It's a new semester again, but your child's pronunciation is still "cute"? Beware of functional articulation disorder!

"Baby, how was your school today? Did you have fun with your friends?" Mother asked Xiao Ming, who had just returned home from school, expectantly.

Xiao Ming lowered his head and thought for a moment, then answered quietly, "I'm a little unhappy. My classmates said my pronunciation is a little... um... 'special', and sometimes they can't understand me."

The mother's heart skipped a beat. The beginning of a new semester should have been a time for children to express themselves with confidence, so how come pronunciation problems have become a small obstacle?

Don’t worry, today Hunan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital will talk about this “little secret” that has troubled many parents – functional dysarthria.

1. Functional articulation disorder: a “stone” on the road to children’s language development

Imagine that a child's pronunciation system is like a busy highway, and each syllable is a car that needs to drive to the destination accurately. Functional articulation disorders are like the occasional pebbles on the road, causing some cars (syllables) to go off the road, resulting in unclear pronunciation.

For example, Xiao Ming wanted to say "brother" but it turned out to be "dede". This is a typical pronunciation replacement phenomenon.

2. Comprehensive review of symptoms: Has your child been infected?

The symptoms of functional dysarthria vary, but there are always some "clues" to catch. For example:

1. Pronunciation replacement : Just like Xiao Ming, say “brother” as “dede”.

2. Omission of pronunciation : The child silently omits the sound that should be made, for example, "watermelon" becomes "西wa".

3. Distorted pronunciation : The syllables are not pronounced correctly and sound strange, like "兔" (rabbit) being pronounced as "肚几" (belly).

4. Slow speaking speed : The child speaks slowly, as if every word is carefully considered before being spoken.

3. The reason is revealed: Why does the pronunciation go astray?

There is no single cause of functional articulation disorders, and they may involve multiple aspects:

1. Brain development : The area of ​​your child’s brain responsible for language processing may still be in the “running-in period” and is not fully mature.

2. Oral muscle strength : Just like a weightlifter needs strong muscles, pronunciation also requires precise coordination of oral muscles. If the muscles are not strong enough or the coordination is poor, pronunciation is prone to errors.

3. Hearing problems : If a child’s hearing is not sharp enough, he or she will not be able to accurately imitate and identify sounds, which will affect pronunciation.

4. Language environment : A mixed dialect and complex language environment at home may also confuse children in pronunciation.

IV. Treatment recommendations: work together to overcome difficulties

Parents do not need to be overly anxious when facing functional articulation disorders. Professional speech therapists are like children’s pronunciation “mentors” who can tailor treatment plans for them. For example:

1. Oral movement training : Through a series of targeted oral movement exercises, such as tongue extension and lip closure, the strength and coordination of oral muscles are enhanced.

2. Pronunciation imitation game : Use the game form that children like to guide them to imitate the correct pronunciation, making learning interesting and effective.

3. Home-assisted practice : Parents can play games such as "You Say, I Guess" with their children at home, which can not only enhance the parent-child relationship, but also exercise the children's pronunciation ability.

5. The role of parents: the strongest support

During the treatment process, the support and encouragement of parents are crucial. Parents should listen to their children's feelings patiently and give them enough confidence and time. At the same time, parents should maintain close communication with speech therapists to understand their children's progress and work together for their children's clear pronunciation.

A new semester is a new starting point. Let us work together to help children overcome pronunciation barriers and make them more confident and calm in their future studies and lives. Remember, every child is unique, and every step of their growth deserves to be treated with tenderness. Come on, babies! Your voices will eventually resound through the sky!

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Guo Jing from Hunan Rehabilitation Hospital

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(Edited by YT)