May 12, 2008
- Can Childhood Ear Infections Impact Speech & Language?
When a child has a middle-ear infection, fluid accumulates in the middle ear. The middle ear space behind the eardrum is typically filled with air - not fluid. This fluid can actually remain even after the infection has cleared. The presence of this fluid can cause a temporary hearing loss or reduction in hearing. And of course children with repeated infections or fluid build up have a higher likelihood of speech and language delays.
March 3, 2008
- Does Your Child Have Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), is synonymous with developmental apraxia of speech (DAS) and dyspraxia. This is a motor speech disorder. Children with developmental apraxia have difficulty coordinating and sequencing their articulators (mouth, lips, jaw, tongue) to produce sounds, syllables and words. This is not at all due to muscle weakness, but rather it is due to poor communication between the brain and the muscles that are needed for speech. In other words, the area of the brain that is responsible for telling the muscles what to do and how to move to make partiuclar sounds is not fully developed or possibly damaged. In adults, apraxia of speech is caused by a stroke or other brain damage. In children the cause is not so clear. Speech apraxia is only related to speech activities and so non-speech activities that use the same muscles such as coughing, chewing and swallowing are performed just fine
February 3, 2008
- Imitation Is Vital For Speech and Language Development
Imitation begins early in infancy and continues throughout childhood. (…)
January 4, 2008
- Speech Development: Typical Guidelines
Speech development is a very gradual process that begins in infancy and sometimes continues until the age of 7 or 8. (…)
