Working with our children who have a language disorder.

Hi there everyone. Cazza asked me if i would like to write an article on children with a speech problem. It's called dyxpraxia. My 4 year old has it. It's not a disease or anything, it's just that the muscles around their mouth aren't as strong as other childrens are,

The language disorder is totally different to a language delay. 2 seperate things. I will write up another article on dyxpraxia when i can find my notes which i recieved from the kindergarten my daughter goes to, but at the moment, i'll write about the language disorder which is also known as dyxpraxia.

The child can develop this disorder for a few reasons, such as the following

• Cannot hear properly
• By not doing enough mouth exercises

Some of the common characteristics of children with the disorder may have one or more of the following symptoms

• Uses echolalia  -  the child will repeat words or phrases. This may be immediate or delayed reaction.
• Uses jargon  -  the child will use nonsense words that don't make sense.
• Avoids eye contact  -  where the child doesn't look at the person who she or he is speaking or listening too.
• Eating difficulties  -  especially with crunch foods such as raw fruit or vegetables.
• An interest in letter and numbers  -often demonstration an abouve average  ability to count, recognise letters and read signs

This is how to interact with a child with a language disorder.

• Be aware they have a language problem
• Be aware of the context and visual cues

and here are some more examples

• Pointing to a place and either looking at or touching an object with facial expressions
• Routine. things that are done on a daily basis, or done in the same way all the time.
• Imitating other children.

From personal experience and observations from my own child, they are just that bit slower than the other children who are talking etc, but the speech problem children are also just as bright as the other children, it's just that they can't speak as well as the other children, and i found they're better at hands on things.

Having a dyxpraxic child isn't easy. It's a very tough job, as the child gets very frustrated easy, and you sit down with them trying to work out what they're trying to say, and go all teary and cry on you, and get upset, and when you figure out what they've said, they go all happy, and excited.

When you come across a speech problem child, don't push them to one side and say "OMG, they can't speak yet, and they're 4 years old. "  and have a laugh about it and call them stupid, or in disbelief, find out what the problem is with the child, and if you haven't heard of what the child has got, write it down on a piece of paper, look it up on the computer, and find out FULLY what the speech problem or what ever problem is as it's not the child's fault, as in most cases, it's getting sorted out.