How to detect language and speech disorders in children

Boys are born ready to learn a language, but they need to learn the language (s) that their families and their environment use. Learning a language takes time, and children vary in how quickly they master the stages of language and speech development. Typically, may have problems with certain sounds, words and phrases while they learn. However, most can easily use the language by the age of 5.

When a child has difficulty remembering words, putting sentences together, or when intelligibility – that is, the ability to speak – is compromised, but the words are not understandable, the parents or tutors should be alert to a possible problem with the development of their language.

Today, September 30 marks the International Day for Specific Language Disorders (TEL), now calleda language development disorder (LDD). TDL is a disease that affects around 2% to 7% of the child population, according to data collected by Dr Dorothy Bishop, a researcher at the University of Oxford. Children with the condition often have difficulty understanding and expressing language.

“Language is a nodal function in people’s lives, it is not just for communicating, but it is also useful for regulating behavior, facilitating socialization and accessing knowledge of the world, ”he explained to Infobae doctor Veronique may Director of the Diploma in Childhood Language Disorders from a Neurolinguistic Perspective of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Austral, who argues that early medical consultation with a specialist is vital to diagnose and intervene to correct this trouble.

According to Catalan researcher Llorenc Andreu Barrachina (2020), having a deficit of this type usually leads to difficulties in other areas of development such as behavior, attention, socialization and access to literacy. Likewise, according to University of Manchester researcher Gina Conti Ramdsen (2018), sustained language difficulties can affect long-term intellectual performance and can significantly affect social skills. Canadian researcher E. Brownlie (2016) found that people diagnosed with LDD in childhood, adolescence and adulthood had higher levels of anxiety and social phobia.

“To treat it, early detection is the main thing. From the first year, it is already possible to identify signs that announce a possible TDL. In a child of 12-24 months lack of babbling, no response to the name, or poor understanding of simple instructions such as the interpretation of “give me and take”. In a child of 24 to 36 months the signs to be detected are the absence of words, a poor response to spoken language, and regression or stagnation in language development. Between 48 and 60 months, Inconsistent or abnormal interaction, use of sentences no longer than 3 words, or poor understanding of oral language may be noted. And after 60 months, one has to be careful of difficulty telling or telling a coherent story, difficulty telling or telling a coherent story, he talks a lot, but with little reciprocal interaction or expressing literal interpretations without understanding the meaning of what he wanted to say, ”argued Maggio.

How to help TDL children at home?

-Talk to them slowly

-Use short sentences

– Emphasize relevant information

-Sign what we name

-Read stories.

“Reading stories is scientifically proven to be the best resource for learning new words. Reading a story to a child for 10 minutes a day ensures the acquisition and / or fixation of new words, and if these stories are supported by pictures, much more, ”said the specialist.

According to the specialist in child language psychology Gerardo Aguado, 20% of the child population between 2 and 3 years old may have language delays. Reaching 3, this number drops to less than half, increasing the likelihood that these children, older than this age, have a specific language disorder, the incidence of which is 7% in the child population. In both cases, the intervention of a professional speech therapist with a neurolinguistic orientation is recommended. Early detection and intervention are very important in reducing the negative effects of language disorders and their possible consequences on behavior, socialization and learning.

In addition, parents have the option of following a series of recommendations to encourage their children, such as not allowing the use of the phone or tablets in children under 2 years old (recommendation of the World Health Organization), and in children between 2 and 5 years old, limit the use of these devices to 1 hour, once a week. It is important that they speak to the child looking at his face and standing up to him, do it slowly, emphasizing especially the most important words. Use short sentences and use gestures and signs to accompany the words; These collaborate to improve understanding and evocation. Read simple story books with pictures, where the child can interact by pointing and naming words.

Any tips to help your child?

Here are some ways to help your child:

– Talk a lot with your child. It will help your child to learn new words.

– Read to your child every day.

– Underline the words you see.

– Display the posters at the grocery store, at school and outside.

– Talk to your child in the language he knows best.

– Listen and respond when your child speaks.

– Ask your child to ask you questions.

– Give your child time to answer the questions.

– Set time limits for watching TV and using computers.

– Take the time to talk and read together.

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