Speech Disorders in Children – 6 Common Myths and the Real Facts

The older people on this earth have some beliefs passed to the next generation. In India, families and societies are bounded by their thought processes and don't believe in discussing certain topics publicly, along with low education levels.

India has reported a majority of speech disorders more than any other developed country. According to some surveys, almost 9.42% of people in India are experiencing speech and language disorders. It is also recorded that every 1 in 20 children persists with speech and language disorder symptoms.

Speech and language disorders are widespread in children, and solutions for such problems are passed from generation to generation. Some remedies are scientifically illustrated, but the others among them might result in deprived health of the child. To detect the symptoms at the earliest stage, the parents need to be more aware of the symptoms and should consult a speech therapist to start the therapy early.

Just because there the majority of different communities and groups of people, certain myths exist that have been stated with the facts below

TABLE OF CONTENT

• What is a speech disorder?
• What are the causes of speech disorders?
• Types of speech
• 6 myths and real facts
• Takeaway

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WHAT IS A SPEECH DISORDER?

A speech disorder is a disorder in which the child faces difficulty in forming and building the speech sounds which are mandatory to communicate. This condition is an obstacle to understanding the child. Speech disorder also decreases a person's self-esteem and overall quality of life.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSE OF SPEECH DISORDERS?

There could be many reasons for speech disorders in children. The possible causes might be:

• Muscle weakness
• Brain injury
• Degenerative diseases
• Autism and hearing casualty
• Genetic anomalies
• Emotional anxiety
• Any injury to the brain or infection

TYPES OF SPEECH DISORDERS

• Articulation disorder
• Phonological disorder
• Disfluency
• Voice or resonance disorders

Speech disorders are different from language disorders

• Expressive language ( not able to express properly through communicating)
• Receptive language ( not able to understand the received messages)

6 MYTHS AND THE REAL FACTS

1. Myth - the speech disorder commonly occurs in children at this age. Parents often don't pay attention to stammers and mispronounce the word. Typically, this issue will wear off after a certain age.
   Real Fact-it may be possible that the child stops stuttering after attaining a certain age. It is recommended to discuss it with a speech therapist before it gets too delayed. Postponed therapy will result in delayed learning and reading and affect the child's overall growth in school.
2. Myth- the child is too small to go through the speech disorder tests. Parents of newly born children generally think their child is too small to be tested for medical tests.
   Real Fact- it is always recommended for the child to undergo speech disorders tests and therapies. The professionals are well trained to learn about hearing loss and speech problems even before the child starts communicating.
3. Myth- An additional fact that might be disappointing to some is that girls are smarter than boys. Believe it or not, it's true.
   Real Fact- lies entirely on the basis that boys are slower than girls in picking up speech skills. Boys start speaking much later than girls. Since girls mature first, they also develop other skills faster than boys. But parents shouldn't be confused and delay testing. However, the age discrepancy is not much. For comparison or to avoid turmoil, parents should refer to boys of similar age. A comparison might be beneficial.
4. Myth- Sometimes, parents or caregivers believe that the child is too stubborn or inactive to reciprocate or recite and does not talk much.
   Real Fact- Commonly, some children often continue to speak a baby's language; on the other hand, a child from the same age group speaks much more clearly. The caregivers think that their child is lazy and cranky. If the child utters the word “Poon '' instead of the word “Spoon” and excludes the word “S” while at the exact moment they can utter the word “Sun.” It does not mean that the child is being stubborn or lazy. There might be chances that the child can have what is medically known as a “Phonological Disorder.” Observe the child keenly or consult a therapist.
5. Myth- Is speech disorder considered normal? Commonly, speech disorder is associated with mental disability.
   Real Fact- it is not essential that if a child has a disability, he'll have a speech disorder furthermore. It has been studied and revealed that juveniles with low IQ have extraordinary conversational and foreign vocabulary skills. This was termed 'Chatterbox Syndrome.' Regardless of their disability or difficulties, a child can be tutored by the speech therapist to express themselves, even if the child is mentally disabled.
6. Myth- Presently, there is confusion considering that do the parents need to wait for the child to go to school to confirm if there is a speech disorder?
   For the same, some of them delay visiting the therapist in the hope that their child will commence reciting when they join the school.
   Real Fact - A speech therapist should be considered earliest possible.
   Delay might implicate their future. An uncertainty in writing and reading aptitude is also noted in children with genuine speech disabilities. All this would ultimately involve a child's education and probability of getting a good livelihood. The timelier you start the therapy, the easier it will take for the therapist to bring the child back to normality.

TAKEAWAY

The overprotective parents might not visit the professionals due to the fear of social stigma. Such parents can prefer speech therapy at home with the help of the internet and other means. Many advantages of speech therapy can be understood and can be implied. It is also suggested to visit therapists at the early stages to get better treatment. Tarang clinic is one of the best clinics in New Delhi. They provide the best treatment at affordable prices with great and experienced professionals.