Handling Speech Delay in Preschool Children

The modern era is characterised by the amount of technology applied in various modern and sophisticated tools.

But not everyone can use these sophisticated technological tools to support, facilitate in completing various human activities in meeting their needs.

Instead of being able to make it easier, it can solve problems, but many people are trapped, adding to the problems in life.

PCs, laptops, mobile phones, gadgets are proof of the advancement of technology achieved by humans.

The last product called gadget is a product that is currently a favourite device that can hardly be separated from everyone. Almost everyone depends on the gadget.

The gadget is a small device that has a special function and continues to change following technological developments. This device is always updated technology.

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One example of a gadget product is a smart phone or better known as a smart phone. With technology that is always updated, it helps human life more practically.

Almost everything humans need for information can be obtained with a smart phone. But because of the sophistication of this device, many people cannot sort out which one suits their needs.

Especially for parents who facilitate their children with smart phones without seeing the age of their children. Whether it’s because of ignorance, busyness, or lifestyle, many parents let their children play with smart phones almost every second.

This will have fatal implications, where children who are facilitated with smart phones are still underage, still toddlers freely interacting at any time. There are even children who since a few months after birth, smart phones are used as a tool to entertain their children so that they are calm, not fussy.

But many parents do not realise what the consequences are, what bad effects it will cause when it is wrong to give children a game tool that is not commensurate with their age.

Although there are positive effects of smart phones, there will be more negative effects if they are not controlled both in time and how they are used by children.

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Quoting Vivaldhi Aurel Ramadhan (2023) in his writing based on the study of Rahayu et al. (2021), gadgets can hinder children’s speech and language development.

This happens because children spend more time in front of gadget screens than interacting with other people who can facilitate speech and language learning. As a consequence, children rarely interact with others and result in a lack of speech and language skills.

Excessive Use of Gadgets Can Have An Impact on The Formation of Children’s Character

Excessive use of gadgets can disrupt children’s prefrontal cortex function. When children are addicted to gadgets, the brain in children can over-secrete the hormone dopamine which can cause prefrontal cortex function to be disrupted.

This can negatively affect the region in the brain that controls emotions, self-regulation, responsibility, decision-making, and other moral principles Vivaldhi Aurel Ramadhan (2023).

We have seen that two-year-olds are at a very important developmental period in terms of motor, cognitive, social, and emotional aspects. Children’s behaviour patterns at this age reflect very rapid development, although there are also some children whose development patterns are not the same.

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This is the golden period for children to be able to accept various things that will support their development as children. If we can provide stimulants that are beneficial to the child, of course the child will easily absorb the various useful stimulants.

However, if parents do not realise this golden period of the child, and even give the wrong teaching or habits in the child’s life, then the child grows not in line with his age.

There will be many developmental sensors that are not touched, so that their motor, cognitive, social, and emotional development will be far behind, this is what causes speech delay.

For example, a child at the age of two is given a smart phone toy by his mother. The mother gives the toy with good intentions.

The child is played videos of children according to his age, with the hope that the child can imitate the video so hopefully the child’s development will be stimulated as well, without the mother having to accompany her child to play. The mother can do other housework.

This is repeated every day until the child is 3 years old. Because the child interacts with the smart phone from time to time, the child has become proficient in how the smart phone works, both shifting the screen, changing videos, and the child can search for videos by himself.

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Even children are no longer interested in video settings specifically for children. Children are more interested in opening video links intended for adults.

This is certainly not good for children, because the videos watched are not at the level of the child’s age. In this case, parents don’t even realise it because they are busy.

Parents think their children are calm and not fussy, always engrossed in their smartphones. It doesn’t feel like the child is turning 4 years old. This is where the parents just realised the problem with their child.

The child is inactive, tends to be silent, has unclear vocabulary, and does not like a crowded atmosphere. The child tends to be alone and his attitude or behaviour is not reflected in his age, so he does not like to play with his peers.

And when consulting with a paediatrician, it was stated that the child had a speech delay problem, which is a condition where the child’s speech and language skills are not in accordance with the age stage of development.

