If your child does not like to talk as much as other children the same age he may have some speech or communication problem due to minor changes in speech muscles, not necessarily sign of more serious problems like autism, for example.
In addition, hearing problems or other situations like being an only child or the youngest child can also create barriers in developing the ability to speak. In this way, it is recommended to consult a speech therapist to identify the possible reason for this difficulty.
Generally, children are expected to start uttering the first few words around the age of 18 months, but it can take up to six years for them to be able to speak correctly, since there is no correct age for full language development.
Learn more at: When your child should start talking.
What to do to treat childhood speech problems
The best way to treat a child with speech problems in childhood is to see a speech pathologist to identify the problem and initiate appropriate treatment. However, a great deal of childhood speech problems can be improved with some important tips, which include:
- Avoid treating the child as a baby because children tend to behave according to what parents expect from it;
- Do not say the words wrongly, like 'bibi' instead of 'car', because the child imitates the sounds made by the adults and does not give the objects the right name;
- Avoid demanding above the abilities of the child, as it may make the child insecure about its development, and may jeopardize their learning;
- Do not blame the child for mistakes in speech, like 'I did not understand anything you said' or 'speak right', because it is normal that errors develop in the development of speech. In these cases it is recommended to say only 'Repeat, I do not understand' in a calm and gentle way, as if speaking with an adult friend, for example;
- Encourage the child to speak, because he needs to feel that there is an environment where he can err without being judged;
- Avoid asking the child to repeat the same word several times, as it may create a negative image of itself, causing the child to avoid communicating.
However, parents and teachers should receive guidance from the pediatrician and speech therapist to find out how best to deal with the child at each stage of speech development, avoiding harming their normal development, even if it is slower than other children.
Major problems of speech in childhood
The main problems of speech in childhood are related to the exchange, omission or distortion of sounds and, therefore, include stuttering, disordered language, dyslalia or apraxia, for example.
1. Stuttering
Stuttering is a speech problem that interferes with the child's fluidity of speech, and excessive repetition of the first part of the word is common, as in 'cla-cla-cla-claro' or a single sound, as in the case of 'co-ooo-mida', for example. However, stuttering is very common until 3 years of age, and should only be treated as a problem after that age.
2. Talk disorderly
Children with disordered speech have difficulty speaking comprehensively and, therefore, have a difficult time expressing what they are thinking. In these cases, sudden changes in language rhythm are frequent, such as unexpected pauses mixed with increased speech speed.
3. Dislalia
Dyslalia is a speech problem characterized by the presence of various language errors during the child's speech, and may include letter changes in a word, such as 'callus' instead of 'car', omission of sounds, such as 'omi' in the place of 'comi', or addition of syllables of a word, like 'jananela' instead of 'window'. See more about this disease here.
4. Apraxia
Apraxia arises when the child has difficulty producing or imitating sounds properly, failing to repeat simple words, say 'tea' when asked to speak 'shovel', for example. This usually happens when the child can not properly move the muscles or structures needed to speak, as in the case of a prey tongue.
Due to the different changes in the speech of the child and the difficulty in identifying a true speech problem it is advisable to consult a speech therapist whenever there is any suspicion, as it is the most appropriate professional to correctly identify the problem.
Thus, it is normal that in the same family there are children who begin to talk near the age of one and a half when others only begin to talk after the age of 3 or 4, and therefore parents should not compare the development of a child's speech with the elder brother, for example, as it can cause situations of unnecessary anxiety and aggravate the development of the child.
When to go to the pediatrician
It is recommended to consult a speech therapist when the child:
- Stutters often after 4 years;
- It does not produce any sounds, even when playing alone;
- He does not understand what is said to him;
- He was born with a congenital hearing or mouth problem, such as a prey tongue or a cleft lip, for example.
In these cases the doctor will assess the child's history and observe their behavior in order to identify the problems present in their communication, selecting the most appropriate treatment and guiding parents on how best to relate to the child, in order to solve the problem more quickly.
Here's how to tell if your child has a hearing problem that could make speech difficult:
- How to identify hearing loss in infants.
