Language is an important communication tool for humans, and the level of language proficiency determines the outcome of all learning. Although there are significant individual differences in the speed and level of language development among babies, some babies have obvious deviations and abnormalities compared to their peers, which is known as language disorders. Many parents tend to overlook this seemingly insignificant but profound language issue. So why does this language barrier occur?
Reasons for language barriers in young children
The incidence of language disorders is high in children aged 2-3, and this period is precisely the critical period for children's language development. Generally speaking, there are two reasons for language development disorders in children:
One: Congenital developmental abnormalities
For example, if the soft palate or lingual frenulum is too short, it can affect normal pronunciation; Due to the inability to hear surrounding sounds, babies do not have the physiological conditions to learn pronunciation, and therefore cannot understand the meaning represented by specific sounds, making it difficult for them to communicate through language.
Secondly, the environment will be poor the day after tomorrow
In Montessori early education, it is mentioned that the defects in children's language are due to the fact that the muscles of the oral language producing organs do not function well, resulting in the inability to reproduce pronunciation. For oral language, necessary muscle movements are gradually established. If the necessary muscle movements cannot be established step by step, the result is poor language pronunciation or missing words. These defects are collectively referred to as "slurred speech", which means that children are not yet able to use their tongue well.
The exercise of muscles in the vocal organs depends on the living environment. If parents do not attach importance to their children's language education, working during the day and playing with their phones at home at night, and lack positive language stimulation for their children, it will lead to delayed language development, inaccurate pronunciation, stuttering, etc.
Thirdly, inadequate psychological resilience
In Montessori education, there is a description that some children aged 3 or 4 have never spoken, and they have not even spoken the "babbling" style words spoken by 2-year-old babies. But due to giving them ample freedom and environmental incentives, they will suddenly speak up. This is because their psychology must have been hurt or hindered in some way, to the point where they are unable to express themselves in the language they have already learned.
