Note when taking care of children with speech delay

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In the process of taking care of a child with speech delay, although the child cannot use verbal language to communicate and ask for what the child wants, the child can use gestures, attitudes, eyes... Then , parents let children do it by themselves and explain more for children to understand. This is a fairly simple way to teach children who are slow to speak but highly appreciated by experts.

1. Speech delay in children

The child's language development is shown through each stage. Specifically:
Children from 3 to 6 months old can look intently at the people around them talking or they can turn their heads in the direction of the noise; Children from 6 to 9 months can say two-syllable words like "mama, dada"...; Children 9 to 12 months old can make “ê, a” longer sounds as one sound; Children between 12 and 18 months can use 4 words and pronounce them with rhythm, even pairing two words together; 2-year-olds can name, say hello and know about 25 words; Children 2 to 3 years old talk a lot and know between 50 and 200 words, at this time they can talk on their own while playing. At this age children can create a phrase with a full subject component; Children from 3 to 4 years old begin to speak complex sentences, use language better, and at the same time control the intensity of their voice and intonation using language like adults. Speech delay makes children's language ability slower than normal children. Children with speech delay may be due to simple reasons, this is not too much of a concern. However, in some cases, a child's speech delay may be due to a hearing loss, a developmental disorder, or an underlying neurological problem. Therefore, parents need to find out the causes to take care of children with speech delay appropriately.
Children with speech delay usually have 3 main types including:
Children with simple speech delay; Children with speech delay due to defects in brain development; Children with speech delay due to muscle - mouth - tongue problems.

2. Reasons affecting children's ability to speak

Children still can't speak can be caused by the following reasons:
Physical causes: May stem from problems in a part or organ in the body that is responsible for pronunciation such as ears, nose , throat, tongue, brain or brain-related diseases such as meningitis, birth defects... Psychological causes: It can happen when the child is in psychological shock or is not interested in the family. care makes the child less talkative. When parents have identified the cause of the child's inability to speak, it is necessary to actively promote the child's speech learning process in accordance with the age. Because the brain develops fastest at the age of 3, then the rate slows down. For children who cannot speak after 6 years of age, treatment intervention is required, but the results obtained are quite limited.
Some other causes leading to the child not able to speak:
Factors related to the child's hearing: Parents may be worried when the child encounters this situation, but if before the age of 5, it can be treated. In this condition, surgery will bring good results. However, if the worst happens, the child may not be able to hear and will need to use a hearing aid. The area of ​​the brain responsible for the child's language has a problem: If this is the case, it is necessary to take it to a doctor to examine it and take positive actions to help the child improve his or her speech. The diet does not guarantee nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals necessary for brain development. Moreover, the child's nutrition is not enough, which can lead to poor appetite, poor absorption of nutrients... Autism : If the child unfortunately has autism, parents should not focus on words talk when communicating, but need to know how to approach children through games that increase attention and help children imitate sounds and words.

3. Some methods of taking care of children with speech delay

When children are slow to speak, parents need to have appropriate methods to take care of children, help children develop language as usual. Here are some effective ways to take care of children with speech delay:
Parents should find ways to take care of their children and talk to them more. To improve your child's communication skills, including speech, the best way to care for a child with a speech delay is to spend a lot of time talking to your child, even if he or she can't speak yet. For children who are just starting to learn to speak, parents should use short, simple word sounds such as "daddy, ma"... children who listen a lot will gradually imitate and imitate their parents. At the same time, parents should provoke and motivate children to respond, and in case the child cannot speak, parents should encourage the child to continue to pronounce and practice every day. With older children, when parents talk, they should try to speak slowly and clearly word for word, especially parents need to limit lisp that will make it difficult for children to pronounce and imitate. In addition, combined with speaking, parents can use body language to guide children to speak, such as waving goodbye, arms crossed over their chest to receive gifts... Parents try to create every opportunity. opportunities to talk to children anytime, anywhere such as while feeding, bathing, lulling children to sleep... Parents tell their children what they are doing. The application of saying all you can to children and explaining what parents are doing can help children expand their vocabulary and learn how to associate words with certain situations. Parents keep repeating it every day, and over time, children will learn a lot. Parents should encourage children to solve problems on their own. In the process of taking care of young children with speech delay, although the child cannot use verbal language to communicate and ask for what the child wants, the child can use gestures, attitudes, eyes... Then , parents let the child do it by himself, and after the child performs the action, the parent can explain it further to the child. This is a fairly simple way to teach children who are slow to speak but highly appreciated by experts. However, in some cases, the child still has hearing problems, parents can take the child to see a doctor. If the child is before 5 years old, the treatment can be applied by surgery. If treatment for the child is not optimal, the child can use hearing aids. Parents should not imitate their children's languages. When children just start to learn to speak, often their pronunciation will not be correct, they even slurred, gradually becoming a bad habit and difficult to correct. Parents create an environment where children can develop speaking skills. Using TV, phone or any other electronic means cannot help children talk, but need to create conditions and environments for children, such as allowing children to play with peers. When children are exposed to young people, they will become bold, agile and help children develop better language. Parents spend time reading books or telling stories to children. Books can be considered as a miracle "medicine" for children who are slow to speak. When parents hold their children in their arms and read them engaging stories, they will help children become familiar with many new words in all contexts. Parents search and sing children's songs so that children can easily memorize new words. In addition, the rhythm of the song also makes it easier for children to learn and feel more comfortable. This method is quite simple but effective for children with speech delay. In the process of accompanying and teaching children to practice speaking, parents should not force children when they do not like them. That can make children react negatively and greatly affect their speech teaching process.

In short, children who are slow to speak can be psychological or medical problems such as hearing loss, brain problems,... Therefore, if parents have tried to apply methods of teaching children to practice speaking but their language If the child is not growing, the child should be taken to a medical facility for examination and accurate diagnosis.
Pediatrics department at Vinmec International General Hospital is trusted by many parents to examine the diseases that babies and children have. Vinmec brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts by:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts with high professional qualifications ( professor, associate professor, doctorate, master), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108... The doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious - understanding and understanding young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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