Speaking of Speech Disorders

Parents often have many expectations for their infant children. They might expect their youngsters to develop in the same way that an older sibling or a friend’s child did. Each baby is unique, however, and his or her development may include surprises. One such surprise would be the presence of a speech disorder.

Early Speech

Parents have the opportunity to watch their babies discover the world around them and do things for the very first time. Many parents listen eagerly for the first words that their youngsters will speak. Attentiveness to a child’s speech is important because the speech characteristics present in early childhood can be indicative of a speech disorder.

Having the ability to form the sounds of only a few vowels or consonants, speaking only a limited number of words, and displaying a delay in the onset of the first spoken words (later than ages 12 to 18 months) could indicate childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). It has been estimated that the disorder may occur in one to 10 out of every 10,000 children.

Causes of CAS

There are several possible causes for CAS. The disorder may be the result of a neurological condition, such as a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. As well, it might be a symptom of a metabolic condition or genetic disorder. CAS could also arise due to abnormalities in the FOXP2 gene, which has been associated with speech and language disorders. Regardless of the cause, getting an early diagnosis and beginning treatment can be beneficial. Concerned parents may want to contact a biological pediatric dentist Los Angeles CA  or a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation.

A speech evaluation, a hearing test, and an oral-motor assessment can all assist specialists in gaining a better understanding of the child’s speech disorder. Parents might feel overwhelmed initially, but having this information will allow the parents to make informed decisions that will ultimately enable their children to live fulfilling lives.