There are several hurdles that children need to overcome as they grow up and these hurdles are going to vary from child to child. One thing that a lot of toddlers struggle with is learning to speak – not only learning words and their meaning but also being able to sound out the words that they know as well. This is referred to as having a speech sound disorder.
What Is a Speech Sound Disorder?
Simply put, a speech sound disorder is a blanket description which gets used to refer to a child’s difficulty with forming, learning, and using the sounds and sound patterns within their language. These become clear as a child reaches toddler age and if your child is showing signs of a speech sound disorder, then it may be worth seeking the assistance of a speech pathologist ndis.
A speech development disorder can indicate several challenges with motor speech. This is where a child has trouble with moving the muscles in their face which need to be moved to produce speech. They might also have reduced coordination when they are attempting to speak as well.
What Are the Symptoms of a Speech Sound Disorder?
Having a speech and sound disorder can manifest in several different ways. It usually depends on what factors are leading to the challenge, or how extreme the disorder is. Some of the most common symptoms that indicate your child might have a sound speech disorder include the likes of:
– Stuttering.
– Your child removing a sound from a word.
– Including an unnecessary sound in a word.
– Replacing sounds which are hard to pronounce with an easier alternative.
– Have trouble pronouncing the same sound in different words.
– Repeating certain words and sounds.
– Unnecessary lengthening of words.
– Pausing whilst speaking.
– Tension when sounds are being produced.
– Head jerks when speaking.
– Blinking when speaking.
– A sense of shame when speaking.
– Noticeable differences in voice pitch.
– A raspy voice.
– Running out of breath when speaking.
How Are Speech Sound Disorders Diagnosed?
To diagnose a speech sound disorder, a speech-language pathologist can determine whether a child has some kind of speech-sound disorder. The guidelines surrounding a diagnosis require that:
– The child experiences persistent difficulty with producing certain sounds.
– The symptoms outlined above appear earlier on in the child’s development stages
– The disorder limits communication and, as such, the child struggles with the likes of social interaction, and achieving academically, and it could limit their job roles in later life.
– The disorder in question is not being caused by any other conditions that the child may have, for instance, a congenital disorder or an acquired condition, such as hearing loss, can lead to further issues with speech. Any hereditary issues, it should be noted, are not included in this guideline.
If you’re worried that your child may have a speech sound disorder, then the best course of action is to contact a professional.
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