Here are five common speech problems in children and how to tell if you should see a speech pathologist:
1) Stuttering/ Fluency Disorders
These are disruptions in the rhythm and flow of the child's speech, such as pauses, hesitations, interjections, as well as elongating or repeating syllables. Stuttering is the most common manifestation of this type of disorder, and is completely normal in children 2 to 4 years of age. However, if the disorder becomes more severe around age 5, you may want to see a specialist.
2) Speech Delay/Language Development Disorders
While all children develop at different speeds, there are some times where a delay in speech or language development may be cause to seek the advice of a specialist. Many parents worry if their child is 18 or 24 months and is still not speaking. Around 9 months, a child will start to string sounds together, and recognize one-word names. By 12 to 15 months most children will be able to make a wide variety of sounds, and may have a few words they can say that are similar to how adults say them ("mama", "dada", etc.) The development from 18 months to 2 years varies greatly per child. Typically a 2 year old should be able to speak in small phrases of 1 to 3 words, name familiar objects, and follow two-step instructions. If you have any worries about your child's speech and language development, you should talk with your doctor. Also, if your baby watches intently but does not react to nearby sounds, they may be showing signs of hearing loss.
3) Auditory Processing Disorder
Also known as A.P.D. or C.A.P.D., this disorder only affects about 5% of children who are school-aged. Essentially, it means that the child cannot process auditory information normally because their brain and ears do not coordinate completely, specifically with the sounds of speech. Children with this disorder have trouble recognizing subtle differences between words, especially when there is a lot of competing background noise. If caught early enough, this disorder can be managed, which can prevent speech, language and academic problems as they grow. Signs to look for: Your child is distracted or greatly bothered by loud noises, or sudden noises; upset by noisy environments; behavior and understanding increases in quiet settings; difficulty following directions no matter how simple or complex; conversations are hard to follow for your child.
4) Articulation Disorders
Articulation disorders actually make up about 75 percent of all communication disorders with children. This usually means that the child substitutes sounds for one another, such as lisping ("thith" instead of "this"), or omitting sounds ("ca" instead of "cat"). Articulation variance is normal, but should go away by age 7.
5) Voice Disorders
This is one disorder that is not quite age specific. It has to do with the pitch, volume, and quality of the child's voice being altered to the point of being obvious to the listener. There are several manifestations of this disorder that include hoarseness or harshness of the voice, general breathiness, having a shrill quality, or speaking to loud or high than is normal. This may require treatment if it continues past age 4, as hoarseness in particular can be a symptom of a medical problem.
It's always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you have about your child's speech and language development at your check up or wellness appointments, and ask them about speech pathology for your child.
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Article Source: 5 Common Speech Problems in Kids and When to Worry About Them