SLP

Predicting First Words in Infants

Laura LeBlanc MA, CCC/SLPLeave a comment

According to new research from Indiana University, children’s visual experiences could influence their first words.   The research team, led by Linda Smith (a professor in IU Bloomington’s Dept. of Psychological and Brain Science) found that infants may link objects they most frequently see with words they most often hear.  This new theory of language has been coined “pervasiveness hypothesis”.  Smith went on to add that “visual memory may be the initial key to getting words stuck on objects-familiar objects like table, shirt, bottle, or spoon. It’s an aggregated experience, those very first words may be learned-slowly and incrementally-for a few visually pervasive objects. This may be how infants break into language before their first birthday.”

The results of the study may help inform future interventions for children with language disorders; difficulty learning words could be caused by visual-processing problems.  For more information on this topic, see the March 2017 issue of The ASHA Leader.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech and or language development or skills, be sure to contact an ASHA certified SLP for an evaluation.  A list of providers can be found at http://www.ASHA.org

Could Your Child’s Phonological Disorder Really Be Apraxia of Speech?

Laura LeBlanc MA, CCC/SLPLeave a comment

According to Edith Strand, the leading expert in child apraxia, “childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) typically occurs alongside other language delays or phonological impairments.  This can make diagnosing it a major challenge.”

Characteristics that are often present, but not discriminative, in childhood apraxia include:

  • Limited consonant and vowel repertoire
  • Use of simple syllable shapes and frequent omission of sounds
  • Numerous errors-poor standard scores on articulation tests
  • Poor intelligibility

More “discriminative” characteristics of apraxia of speech include:

  • Difficulty moving from one articulatory movement to another  (ie saying the word “pancake” at a fast rate)
  • Groping and/or trial and error behavior
  • Vowel distortions
  • Prosodic errors (putting stress on the wrong syllable)
  • Inconsistent voicing errors (“teck” for “deck” or “van” for “fan”)

Distinguishing CAS from Phonological Impairment

The primary characteristics of  childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) are vowel distortions, segmentation and/or equal stress, awkward movement transitions and error behavior in words and phrases. On the other hand, children with only phonological impairment may make substitution errors of exhibit phonological processes that are fairly consistent.  The movements for those incorrect sounds will be accurate though, and rate and prosody are typically good.  For more information on this topic, see the March 2017 issue of The ASHA Leader “Appraising Apraxia”.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech or language be sure to contact an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist for an evaluation.   A list of providers can be found at http://www.ASHA.org

Dispelling the 3 Most Common Myths About Speech Language Development in Children

Laura LeBlanc MA, CCC/SLPLeave a comment

There are many myths about most things in life, one being speech and language development in children.  Read on to find out what the biggest misconceptions are.

1-No words by the age of 1= RED FLAG

Truth: Most children say their first words between the ages of 12 and 18 mths.  Often these words are still unintelligible.  Causes for concern, however, are if your child has yet to speak a single word by 18 mths and 2 years,  or  if your child had been speaking then suddenly stops, or his language skills no longer expand.

2-The Use of “Baby Talk” Slows Down Language Development

Truth: The use of “Motherese”,  or “baby talk” has been shunned for years with many recommending using “adult style” speech to newborns.  The truth is this-any type of engagement with young children is beneficial.  Some studies even show that babies actually react well to baby talk from parents.

3- Sign Language “Speeds Up” Language Development

Truth: Using sign language does not translate to accelerated language acquisition for children.  According to a study from the University of Hertfordshire, Dr Liz Kirk found “Although babies learn the gestures and used them to communicate long before they started talking, they did not learn the associated words any quicker than the non-gesturing babies, nor did they show enhanced language development.”

If you have questions  or concerns regarding your child’s speech or language, contact an ASHA Certified Speech Language Pathologist in your area.

Articulation in Children Top 5 Speech Questions

Laura LeBlanc MA, CCC/SLPLeave a comment

What is articulation?

Articulation is the ability to make speech sounds clearly. Children learn correct sound production by listening and imitating appropriate speech role models. Articulation develops gradually over a period of 8 years.

When should I be concerned about my child’s articulation?

Under the age of 3, it is common for children to make quite a few sound errors and substitutions.  By age 3, a child should be using at least 200 words, using 3-5 word phrases and be understood at least 80% of the time.  By age 4, a child should be 100% intelligible even if they continue to have some articulation errors.  Sounds which are “later developing” include “sh”, “ch” “j” and “th”.  Sometimes the “s” and “r” sounds are more difficult to remediate and require more speech therapy.

What sounds do children learn to produce first and in what order?

Most children are able to produce the “bilabial” sounds (made with the lips) of “b”, “p” “m”and “w”. They may also produce sounds such as “d”, “t”, and “n” early on as well.  Child acquire sounds developmentally and by age 8 should have mastered all of the sounds.

What causes an articulation disorder?

Although the cause is often unknown, the following are may cause an articulation disorder:

  • Hearing loss
  • Illness
  • Developmental Disorder (ie Autism)
  • Neurological Disorder (ie Cerebral Palsy)
  • Genetic Disorder (ie Down Syndrome)

How do you treat an articulation disorder?

If you feel that your child is in need a speech evaluation, it is vital to seek treatment from an ASHA (American Speech Hearing Association) Certified provider who will conduct a comprehensive evaluation and provide services as needed.