Language is an essential part of our everyday lives. It helps us communicate our thoughts, feelings, and desires. But for some children, speaking correctly can be a challenge.
Phonological disorders are incredibly common in children and can significantly impact their ability to communicate effectively.
In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of early intervention in addressing phonological disorders in children.
What Are Examples of Phonological Disorders?
Phonological disorders are a type of speech disorder that affects a person's ability to understand and use sounds within words. These disorders can be mild or severe, and they can affect a person's speech production, language development, and communication skills.
There are a few types of speech sound disorders to be aware of.
The good news is that most are fairly easy for clinicians to diagnose based on listening to abnormalities in speech patterns and phonological errors - and there are plenty of potential treatments to improve a child's speech, too.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most common developmental phonological disorders.
1. Articulation Disorders
Articulation disorders are the most common types of phonological disorders, usually affecting children. This disorder occurs when a child has difficulty producing sounds or making specific sounds in words.
The symptoms of this disorder include distortions of sounds, repetition of syllables, omitting sounds, and adding different sounds or consonants in words (usually either final consonant deletion or initial consonant deletion).
2. Phonemic Awareness Disorders
Phonemic awareness disorders occur when a child cannot differentiate between the sounds produced in words.
Children that suffer from this disorder usually struggle with phonological processes such as blending, segmenting, or manipulating sounds in words, which may lead to reading and writing difficulties in the future.
Phonemic awareness disorders are treated by teaching children phonological awareness skills, such as recognizing sounds in words or breaking sounds into separate phonemes.
3. Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a neurological condition whereby a person has difficulty coordinating their oral muscles to produce speech sounds.
People with this type of speech delay may struggle to plan and coordinate the movements required for speech, leading to inconsistent speech output with distorted or slurred sounds.
Speech therapy can help treat AOS by building muscle memory and giving a structured approach for better speech production.
4. Phonological Delay
Phonological delay refers to the development of speech sounds in a child that is slower than in typically developing children.
While every child develops speech sounds at their own pace, a phonological delay refers to children who are significantly behind in their speech sound development.
This may result in difficulty with language development, making it difficult to understand or produce spoken language.
5. Dysarthria
Dysarthria refers to a physical condition that affects the part of the brain responsible for speech production, which might affect the nerves and muscles associated with speaking.
These disabilities can affect a person's volume, tone, and phonetic pronunciation of words, which can make it challenging for others to understand them.
Treatment for this disorder includes specialized exercises to help strengthen muscles involved with speech, such as the jaw, lips, and tongue.
What Causes Phonological Disorders?
There are a few potential causes for phonological disorders, and often, these various causes work together in tandem, rather than just being one overarching root cause.
This can sometimes make it tough to diagnose or treat a phonological disorder, but the good news is that there are many evidence-based treatments for these speech problems and communication disorders, and understanding potential causes can help clinicians treat the speech issues a bit better.
Here are some of the most common causes:
Family History: Research has shown that genetic factors play a role in the development of phonological disorders. Children with a family history of speech and language difficulties are at an increased risk of developing phonological disorders. Thus, it is important for parents to inform their child's speech-language pathologist of any family history of speech and language difficulties so appropriate intervention can be provided.
Environmental Factors: Environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins or infections during pregnancy, can also contribute to the development of phonological disorders.
For instance, exposure to lead during pregnancy or early childhood has been linked to speech and language delays. Moreover, children exposed to chronic ear infections have an increased likelihood of experiencing speech and language difficulties.
Social Factors: Children who grow up in homes with limited opportunities or resources may struggle with phonological disorders. These children may not have enough chances to socialize with others or access a rich language environment.
Children who experience trauma or neglect may also have affected speech and language developmental processes.
Biological Neurological Factors: Phonological disorders can result from various biological and neurological factors that influence the brain's ability to process auditory information.
For instance, children with hearing loss may struggle with processing and articulating speech sounds, eventually experiencing a delay in language development.
For example, children with dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) are at an increased risk of developing phonological disorders.
A neurological disorder can also result from a brain injury or stroke, affecting an individual's ability to produce, process, and comprehend speech sounds.
Other biomedical factors that trigger phonological disorders and their resulting speech sound errors in young children include cleft palate or cleft lip, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and others. In such situations, it is crucial to diagnose the problem early, followed by various therapies to help the child develop speech and language.
Developmental Factors: Phonological disorders can also result from developmental factors, such as delayed phonological development or language impairment.
Children develop speech sounds at different rates, but phonological development typically follows a predictable sequence.
If a child deviates from this sequence or experiences delays, it can result in a phonological disorder.
Tone of Voice and Speech Modeling: Phonological disorders may also occur when children are exposed to poor tone of voice and speech models. Children have an innate ability to mimic sounds and language models that they encounter in their environment.
For instance, ESL children who grow up in households with strong accents may have difficulty articulating speech sounds, leading to a phonological disorder.
Socioeconomic Factors: Research has also shown that socioeconomic factors, such as poverty or low parental education, can increase the risk of children experiencing speech and language delays.
Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are less likely to have access to quality healthcare and early intervention services, such as speech therapy, which can negatively affect their speech and language development.
How Are Phonological Disorders Diagnosed?
