or communicating verbally doesn’t develop. In all the early intervention programs joint attention should be the first skill that needs to be addressed.

                          I have first learnt practically about the importance of ‘Joint attention’ from Dr. Carbone’s workshop held in Dubai in the year 2015. It has shown amazing results in the intervention process. Now I follow it for all my kids who are in the early intervention program. The first change I have noticed is that the kids learn to initiate interactions especially with their mothers. I have a child who has learnt to interact with his mother by roaring like a lion and waits for mother to make a scray face. If dosen’t respond he will again make eye contact and roars. He also points to the lion in the book and roars. This is a wonderful change I have noticed after working on joint attention.

                    

                     The most recommended way to build ‘Joint attention’ is through reading story books. Story books are excellent source of information and great language stimulators. We can teach lots of concepts through that. The beauty of a parent and child taking turns while reading a book with lot of expressions, pauses is not explainable in words. I can confidently say that my son has learnt most of his vocabulary from his story books and just today before bed time he said “mom be patient” leaving me awestruck.