Speech disorder in your child

We will now introduce you to a delicate topic, very important and unfortunately constantly present as a medical problem that affects language disorders in children .

A child , from the beginning of his childhood, begins to show his language skills by reproducing sounds (especially by repeating the same letter or imitating sounds that adults around him say). Then the speech gradually develops and takes shape, passing through two successive phases:

1. Between the ninth and thirteenth month , the child's speech is enriched with words spoken by his relatives, in addition to those related to his needs or the names he uses for his toys.
2. Between the ages of two and three, he acquires more linguistic qualities and expands his vocabulary.

These phases are standard and apply to the majority of children , but in some they occur later. Speech and possible speech disorders can be corrected with the help of a speech therapist.

The child's speech and the most important things you need to know

The key role is played by the parents, who can stimulate the child in these two phases of speech by:

• Provoking his curiosity - telling him stories and directing his attention by including him in the story;
• Supporting vocabulary enrichment by including new words in the game process;
• The child is not forced, but calmly waits for the time when he will choose to speak.

Usually children complete the process of mastering speech by the third year inclusive, after which all suspicions of speech disorders can be checked by creating situations in which the child can easily react through speech without pressure. In these cases, speech therapy exercises may be useful, or you can contact a speech therapist to determine the most appropriate and above all non-invasive way to overcome speech delay .

When do children start talking?

During the first three years, speech manifests itself when, through stimuli and games, integration with the child begins. These elements may favor the earlier development of his speech. The standard phases in the development of speech are:

1. 2 months - the child makes casual natural sounds , such as hiccups and crying.
2. 6 months - mechanically makes the easiest sounds for him and tries to react to the provocations of loved ones.
3. 18 months - the child is able to say more words and have a conversation.
4. 3 years - the child makes simple sentences of 2-3 words and responds to questions from adults.

After the third year, if the words or sentences are not pronounced correctly, they can be signs of potential speech disorders. They can be discussed with a pediatrician and subsequently with a speech therapist, without anxiety and pressure on the child.

Which of the children's speech disorders are the most common?

There are common disorders that can be resolved over time and with a course that aims to solve the problem and prevent more serious problems (such as writing and reading at school ). The most common disorders are inaccurate pronunciation of words in communication and stuttering . The first case can be resolved by a speech therapist through established therapy related to phonetic disorders.

The problem with stuttering is the prolongation of sounds and interruptions during speech. This can occur in situations of high emotional tension and inheritance, and requires immediate intervention with appropriate therapy to facilitate correct pronunciation and speech delay. In some cases, there may be speech disorders and difficulties in learning new words , or there may be a tendency to use very short sentences, which is a more specific problem and requires specific therapy.

What is speech therapy and what problems does it solve? Speech therapy exercises

Speech therapy is a specific discipline that deals with speech problems in order to eliminate its defects and correct any speech disorders that appear in the first years of life. It intervenes to resolve the child's communication difficulties such as difficulty expressing concepts, difficulty speaking or mispronouncing sounds. The therapy for children is carried out through sessions in which the child is influenced by play methods and with the participation of parents, whose role is to predispose the child to the first exercises. Here are some of them:

• Exercises to stimulate memory and attention - the child must recognize similar objects.
• Encourage him to compose and formulate a story with the help of illustrations, at the beginning he is encouraged only to choose the words.
• Pronouncing words, repeating words provoked by pictures, which allows the child to develop the ability for dialogue.

These sessions, in principle, are held at home and in the presence and assistance of parents to facilitate communication and accelerate the outcome of therapy.