If you suspect that your little one is having trouble with speech, you're not alone. Parents all over the world notice their kids stutter, have trouble pronouncing certain sounds or struggle with reading and writing.
But how do you know when it's nothing to worry about or if it's something more serious - that is if your child has a phonological disorder? If you're concerned about your child's speech intelligibility at all, you need to talk to a pediatric doctor first, who will likely refer you to speech-language pathology services.
To diagnose a phonological disorder, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) will evaluate your child's speech in various contexts while examining their ability to understand and use language.
During the assessment, the SLP will look for patterns in the errors your child makes and determine if they're typical of a phonological disorder.
The SLP will also ask your child to say various words and sounds while examining their fluency, tone, and pitch. The SLP will also evaluate your child's receptive and expressive language skills, which include language comprehension, vocabulary, and syntax.
The assessment may include standardized tests that measure your child's ability to follow instructions, repeat phrases, and match sounds to letters. Based on the findings from these tests, the SLP will determine if your child's speech difficulty is related to a phonological disorder or another issue.
How Are Phonological Disorders Treated?
Once the assessment is completed, the therapist will create a treatment plan that is tailored to the child's specific needs and goals. The type of treatment, duration, and frequency will depend on the severity of the phonological disorder, the age of the child, and the child's motivation and ability to engage in therapy.
One of the most common approaches for treating phonological disorders is speech sound therapy. This therapy involves working on the specific sounds that are causing difficulties through repetition, practice, and feedback from the therapist.
Another approach is phonological awareness therapy, which focuses on helping the child to recognize and manipulate the sounds and patterns of language. This approach can be particularly helpful for children with more severe phonological disorders.
In some cases, a combination of therapies may be used, depending on the child's needs. For example, a therapist may combine speech sound therapy with phonological awareness therapy to ensure that the child is building a strong foundation for effective communication.
They'll work closely with the child based on the errors and the known cause of the speech issues. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. For some kids, working on consonant sounds might be the goal, but for others, improving overall speech intelligibility might be the goal.
It is important to note that phonological disorders are not always cured completely, and ongoing support may be needed to maintain progress. This support may include regular check-ins with the therapist or home practice tasks to reinforce the skills learned in therapy. In some cases, follow-up therapy sessions may be necessary to monitor progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.
Parents and caregivers can also play an important role in maintaining progress by reinforcing the concepts and strategies learned in therapy in the child's everyday communication and language development. This can include praising the child for using correct sounds and patterns and providing corrective feedback when needed.
The Importance of Early Intervention for Phonological Disorders
Now that you know about the potential treatments for phonological disorders in children, you might be curious about the role that early intervention plays.
The short answer - a big one.
Here are five ways early intervention is key in helping children overcome phonological disorders.
Early Intervention Improves Language Development: Phonological disorders can have a significant impact on a child's ability to develop language. If these disorders go untreated, they can lead to further struggles with reading, writing, and social interactions.
Early intervention can help children develop their language skills by addressing phonological difficulties through therapy and other interventions. Children who receive early intervention have more opportunities to practice and refine their language skills, increasing their chances of success in school and beyond.
Early Intervention Supports Emotional and Behavioral Health: Phonological disorders can also have a negative impact on a child's emotional and behavioral health. Struggling with language can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, and social isolation.
Early intervention can help children develop their language skills and reduce the emotional and behavioral challenges associated with phonological disorders. Children who receive intervention early on are more likely to feel confident and successful in their language abilities, leading to increased social connections and overall happiness.
Early Intervention Reduces the Need for Special Education Services: Phonological disorders can lead to difficulties with reading, which can result in children being classified as having a learning disability. Early intervention can reduce the need for special education services by addressing phonological difficulties before they become more significant problems.
By addressing these challenges early on, children can develop necessary language skills, reducing the likelihood of requiring more intensive interventions in the future. Early intervention can ultimately save children time, frustration, and stress associated with special education needs.
Early Intervention Enhances Academic Success: Phonological disorders often lead to difficulties with reading, writing, and other academic tasks. Early intervention can help children develop their language skills, leading to better outcomes in all academic areas.
Children who receive early intervention often have improved grades, higher graduation rates, and increased opportunities for post-secondary education. Early intervention can set children on a path towards academic success and increase their chances of achieving their goals.
Early Intervention Supports Family Communication: Phonological disorders can be a challenge for families, with many feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to support their child's language development. Early intervention can help families better understand their child's phonological challenges and how to support their language development at home.
By providing strategies and resources early on, families can play a crucial role in their child's language success, leading to better communication and stronger bonds between family members.
Treating Phonological Disorders: Addressing Language Disorders from an Early Age
Early intervention is crucial in managing phonological disorders in children. Children who receive early treatment are more likely to overcome these disorders and make more significant progress than those who do not.
These disorders can be challenging and frustrating for children and their families, but early intervention can play a crucial role in helping these children overcome their challenges and improve their speech.
By understanding the causes and symptoms of phonological disorders, parents and caregivers can work alongside speech therapists to support children in their speech development journey. If you want to support the cause further, consider donating to an organization that works specifically toward increasing awareness and providing treatment for kids with phonological disorders, like the California Scottish Rite Foundation.
After all, all children deserve a chance to communicate effectively - and early intervention can make all the difference in their lives.