In this era where gadgets are so cheap, this kind of child development problem is common, because almost all parents equip their children with gadgets. This will certainly be a problem for children if it is not accompanied by strict parental control. For this reason, it takes parental accuracy and wisdom in providing toys for their children.

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Solutions to Early Childhood Development Issues

When parents realise the problems found in their children, namely speech delay, parents must overcome this as soon as possible.

Speech delay problems must get special attention from parents. Because if it is not handled seriously, it will affect many things related to the development of the child, unclear speech, late walking, difficulty conveying what the child means in conversation, and others.

To treat speech delay, it is important to understand the causes, such as medical factors, environment, or developmental disorders, so as to provide appropriate treatment.

Solutions that can be helpful in handling the development of children with speech delay.

Consultation with Professionals

As a first step, parents should:

1. Consultation with a paediatrician

This step is to ensure that there are no medical problems in the child, such as hearing loss or neurological conditions, that affect speech.

2. Speech therapist

A speech therapist can help develop a child’s speech and language skills through games, pronunciation exercises, or other techniques designed to suit the child’s needs.

3. Child Development Psychologist

This is to determine whether there are emotional or social developmental disorders.

These professionals can help diagnose the cause of the speech delay problem and can suggest appropriate treatment.

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Improving Interaction with Children

1. Active Talking

Comunicate directly with your child using clear and simple words. Also use everyday activities to introduce new words, such as naming objects, colours, or numbers.

2. Reading Books

Choose books with pictures that appeal to your child and read them to them with pleasant intonation.

3. Encourage Singing and Games

These activities can help children recognise rhythms and sound patterns.

4. Reduce Screen Interaction

Restrict the use of electronic devices such as televisions, tablets, or mobile phones, as they can reduce children’s time to interact directly with others. Increase direct interaction with your child in stimulating your child as it will be more effective.

Use Positive Reinforcement Strategies

Praise or reward when the child tries to speak or uses new words. Do not scold or show a disappointed look when the child has difficulty speaking; this may discourage the child from trying to speak.

Involve Children in Playgroups

Interaction with other children can help improve communication, social and language skills. Children will learn new words and ways of communicating through group games and activities.

Supportive Environment

Parents should ensure that children grow up in a language-rich environment, for example by describing daily activities.

Consistency and Patience

Speech delay intervention takes time and consistency. Parents should be patient and continue to support the child in the process. Avoid forcing the child to speak, as this can cause stress. Give praise every time the child tries to speak or communicate.

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Conclusion

The handling of speech delay requires an integrated approach between medical support, education, speech therapy, intensive interaction with the child and family environment and a positive environment.

Parents should work closely with professionals to determine the cause of the delay and provide appropriate interventions.

Early detection, appropriate treatment, and consistent intervention can help children achieve optimal communication skills, thus supporting their future social and academic development.

Author: Slamet Arkanudin
Mahasiswa Pendidikan Agama Islam, Universitas Prof. Dr. Hamka Jakarta

Referensi

Vivaldhi Aurel Ramadhan (2023) Dampak Gadget Terhadap Perkembangan Anak: Memahami Efek Positif dan Negatif. https://clsd.psikologi.ugm.ac.id/

Rahayukk.(2021), Gadget Dapat Menghambat Perkembangan Bicara Dan Bahasa Anak. www.kilaspemuda.com

Siti aminah, Ratnawati (2022) Mengenal Speech Delay Sebagai Gangguan Keterlambatan Berbicara Pada Anak (Kajian Psikolinguistik) https://www.researchgate.net/

Alfani Nurul Istiqlal (2021) Gangguan Keterlambatan Berbicara (Speech Delay) Pada Anak Usia 6 Tahun https://ejournal.uin-malang.ac.id//

Amanda Eka Putri, Nandini Febriani, Ananda Nora Nopriani, Muhammad Asif Rasyhad, Beny Rahim (2024) Pencegahan Dan Penanganan Speech Delay Pada Anak https://pusako.ppj.unp.ac.id

Ratih Purnama Sari1) , Nuryani2) (2020) Analisis Keterlambatan Berbicara (Spech Delay) Pada Anak Study Kasus Anak Usia 10 Tahun Www.Researchgate.Net

Editor: Siti Sajidah El-Zahra
Bahasa: Rahmat Al Kafi

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