Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Children begin to say their first words between 12 and 18 months. During this period, they can typically say between 10 and 50 words. By the time they turn 2, children are expected to gradually begin forming sentences, and by age 3, they can form sentences of 3 to 5 words. Speech and language disorders in children may become apparent during these stages. One of the first things parents look forward to as their children grow and develop is the development of their speech skills.

If a child’s language development skills lag behind those of their peers, this may be a sign of a medical condition. Causes of speech delay include intellectual disability, hearing loss, lack of stimulation, autism, speaking two different languages at home, and developmental language delay.

A child’s speech skills and social development—which are closely tied to the attention they receive from their family at home—are crucial milestones. A child’s communication begins at birth and even while still in the womb. Even while the child is still in the womb, talking to them during the final days—knowing that they understand and sense you and are beginning to recognize your voice—is of great importance for their development.

Unless there is a serious problem causing a delay in a child’s speech, the parents’ attention and engagement with the child—including playtime, storytime, and spending time with the child—play a major role in the rapid development of the child’s speech skills.

What Is Delayed Speech? What Is Its Relationship to Autism?

Late speech is a condition resulting from children’s skills not developing within the appropriate age range during language and speech development. This condition is typically observed in young children between 18 and 30 months of age. In terms of many skills, behaviors, and movements, children have developed certain abilities appropriate for their age group.

Although the child understands everyone around them and can follow all conversations (receptive language), their vocabulary and speech skills (expressive language) are not age-appropriate. One specific factor is having a parent in the family who was a late talker; this is more common in boys. It can also be observed in cases of premature birth and low birth weight.

The key points regarding the relationship between speech delay and autism are that, in autism, there are cases where language and speech skills are acquired late or not at all. Speech delay is a condition that can also be observed in children with autism. Although speech and language disorders and autism spectrum disorder are distinct conditions, they are not entirely independent or unrelated. This is because language delay is one of the most significant factors associated with autism in children. In other words, if your child’s language skills are not developing, there could be many different reasons for this, and it could also be a sign of autism.

Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Speech and Language Disorders

In cases of language and speech disorders, the intervention and therapy techniques applied vary depending on the child’s age once a diagnosis has been made. Following a general evaluation, the problem area is identified, and an appropriate course of treatment is initiated. Referrals are typically made through the otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) department of a hospital; for a more comprehensive evaluation, children undergo hearing tests, IQ tests, and psychological assessments.

In this treatment approach, a treatment program tailored to the child’s needs is developed. In the treatment of speech and language disorders, if there is a physical impairment, the necessary interventions are carried out with the goal of eliminating these impairments. At the same time, various therapies and exercises are also implemented to support the treatment of this condition.

The Role of Parents in Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers during the years of growth and development. Children learn language primarily by listening to and imitating those who speak at home. Even as infants, they notice sounds coming from sources other than themselves and respond to them.

Children’s language and cognitive skills begin to develop as they are exposed to a variety of speech, words, and sounds. Speech disorders can lead to difficulties in social interactions due to communication challenges. Parents support their children’s learning in a variety of situations. Some of these include:

• Bebeğinizin çıkardığı ilk seslere, öksürme ve hapşırmalara hatta jestlerine bile tepki vermek.
• Çocuğunuz ilk kelimelerini çıkarmaya başladığında onun söylediklerini tekrarlamak ve ona eklemeler yaparak cümleler kurmak.
• Çocuklara sorular sormak ve onları dinlemek
• Hikayeler anlatmak, kitap okumak
• Şarkılar söylemek
• Onlara konuşmaya başladıkları dönemlerde bile bazı durumları konuşarak anlatmaya çalışmak
• Bilgilendirici ve zeka geliştirici oyunlar ile onlarla sohbet ederek aktivetelerde bulunmak

Treatment of Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Children can overcome mild speech and language disorders. The treatment process or type varies depending on the severity and cause of the speech disorder in children. Speech therapy can help with severe symptoms or speech problems that do not improve.

During therapy sessions, therapists begin by teaching your child how to use language by helping them produce specific sounds. If your child is diagnosed with a speech disorder, the therapist may ask the parents to do the following:

• Çocuğunuzda konuşma ve dil bozukluğu teşhis edildiğinde öncelikle büyük endişeler duymaktan kaçınmalı ve sakin olmalısınız. Çükü çocuklar sizin endişenizi hissettiğinizde süreç çok daha uzun ve olumsuz ilerleyebilir.
• Stresten uzak durmalı ev ortamında çocuğu strese sokacak herhangi bir davranış, tartışma veya duygulardan uzak durmalısınız.
• Çocuklarınızla iletişim kurarken onları büyük bir sabırla dinleyerek konuşurken mutlaka göz teması kurmaya özen gösterin, sözünü kesmeyin ve sevgi ile onunla iletişim kurmaya çalışın.
• Çocuğunuzla günlük rutin konuşmalar dışında ona zaman ayırarak herhangi bir konu belirleyip sohbet etmeye çalışın. Mümkünse bunu baba ile birlikte ailece gerçekleştirin.

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