Articulation
disorders, difficulty saying speech sounds correctly, is identified
in approximately one million preschool children each year.
Research suggests that problems with articulation, if left
unchecked, can lead to reading and spelling difficulties,
social challenges, and self-esteem problems.
What
did you say!!
Below
you will find guidelines - or the predictable order that many
children develop their ability to speak clearly. You should
be able to answer yes to the questions listed below that pertain
to your child's age level.
1.
Do you understand approximately 25 percent of what your eighteen-month-old
child is saying?
2.
Do you understand approximately 60 -75 percent of what your
two-year-old child is saying?
3.
Do family members and caregivers understand your three-year-old
child's speech? Does he correctly produce vowels and such
sounds as: p/, /b/, /m/, and /w/ in words and repeat when
not understood without becoming frustrated?
4.
Do people with whom you do not associate with regularly understand
your
four-year-old
child when he speaks? Does he correctly produce the /t/, /d/,
/k/, /g/ and /f/ sounds?
5.
Is your five-year-old child's speech understood my most listeners
in all situations?
6.
Is your child who is eight to nine years of age able to make
all the sounds of his language correctly, including /r/, /s/,
/z/, and consonantal blends. For example, /pl/, /tr/, and
/str/.
Are
you Helping Your Child Learn to Talk?
The
strongest resource any child can have is a well-informed parent
who knows which speech sounds are normal, which are not, and
how to help a child say speech sounds when they are developmentally
ready. Review the following questions and answers, and take
a close look at how you interact with your child.
Do
you speak clearly, naturally, and most of all, correctly?
X
Yes ___No
Speaking
clearly and naturally includes establishing eye contact, speaking
at an easy-to-understand rate, and saying sounds precisely.
Do
you ask your child to repeat a word she has said incorrectly?
___Yes
X No
In
most cases, it is wise not to ask your child to repeat a word
after she has said it incorrectly. (Of course, if your child
is participating in speech therapy, follow the speech/language
pathologist's instructions.) Many children are not able to
say a sound correctly because they do not hear the difference
between the correct and incorrect production of the sound.
Therefore, give your child many opportunities to hear the
sound modeled (said) correctly. As you repeat the word, over-enunciate
the sound your child is mispronouncing by saying it louder
and longer. Continue talking and make the troublesome word
a natural part of your conversation.
For
example:
Child:
"I see a dot."
Parent:
"Yes, I see the doggg. He is a big doggg. Would you like a
dogg like that?"
Child:
"Yes, I want a dott."
Parent"
Maybe we can get a doggg soon.
Do
you praise your child often?
X
Yes ___No
It's
important to recognize your child's strengthens often. Perhaps
she can climb the jungle gym faster than all her friends,
or she can build a fantastic castle with her legos. Let her
know that you are proud of her when she makes sounds correctly
too. Example: "I like how you said look, not wook," rather
than saying just, "Good." Your pleasure and excitement will
motivate your child to speak and will also contribute to her
self-esteem.
Do
you pretend to understand your child even when you don't?
___ Yes X No
.In
most cases, it's best to gently tell your child that you are
having trouble understanding what she is trying to tell you,
rather than pretending to understand her words. Try to focus
on what she says, rather than how she is saying it. Show by
your words and actions that you are trying to understand.
Try understanding just one word. Use that word to ask her
questions. You might ask, "Can you help me understand, please?"
If your child feels she needs to help you, and that you (not
she) has a problem, she may repeat her words more slowly,
try to say them another way, or point or use some sort of
gesture to be your helper. Show your acceptance with nonverbal
responses such as smiles, hugs, and friendly words.
Do
you listen and compare your child's speech to other children?
___
Yes X No
Many
parents compare their child's speech development to that of
other children in the family or neighborhood. However, even
though some children can say speech sounds correctly at a
very early age, others may be eight or nine before they can
say all of the sounds correctly. If you have any questions
about your child's development in any area at any age, it's
always to seek professional help.
Do
you educate others about your child's speech difficulties?
X
Yes __No
Of
course, you would never allow anyone to tease, laugh, or imitate
your child's speech mistakes. Privately, talk to her preschool
teacher or babysitter and explain her difficulties with sounds.
When your child is obviously frustrated and needs your help,
step into the role of translator.
Do
you prepare your child for new situations?
X
Yes __ No
Children
who must struggle to communicate often feel self-conscious
or apprehensive, especially when facing the unknown. Talk
to your child about a new situation she may be facing. Rehearse
the words she might hear or say in this situation. Ask you
librarian to help you find a book about an upcoming situation,
such as a trip to the hospital, the birth of a new sibling,
or the first day at school.
As
most children mature, their overall speech patterns usually
become more understandable. However, some children need speech
therapy. A speech/language pathologist is trained to assess,
treat, and help prevent speech and language problems in children
(beginning at birth) and adults. This professional may work
in a variety of settings, including colleges or universities,
hospitals or medical clinics, local public schools, and private
offices. It is certainly not necessary or wise to wait until
you child is in kindergarten to seek help. If your child meets
state requirements, your local school district or county health
department is required to provide appropriate free services
for children from birth to five years of age.
To find a private speech/language pathologist close to your
home, you can look in the yellow pages, call the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (1-800-638-8255), or go
to the ASHA website www.asha.org and click on "Find a Professional."
This will certainly set your mind at ease if you learn your
child is developing as he should, or getting help, at an early
age, will make treatment easier. You can relax and have fun
helping your child reach his true potential.
About
the Author:
Dorothy P. Dougherty,
MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech/language pathologist who has worked
with children and adults in school, clinical, and private
settings for over 25 years. She is a certified member of the
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Mrs. Dougherty
is the author of How to Talk to Your Baby: A Guide to Maximizing
Your Child's Language and Learning Skills (Perigee/Putnam
2001) and Teach me How to Say it Right: Helping Your Child
with Articulation Problems (New Harbinger Publications) to
be released in May, 2005. Ms. Dougherty enjoys traveling around
the country doing workshops for teachers and parents. To contact
the author, or for more information about speech sound disorders,
go to www.1speechproblems.com.
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