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Speech Disorders in Children- 6 common Myths and the Real Facts

World over communities have their beliefs which are passed on from one generation to another, it is more prevalent in societies where certain topics are not discussed freely and education levels are low. Speech disorders in children are common, tips are passed on from mother to daughter. Some are scientifically proven while some create misunderstandings. We list below the common Speech disorders – 6 common myths and the real facts.

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A Happy Child

1. It happens with Children at this Age.

Though the parents are well aware that the child stutters or does not pronounce the words properly, the general belief is that the problem will go away with age.

Fact

Not that it cannot happen, the child may stop stuttering or the speech will become clearer, but it is advisable to consult a Speech Therapist for an opinion, it should not be too late to start the treatment. Delayed Speech development will also result in delayed reading and writing skills which will ultimately affect the child’s progress at school.

2. The Child is too small to be tested.

Small Child with a Speech Therapist

Some parents think that their child is too small to be tested, these beliefs are unscientific.

Fact

It is not advisable to delay the visit to the Speech Therapist. The Speech professionals are trained and are expert at handling young babies. They can reliably check babies for speech disorders and hearing loss before the child can start speaking.

3. Boys are slower than Girls

Girls are Smarter than Boys

Boys start speaking much later than Girls. Believe it or not it’s true.

Fact

It is a well-known fact that girls start speaking before the boys do, it does not mean that testing should be delayed. It is said that since girls mature earlier though the difference is not much, they also acquire other skills faster than boys.

If the parents feel that the boy’s speech is delayed, they should refer to boys of similar age and check if the other boys have started speaking.

4. Not speaking? The Child is Stubborn or lazy

Lazy Speaker

In some cases it is noticed that some children are stubborn or lazy and do not talk.

Fact

It is observed that the child continues to speak in baby language much after the other children of the same age group are clear in their speech. Parents feel that the child is stubborn or lazy. If the child says “Poon” instead of “Spoon” omitting the word “P” while at the same time can pronounce the word “Sun” it is not being stubborn or lazy. Chances are that the child can have what is known as “Phonological Disorder”.

Observe the child carefully or consult a Speech Therapist for confirmation.

5. We can wait until the child starts going to school to confirm if there is a problem.

Child with Speech Disorder

Some parents delay visiting the Speech Therapist hoping that the child may start speaking after joining the school.

Fact

Parents are advised to consult a Speech Therapist at the earliest as it may be too late if the child has a genuine Speech disorder. Delay in Speech therapy will also cause delay in reading and writing ability which will affect the education of the child. The more the delay in consulting and starting with Speech therapy the longer it will take for the therapist to bring the child back to normalcy.

6. Speech disorder is common in Mentally Retarded children.

The general belief is that Mentally Retarded children also have Speech disorders.

Fact

Even if the child has other problems, it is not necessary that speech will also be affected. It has been observed that children with low IQ can have exceptional conversational and foreign language skills. This is known as the “Chatterbox Syndrome”. The child can be trained by the Speech Therapist to express themselves though they might be mentally retarded.

You can checkout this video for some simple tips.

Age V/s Behaviour table for quick reference

The following approximate indicators may help in alerting parents whether the child is developing normal speech.

Age Vs Behaviour Reference Chart

Parents should rely on professional help more than the myths and beliefs which have been passed down from generations, though the home remedies practiced in the past may not be entirely wrong but science has come a long way, new technologies and cures will be much better and help in early recovery of the child.

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The post Speech Disorders in Children- 6 common Myths and the Real Facts appeared first on Earguru.



This post first appeared on Ear Health Tips In India - EarGuru, please read the originial post: here

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