In order for children to learn in school and make friends, they first need to be able to speak. Those who develop speech problems may fall behind in school and have trouble with peer relationships. Speech problems are somewhat common in toddlers, and affect as many as 3% of kids by the time they reach primary school, but only half of these will outgrow their communication disorders by the time they are teenagers.
It will be helpful for parents to know how to detect speech problems early so that the proper speech therapy and professional services can be procured before the issues begin to affect their learning and social development. The earlier a speech problem is detected, the more likely it is that parents can help their child overcome it.
Types of Speech Problems in Toddlers and Preschoolers
Parents may notice certain speech troubles with their young children, but they may or may not be a cause for concern. As children develop their language skills, there will be a certain amount of hesitancy, some stuttering of words, occasional distortion of sounds and a general difficulty with expressing themselves.
- Communication disorders come in a variety of flavors. Here are a few possible speech problems that are common in young kids:
- Articulation Disorders – Difficulties with speech sounds, as with the letter “s” or the sound of “th”. One severe articulation disorder is known as apraxia of speech.
- Receptive Language Disorder – Inability to understand others’ speech and/or directions; poor verbal memory.
- Expressive Language Disorder – Difficulty expressing oneself and finding the right words to say.
- Stuttering – Repeating words and sounds during speech that increases with stress and pressure to speak quickly.
- Pragmatic Language Disorder – Mostly affects a child’s ability to properly and tactfully socialize.
Symptoms of Speech Disorders in Young Kids
There are several behaviors that parents can look out for in toddlers who may have speech problems. These symptoms can be different based on the type of speech problem the child is experiencing. Some signs of speech disorders are the following:
- Distorting sounds
- Omitting sounds (at the beginning or ending of words)
- Substituting incorrect sounds
- Speech that cannot be understood, even by parents
- Poor memory for verbal directions
- Excessive use of verbal or nonverbal gestures instead of words
- Repeating beginning sounds of words or beginning words in sentences
- Unusual speech inflection
- Refusal to speak
- Extremely self-conscious about speech
It is also important the parents know the communication milestones for children at various ages. For example, toddlers by the age of two should know their first name, have spoken their first word and understand when someone is asking them a question.
Communication disorders in children such as stuttering, and problems affecting language and articulation that are ignored or left untreated can get worse. These disorders not only delay learning, they may eventually affect a child’s self-esteem and single him out as a target of teasing and bullying. This is why speech disorders in toddlers must be detected by parents and professionally treated. If possible, speech therapy must be considered before starting preschool.
Resources:
Cooley, Myles L., Teaching Kids with Mental Health & Learning Disorders in the Regular Classroom. MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., 2007.
Agin, Marilyn C., Geng, Lisa, & Nicholl, Malcolm, The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn’t Talking Yet. NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Hamaguchi, Patricia McAleer, Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems: What Every Parent Should Know. CA: New Harbinger, 2001.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
