Communication skills are an essential quality for people of all ages. That’s why caregivers and parents become overly ecstatic when a child lets out the first stutter. While many parents battle over which of them becomes the reference for their baby’s first words, that may not be the reality for all parents. Several parents in the U.S. don’t get to share in this great pride for most of the child’s babyhood or for the long haul.
About one in 12 children in the United States has a speech impediment that may have lasted about a year. There are several causes with quick and hassle-free solutions to help your child with a language disorder. The best way to handle such communication problems is to identify them early and report them to a speech therapist or professional clinician. As a rule of thumb, early detection leads to early intervention. Here are four main causes for speech delay in children.
1. Childhood Disabilities
Speech-language delays are the most common of childhood disabilities affecting about five to eight percent of pre-school-age children. However, general speech-language delay can be easily corrected if detected early. The primary reason can be childrens’ slow rate in learning language skills and expressing them compared to their peers. It’s a temporary situation in most kids and can be corrected by online speech therapy services.
Today’s children have a significant advantage compared to their parents born before the age of the internet. Many young children fancy the use of technology and may even learn to use gadgets at very early ages. Therefore, a high-speed internet connection, an affordable online speech therapy subscription, and a headset are all you may need to improve your child’s language deficits.
These sessions can happen during flexible hours; for instance, in the evenings, after your child finishes their assignments for the day. The choice of speech therapist can also be an essential determinant of how fast your child triumphs over expressive language disorders. Learners require teachers who are sensitive to special needs and can take time to understand the dysfunctions of toddlers.
2. Oral Motor Problems
The brain plays an essential role in speech development. If your child has ever been involved in a traumatic brain injury, many speech problems can be related to the accident. However, if you keep seeing visible signs, while there’s no cause for alarm, effective communication with a doctor can be the right step. Generally, children with special needs require the strictest plan of care.
You can begin from periodic dental examination sessions to ensure there are no problems with the child’s oral tissues and other gum disease issues, making it painful for children to move their jaws.
3. Hearing Loss
Difficulties in hearing and other related disorders can have several implications on children’s speech development, including frequent memory loss. Some children may be suffering from auditory processing disorder, which can make understanding what they hear very difficult. As the hearing loss continues, speech clarity and other ideal hearing indicators begin to drop. Audiologists are the best professionals to help manage such situations. As a branch of communication science, audiology deals with the assessment and management of hearing disorders. Enrolling your child in a speech-language pathology program can also be an alternative. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a trained expert in communication and swallowing issues for children.
4. Autism
Disorders along the autism spectrum can result in several development issues, including speech delay. Autism spectrum disorder affects a child’s social interaction and communication abilities. Autism cases vary in severity. The best way to administer a solution is to first understand its uniqueness. Frequent checkups can be a good idea to effectively manage autism-related speech delay issues.
