Hello!
Babies primarily cry when they are born, then they start with "ah" and "uh," and gradually learn to communicate with words. This growth is a joy for parents, isn't it?
However, as babies become capable of more and more, many parents may start to worry, "My child doesn't seem to talk as much as other children their age," or "They keep making the same pronunciation mistakes..."
This time, we interviewed a certified psychologist about children's language development.
-----------------------------------------------
Hello. I am Tanaka, a certified psychologist.
This time, I'd like to discuss children's language development with you, including common concerns I receive, such as "My child has trouble saying 'sa' and 'ka' sounds" and "They use baby talk like 'dechu.'"
Do children who end their words with "-dechu" or "-machu" have trouble speaking?
This is a fairly common concern. There are cases where parents consult a psychologist before going to a speech-language pathologist or pediatrician, or where we refer them to a pediatrician.
Many parents come to us worried if it's a developmental disorder.
So, let's consider why children might have difficulty pronouncing "ka" sounds, making them sound like "ta" sounds, or why they can't pronounce "sa" sounds correctly.
What causes difficulty in pronunciation?
Babies, of course, cannot speak.
They learn to pronounce correctly along with the meaning of words by listening to and imitating the language of their parents and close adults. It is said that as the muscles of the lips and tongue gradually develop from vowel sounds like "ah," they become able to pronounce various words. Like other aspects of development, language development is said to have significant individual differences.
Also, the inability to pronounce sounds due to some cause is called dysarthria, and it is divided into the following three classifications:
① Organic Articulation Disorder
This is when the shape or function of the organs necessary for pronunciation, such as the tongue, jaw, and lips, is the cause, regardless of whether it is congenital or acquired.
②Motor Articulation Disorder
This is when the cause is an abnormality in the nerves connected to the organs involved in pronunciation, due to cerebrovascular disease, brain tumors, trauma, etc.
③ Functional Articulation Disorder
This is when there are no problems with the organs or nerves involved in pronunciation.
When is a good time to start practicing?
Regarding the timing of speech therapy, some hospitals check pronunciation around age 3, which is when many Japanese sounds are acquired, while others recommend training from around age 5, when most Japanese sounds can be produced. The approach varies among hospitals.
The most common concern from parents
"I'm worried that my child will be ridiculed or teased by friends because they can't say 'ka' or 'sa' sounds even when they are in their penultimate or final year of kindergarten."
This seems to be the most common type of consultation.
Case Study ① 5-year-old boy
He absolutely refused to participate seriously in speech therapy. For this reason, he was referred to a psychologist. We spoke with the child himself, with the speech therapist present.
It turned out that he felt, "I can say it correctly myself, so I don't understand why I have to practice."
It seemed that the speech therapist had explained it to the parents at first, but the child was not mature enough to distinguish sounds, and the reason was that he himself didn't feel it was a problem or have the desire to fix it.
I thought that starting training a little early was the biggest reason why she couldn't take it seriously. After six months, she was re-examined and was able to speak clearly before entering elementary school, so the speech therapist's training was concluded.
Case Study 2: 4-year-old girl
The parents noticed her pronunciation errors and repeatedly told her, "That's wrong, fix it!" They said they couldn't help but point it out because they thought it was for her own good, but the girl started to speak less and less.
A speech therapist and psychologist intervened and advised them to respond with the correct pronunciation instead of pointing out mistakes. The speech therapist also advised that by talking a lot with people around her, the muscles around her mouth would develop, and her speech and pronunciation would gradually improve.
As an aside...
I also have a five-year-old child at home. When I ask, "Do you like 'takana'?" (mustard greens), they say "Yes." When I ask, "What do you like about it?" they reply, "That it swims."
They still can't distinguish between "takana" (mustard greens) and "sakana" (fish). As a parent, I don't point it out and plan to patiently watch over them.
Summary
As a parent myself, I understand the feelings of other parents, such as "I'm concerned," "I want to fix it for them," and "I want them to not struggle in the future."
While language training is certainly important, conducting training when the child is not aware of their pronunciation errors may not be effective.
Also, excessive correction could make the child dislike speaking.
Parents' worries and stress are conveyed to their children, so it may be necessary to fully consider this and support them by making language learning enjoyable through word games.
Many language concerns tend to disappear with growth, so first, try to observe without taking it too seriously.
However, if you as a parent feel stressed by your concerns, please rely on specialized institutions instead of over-researching online (as every child's development is unique).
-----------------------------------------------
Thank you, Sensei!
At Tsumikies no Mori, we also introduce games that promote language development in babies.
If you are interested, please take a look.
Promoting Language Development! Communication Games for Parents and Children | Tsumikies no Mori