Common speech problems in Kindergarten children.
A communication disorder is any problem with speech, language (including expressive and receptive) or hearing. The most common communication disorders in children are:
- delays in speech and language acquisition
- slow or unclear speech
- problems making sounds
- congenital problems such as dyspraxia
- stuttering
- unusual word ordering
- voice problems (hoarseness, breathless, or sudden changes in loudness or pitch)
- hearing impairments
Getting your child’s hearing tested if you suspect they may have a speech problem is the very first thing to do.
However some speech problems can lay undetected until your child comes to school. The Kindergarten teacher usually detects these and they will suggest that a speech pathologist be consulted to make an assessment. The most common problems, which fit into this category, are:
*Receptive language The ability to hear, understand and process language. Children with this problem cannot follow directions easily. Sometimes parents think they are just not listening or being disobedient . They cannot follow more than one instruction at once and even one can be difficult.
*Expressive language – The ability to speak in grammatically correct sentences and use appropriate vocabulary and /or reluctant speakers. Children with this problem do not speak in correct sentences for their age. They usually have little clipped sentences, and have trouble communicating their needs.
*Articulation and enunciation of some sounds and blends.Children with this problem use the wrong initial sound
eg “doy for boy” or “dirl for girl”
If these problems are not attended to they will interfere with your child’s progress at school. These problems have to be corrected before your child can begin to learn to read.
Research has found that children need to know and use approximately 5,000 words oral in conversation before they can begin to learn to read.
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