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Specific disorders of speech articulation (dyslasia) in children
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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A group of specific disorders in the development of speech and language (dyslalia) is represented by disorders in which the leading symptom is a violation of sound reproduction in normal hearing and normal innervation of the speech apparatus.
Epidemiology
The incidence of articulation disorders was established in 10% of children under 8 years of age and in 5% of children older than 8 years. Boys are encountered 2-3 times more often than girls.
Classification
Functional dyslalia - defects in reproduction of speech sounds in the absence of organic disturbance1 in the structure of the articulatory apparatus.
Mechanical dyslagia - disturbances of sound production caused by anatomical defects of the peripheral device of speech (wrong bite, thick tongue, short frenum, etc.).
Causes and pathogenesis of dyslalia
The cause of articulation disorders is not fully known. Presumably, the delay is caused by the ripening of neural connections due to organic damage to the speech zones of the cortex. There is evidence of a significant role of genetic factors. Certain importance has an unfavorable social environment, imitation of incorrect speech patterns.
Symptoms of dyslasia
Violations of articulation are expressed in a sustained inability to apply speech sounds, in accordance with the expected level of development, including incorrect reproduction. Omissions, substitutions for incorrect or inserting unnecessary phonemes.
At the heart of the articulation defect lies the inability to arbitrarily accept and hold certain positions of the tongue, palate, and lips necessary for pronouncing sounds. Intellectual and mental development of children corresponds to age. You can observe accompanying disorders in the form of violations of attention, behavior and other phenomena.
Differential diagnostics
The establishment of anatomical defects that could cause a violation of pronunciation, in this connection, consultation of the orthodontist is necessary.
Differentiation from secondary disorders due to deafness is based on audiometric data and the presence of qualitative pathological signs of speech pathology.
Differentiation from violations of articulation caused by neurological pathology (dysarthria) is based on the following symptoms:
- Dysarthria is characterized by a low speech speed, the presence of masticatory and sucking functions;
- the disorder applies to all phonemes, including vowels.
In doubtful cases for conducting differential diagnosis and establishing an anatomical focus of the lesion, instrumental studies are conducted: EEG, echoencephalography (EchoEG), MRI of the brain, CT of the brain.
Prevention
It does not differ from the prevention of other types of violations of speech development and language.
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