Changing Young Lives Through Pediatric Speech Therapy

By Cornelia White


One of the things that a child is expected to adapt and adopt as he or she grows older is a language, typically that of the society in which the child is being raised. This phase of growth and development accompanied by language acquisition seems fairly logical, simple and effortless for many. This is because in most cases, a child will master the use of a language gradually and develop fluency over time. Sometimes however this can prove challenging and this is where pediatric speech therapy becomes useful.

The professional therapist who is selected to help the child should be one who has been trained and certified in helping children with speech-related challenges. One of the first things that the therapist will do is try to identify the underlying cause for the impediment. This may be something physical or psychological and it is very important that the specialist be able to factor these two variables into any evaluation of the patient.

Linguists agree that language is the result of a collaborative effort between the brain and the body parts that allow speech to occur. At times there are hindrances that disrupt the message. These are classified as psychological or mental challenges and a part of the speech therapist's job is to ensure that the patient is equipped with the skills necessary to handle the challenges they face.

Psychological triggers that lead to impaired language in children may come in a variety of forms. The patient could be reacting to a traumatic situation that has triggered a shutdown of their oral communication behaviors. Some examples of events that can cause this type of trauma are; a violent accident, witnessing a violent crime or physical or verbal abuse.

Mental or learning disabilities also affect the pace and level of language acquisition in a child. Conditions like Autism and Verbal Apraxia pose challenges to children as they try to use language. The fact that most of these disorders originate in the brain accounts for the associated language deficiencies. Speech therapists are able to help these children cope with the challenges of learning to use oral language.

The surgeons who carry out corrective work in the oral cavities of children often report that these 'barriers' to speaking are the result of developmental problems that occur while the baby is still in the womb. Sometimes though, they emerge as a result of physical trauma to the mouth, sustained through accidents or other violent force.

When the underlying cause is a physical one, one of the first approaches is to determine whether surgical procedures may remedy the situation. This is why these types of therapists often form close associations with surgeons who specialize in language related procedures. Therapy is still required after surgery to help the child overcome the psychological hurdle.

Language acquisition and use is by no means the simple effortless process that many perceive it to be. Parents and care givers of children who display signs of challenges with language use ought to be aware of one critical fact. Pediatric speech therapy can make a remarkable difference in the life of a child who struggles with oral communication.




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