Review article
https://doi.org/10.26800/LV-145-supl5-9
Indicators of deviations in communication, language and speech development up to the third year of a child’s life
Draženka Blaži
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet, Logopedsko-rehabilitacijski centar Blaži, Hrvatsko logopedsko društvo
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* Corresponding author.
Abstract
A child’s communication, language, and speech development begins at birth and intensively progresses during early childhood. The roadmap of communication, language, and speech development is clear and developmentally determined, allowing for the detection of potential deviations from the earliest stages of life. Scientifically proven, early detection of deviations and subsequent involvement in early speech language (therapy) intervention lead to the best developmental outcomes for the child. The aim of this paper is, based on insights obtained from meta-analysis of numerous scientific studies, to provide an overview of parameters indicating possible deviations from a normal communication, language, and speech profile in early childhood, to identify risk groups for the occurrence of deviations in communication, language, and speech development, and to present research that provides information on when early speech language (therapy) intervention is needed and most effective. Research shows that parameters indicating deviations in early communication development include: absence/non-systematic establishment of eye contact, difficulty in joint attention (sharing and directing), limited facial expression, absence/lack of motor and vocal imitation, absence/lack of communication means repertoire (early gestures, pointing gestures, vocalization, words, two-word utterances, short sentences), unintentional and non-purposeful use of communication means, non-responsiveness/non-systematic responsiveness to name, difficulty in understanding simple words, phrases, short commands, difficulty in producing words, phrases, and short sentences (less than 50 words at 2 years of age), ritualized play and reduced interest in various games and toys, absence/lack of functional and symbolic play, establishment of interaction solely or predominantly for imperative purposes. According to research, risk groups for the occurrence of deviations in communication, language, and speech development include children born from high-risk, complicated, and multiple pregnancies, children with prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal (neuro)risks, preterm infants, low birth weight infants, children with established syndromes, motor, sensory, intellectual difficulties, and children from socially deprived environments. Meta-analysis of scientific studies focused on early speech language (therapy) intervention demonstrates positive outcomes in communication, language, and speech development as early as infancy, with the highest documented success from the second to the fifth year of a child’s life.
Keywords
COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, LANGUAGE DISORDERS, SPEECH DISORDERS, EARLY CHILDHOOD
Hrčak ID:
308997
URI
Publication date:
10.10.2023.
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