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First Words

An Informative Book By Barbara Levine Offenbacher

Barbara Levine Offenbacher’s book “First Words: A Parent’s Step-by-Step Guide to Helping a Child with Speech and Language Delays” gives parents the information they need to allow them to stimulate their child’s speech and language. Parents are given actual samples of how children with autism and other language delays respond differently to questions and how their responses can be redirected in order to start building connections.

Offenbacher explains terms such as speech and language, typical language delay, PDD-Pervasive Developmental Delay, ASD-Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and ABA-Applied Behavioral Analysis.

The book outlines the typical developmental steps of speech and language acquisition, and where parents should begin when starting to help their child. It suggests the types of toys, and experiences that stimulate language, as well as a floor plan to arrange a “work area” and learning center in their home. It provides check lists for them to evaluate their child every step of the way and set meaningful and attainable goals.

This book is not meant to replace professional intervention. It guides parents in becoming a para-speech partner in maximizing the stimulation their child receives so they develop skills for communicating.

Barbara Levine Offenbacher has written a must-read for parents of children with suspected or confirmed language delay, with special focus on moderately severe communication disorders such as autism, PDD, and auditory processing delay. An eminently readable book for the layman, it is filled with helpful hints, advice, and many easy pragmatic, day-to-day strategies parents can employ to further language skills in a normal or language delayed child. Highly recommended!

Edward J. Gindi,
Attending in the Department of Pediatrics, New York University Medical Center

“A useful primer for parents who are concerned about their child’s language development; helpful suggestions for creating activities and language models for the enhancement of language acquisition.”

Harriet B. Klein,

New York University

“This book is a practical, insightful, easy to read, step-by-step guide for parents to develop strategies to stimulate speech, language, socialization and social language and explore ways to speak to their child. Written in a clear, down to earth, relevant style, Barbara Levine Offenbacher’s years of clinical experience shine through in this helpful guide. Parents will want to have a copy to help them become more knowledgeable and effective.”

Roberta Chapey,

Brooklyn College, CUNY


“Speech and language therapy does not just take place in a therapist’s office. Parents are desperate to learn how to help their child with a language delay every minute of the day. With Offenbacher’s book, parents finally have the tools and strategies to become partners in the language therapy process.”

Cecelia McCarton,

Executive Director of the McCarton

Center for Developmental Pediatrics and

The McCarton School for Autism

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