As a child grows, their speech also develops. However, not every toddler who has started talking can pronounce words clearly and correctly. The question arises: what is this situation related to?
According to Doctor of Medical Sciences Abduazim Yuldashev, most speech problems in young children are associated with external factors or parents’ inattention.
Dyslalia is one of the most common types of speech disorders. In this condition, a child cannot correctly pronounce certain sounds, replaces them with others, or omits them entirely, — says the specialist.
This condition is most often observed in children aged 3–4. For example, instead of the word “mashina” (car), a child may say “matina,” and instead of “shirinlik” (sweet), they may say “tirinlik.”
There are two types of dyslalia: mechanical and functional. The mechanical form arises due to defects in the child’s speech apparatus (improperly positioned teeth, jaw shape, thick lips, irregular structure of the palate).
The functional form is associated with several factors: the child having suffered from severe illnesses, bilingualism in the family, limited communication with the child, an improper speech environment, using “baby talk,” or underdeveloped phonemic hearing.
Treatment methods vary depending on the type. In mechanical dyslalia, an orthodontist and a speech therapist jointly recommend special exercises, and in some cases, surgical intervention is necessary.
Functional dyslalia is usually not treated until the age of 5. If a child mispronounces some words until this age, the problem can be eliminated through proper and clear communication, memorizing poems, and listening to songs. However, if after the age of 5 the child continues to say “quyos” instead of “quyosh” (sun), a consultation with a specialist is required.
A speech therapist, with the help of oral exercises and special speech methods, helps the child form correct pronunciation. In addition, strengthening the oral muscles is also beneficial. For this purpose, the child is recommended to eat carrots, apples, dry bread, or dried apricots.
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