Speech Delay (Late Talker)
We have heard that parents and therapists have great results using Speech Blubs with kids that have Speech Delay. In this article, we will explain a little bit about Speech Delay, give you practical advice on how to use Speech Blubs with your late talker.
WHAT IS SPEECH DELAY?
Speech delay is a delay in the development or use of the mechanisms that produce speech. Speech – as distinct from language – is the actual process of making sounds, using such organs and structures as the lungs, vocal cords, mouth, tongue, teeth, etc. Language delay refers to a delay in the development or use of the knowledge of a language.
Because language and speech are two independent stages, they may be individually delayed. For example, a child may be delayed in speech (i.e., unable to produce intelligible speech sounds), but not delayed in language. In this case, the child would be attempting to produce an age appropriate amount of language, but that language would be difficult or impossible to understand. Conversely, since a child with a language delay typically has not yet had the opportunity to produce speech sounds, it is likely to have a delay in speech as well.
At times, speech delay and impairment is caused by a physical disruption in the mouth such as a deformed frenulum, lips, or palate. If the motion or ability to form words and appropriate sounds is disrupted, the child may be slow to pick up words and lack the ability to shape their mouth and tongue in the formation of words.
Other more serious concerns are those that can be caused by oral-motor issues. Oral-motor dysfunction refers to a lack or delay in the area of the brain that speech is formed and created and communicated to the mouth and tongue. While speech may be the only concern, this disorder can be highlighted with feeding issues as well.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF SPEECH DELAY?
The signs of early speech delay are categorized into age-related milestones, beginning at the age of 12 months and continuing through early adolescence.
Withing Speech Blubs there's a screener that can help you learn if your child is on par with his age group. Try it out - you get a personalized report with actionable advice.
CAN SPEECH BLUBS HELP CHILDREN WITH SPEECH DELAY?
Speech and language therapists often spend their days mooing, quacking and baa-ing. Children simply love animal sounds and yes, it can be fun to get children smiling by making silly sounds that don't normally come out of adult mouths. This is by itself motivating.
But the true secret behind animal sounds is this: Most animal sounds are easy for kids to make. Combine that with the fact that young children are often fascinated by animals and you've got an easy way into helping children produce some of their first "words."
Vowels, p, m, h, n, w, b, t, d and syllable shapes tend to come first in speech development (CV = consonant-vowel). Combine the two and you get...animal sounds! Moo. Baa. Neigh. Meow. All easy, all fun, and all-powerful ways to help a young non-verbal child start talking.
Early Sounds is a section of Speech Blubs that was designed to trigger first sounds and to motivate very young or delayed children.