As a speech therapist who works with kids, I've been asked this question on more than one occasion so I thought I would address this issue here on this blog. From my own experience, I think this is not true and maybe just one of those things that you heard from your mother and she heard from her mother and so on.
I have found a great article on this exact subject and she also think this is a myth. She talks about the pros and cons of your baby/toddler using a pacifier and she does give suggestions for finding other ways to help your toddler self soothe.
In the first part of her article Laura addresses using sippy cups and how this can effect your child's speech and even more so cause dental problems if used too much. Laura's article is worth reading if you are concerned about your toddler using a sippy cup or a pacifier. Her website is teachmetotalk.com and if you follow this link it will take you straight to this article. I'm sure you'll find this article as informative as I did.
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When your child is in the midst of a great jump in his language skills (between ages 30 months and 5 years) it's natural that putting sentences together in a fluent way might be difficult. Her brain is like a computer, working to pull up the right words in the right order and at the right time. While the computer is "searching," her mouth may go into a "pause" (translated: repeat) mode. So it may sound like this: "Mom … I-Mom … I-I-want-uh-I want you-gimme dat teddy bear!" The whole word or first syllable is often repeated, not usually the first sound. This is a normal developmental phase that most children go through. You may notice it more when your child is tired, excited, or upset.
More on Preschool Age Dysfluency - Normal or Not?
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Why not give your apraxic child a way to communicate?
Most of what I'm including in today's post are experiences from parents who have a child with dyspraxia and how they have used sign language to help them communicate.
Using Sign Language With Children Who Have Apraxia of Speech
Often when someone raises the idea of using sign language for a child with apraxia, parents may experience confusion and even fear. After all, “The child can hear just fine! Why would we use sign language for a hearing child? …
Making the Leap from Words to Phrases…. Tips for Helping Your …
If your child has used sign language, it may be helpful to model the sign as you are saying the word. Even if your child has “dropped” signs in lieu of words, you may want to pull them out again as a strategy to help him “motor plan” …
Childhood Apraxia
She is learning sign-language to help with communication with others, and we work at home on various techniques. Her Speech Therapist is very pleased with her progress. It is because of this that I now find myself homeschooling her for …
List of resources for ASL
Using Sign Language With Children Who Have Apraxia of Speech http://www.apraxia-kids.org/topics/sign.html Signed Speech or Simultaneous Communication http://www.autism.org/sign.html The Use of Signs by Children with Down Syndrome …
I hope this information has been helpful to some of you. If you are interested in teaching your baby or toddler sign language, first consult with your child's speech therapist and then check out this program that is fantastic for teaching children sign language. It's called Signing Time. Click on the image below to be taken to their site.
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