Understanding Mild to Severe Speech Sound Disorder
In children, speech disorders can be a tricky thing to detect. For example, you may find your kid - a seven-year-old - saying 'boo' instead of 'book,' and you think it's normal or even cute.
As a parent it's common to overlook language skills that should have been developed with age milestones. It's hard to know what's best for your kid if you don't know where to start.
WHAT IS SPEECH SOUND DISORDER DSM 5?
Mild and severe speech sound disorder is part of the group of Communication Disorders.
While it is under communication disorders, this group falls under the umbrella of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the DSM 5 (which is a book of the complete updated mental disorders).
If your kid has a mild to severe speech sound disorder, they have trouble pronouncing sounds. Speech sound disorder (DSM 5) is diagnosed if the development of your child's speech is not on par with his or her age and developmental stage.
A way to detect speech sound disorder is to let your child undergo a mental health assessment. A mental health professional can administer a mental health assessment for your kid. This helps you grab an understanding of the severity of your kid's disorder.
SPEECH SOUND DISORDER DSM 5 SYMPTOMS
While it's essential to consult a mental health professional, you can detect speech sound disorder in your child with the following symptoms:
PERSISTENT DIFFICULTY IN SPEECH SOUND PRODUCTION
Your kid has a hard time completing the right sounds of words when talking. This makes it hard for you or other people to understand his or her message.
For example, you consistently find yourself decoding what your kid's saying. One time, you asked what flavor of ice cream your kid wants. Your child says 'coo cli,' and you thought it was 'chocolate,' but what your kid meant were 'cookies and cream.'
SPEECH PRODUCTION HAMPERS PERSONAL GROWTH
It may be hard for your child to feel understood by his or her classmates or playmates because they don't understand. You might find that your child stays silent at school, yet is quite vocal at home. Kids may stop being vocal with peers when they think they may be made fun of for a speech problem.
SPEECH PROBLEMS START AT 4 YEARS OLD
At two years old, only 50% of your child's words are understandable. That's normal.
Mastery of speech sound production is standard by age three. At the age of four, overall speech should be understood and intelligible.
If your child's seven years old, he or she must be able to speak clearly and accurately.
SPEECH PRODUCTION STRUGGLE OR DISTURBANCE ISN'T CAUSED BY OTHER NEUROLOGICAL OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Mild to severe speech sound disorder isn't diagnosed when hampered speech is an effect of a medical or neurological cause. This occurs with children who have had a brain injury, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, deafness or hearing loss or other medical conditions. These conditions typically hamper speech production and articulation.
Mild to severe speech sound disorder can improve with treatment over time. Diagnosing early can help.
