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Speech Delay / Disorder

Speech is the term used to describe the production of sounds and how they are joined together to make words. Every language has its own set of sounds and they usually develop in a particular pattern starting with simple sounds (e.g. p/b/m) and increasing to those more difficult to say (e.g. “sh”,”l”).  When children are learning to speak they will often make mistakes in the way that they say sounds or the order that they use them in.

A speech delay is when children are not yet using the sounds that would be expected for their age or in the right places. 

A speech disorder is when children do not use sounds that are typically part of their language or are not following the usual patterns of development.

Indicators of speech difficulties include:

  • May use a limited number of sounds
  • May have difficulty combining sounds together
  • Speech is difficult to understand (especially by unfamiliar adults)
  • Difficulties with other mouth movements e.g. blowing and sucking
  • Dribbling beyond the expected age
  • Correct sounds are substituted by other sounds
  • Sounds are missed out of words
  • Vowel sounds are distorted

 

Developmental Language Difficulties

Language Delay

Language starts to develop in children from birth. This includes the understanding and use of different types of words (e.g. object labels, action words, social greetings), simple phrases, sentences and the correct use of grammar (e.g. word endings).

Indicators of a language difficulty include:

  • First words have not started to develop by the age of 15-18 months
  • Single words have been used for several months but are not being put together
  • By 2 years the child is saying less than 50 words and is not outing 2 words together
  • May have difficulty understanding words or simple instructions
  • Has difficulty answering questions
  • Has difficulty putting words together into sentences and using grammar

A delay in language is when the development of language is slow to develop and is not in line with the stages expected for their age. Language delay may be the main difficulty or part of another difficulty such as hearing, global developmental delay or autism.

 

Developmental Language Disorder

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a term used to describe the developmental of language when it is not following typical patterns of development and is persistent beyond the age of 5 years.

Indicators of DLD include:

  • Difficulty finding words to say
  • Limited range of words
  • Sentences are short with limited use of grammar
  • Difficulties using sentences to tell stories
  • Difficulties providing information to others or giving instructions
  • Difficulties understanding language
  • Repeating (“parroting”) words
  • Using words / sentences without understanding them
  • Using jargon
  • Mixing up words
  • Difficulties understanding word meanings

 

 

Social Communication

Social Communication is the ability to use and understand language appropriately to interact with others. This includes the ability to hold a conversation, listen to and understand the viewpoints of others and understand the meaning behind language (e.g. sarcasm, sense of humour). It involves using and understanding a range of non-verbal skills including eye contact, facial expression and body language. 

Indicators of difficulties with Social interaction include:

  • Taking turns in conversations
  • Sharing attention
  • Understanding meanings of words
  • Understanding non-verbal clues e.g. facial expression
  • Understanding emotions
  • Understanding humour and sarcasm
  • Maintaining topics of conversation

 

Cleft Lip and Palate

It is common for children who are born with a cleft palate to have speech problems at some time in their lives. Over half of them will require speech therapy at some point during childhood. However, many children who are born with a cleft palate develop typical speech by the age of 5 (cleft palate Foundation 2012)

 

Stammering/Dysfluency

When children are learning to talk it is common for them to repeat sounds, words and phrases, and to hesitate with "um" and "er". They will often do this to give themselves time to think about what they are going to say and how to say it.

Stammering (or stuttering) is when your child:

  • Repeats sounds or syllables – for example “mu-mu-mu-mummy
  • Making sounds longer – for example “mmmmmmummy”
  • A word blocks/ gets stuck or does not come out at all

 

Other things to look out for are:

  • Holding breath
  • Using body movements to try to get the word out – for example stamping feet or banging the table
  • Withdrawing eye contact
  • Avoiding words that might be difficult to say
  • Tightening jaw or tensing facial muscles

 

These behaviours vary from child to child and can start quickly or gradually.

Seek help and advice from Speech and language Therapy if you or your child is worried.

 

Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)

Dysphagia it is a medical term that describes swallowing difficulties. These difficulties can occur at any point from putting the food or drink in our mouth to it reaching the stomach. Your child may have problems swallowing certain foods or liquids, or may not be able to swallow at all.  Significant problems in swallowing can cause weight loss and chest infections.

What can cause a swallowing problem?

Swallowing is a complicated process that requires precise control and coordination of the muscles and structures. A breakdown at any point in the process can result is dysphagia.

Swallowing difficulties in children can be as a result of:

  • A neurological condition
  • A developmental or learning disability
  • A motor disability, such as cerebral palsy

What does a swallowing problem look like?

Swallowing difficulties can present in different ways in different people. Some of the most common difficulties people experience are:

  • coughing or choking when eating or drinking
  • bringing food back up, sometimes through the nose
  • a sensation that food is stuck in their throat or chest
  • being unable to chew food properly
  • a 'gurgly' wet sounding voice when eating or drinking
  • becoming short of breath when eating and drinking

 

Signs to look out for as children develop

Speech, Language and communication needs can persist and may present in several different ways as a child develops. If a young person has speech, language and communication needs you might notice some of the following:

  • They seem to ignore what you’ve asked them to do or they do the wrong thing because they’ve misunderstood what you meant.
  • They struggle to learn and remember new words and they might try to explain the word they’re trying to say. For example, for tripod they might say “that science thing with three legs, its metal.”
  • They might be fine in a conversation with one other person but in a group they appear very quiet and may not respond if they are struggling to keep up
  • They find it hard to produce written work at the expected level
  • At home they might sound mumbled or disorganised when explaining experiences and events
  • At home they can consistently struggle with homework and organising themselves