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How to Recognize If a Birth Defect Is Affecting Your Child's Speech Ability

Birth defects are quite frequently broken down into two categories: visible, outward deformities and invisible, systemic or organic abnormalities. While the former are usually clearly defined and their scope is well documented, the latter will sometimes present something of a problem when attempting to limit the sphere of influence the defect has on the developing child. Speech and language development most frequently fall under the symptoms which may crop up unexpectedly, even if the birth defect was considered to be contained and limited to only certain areas of the body or centers of development.

In other cases there is a question whether speech and language abilities will be affected and a wait and see approach is suggested. For a parent this is a trial of patience simply because even in children with no birth defects, the development of speech and language abilities greatly varies and is influenced not only by their physical ages but also by their developmental ages which in some cases may not exactly align. How to recognize if a birth defect is affecting your child is truly not that easy to answer and unfortunately you are the only person who can truly come to the conclusion that something is amiss - well in advance of medical professionals.

Warning signs of potential speech or language problems are legion. It begins in infancy when a child with a well defined birth defect fails to utilize hands and especially fingers to motion. While not each and every child will give you a high five, though many will, she or he should be able to reach for a toy, point to it, or simply wave. On the flipside, if your child prefers to use his hands by the time he or she is almost two years old and will point to food items or a cup instead of asking for it, then something may be amiss. The answer will not lie in a specific milestone but in the absence of a milestone and a combination of visible clues and lacking auditory signals.

Of course, even if your child utilizes speech to get a point across, the vocal centers could still be affected by the extent of the birth defect yet not to the extent of development but more in the area of vocal execution. You may notice that the voice has an unusual intonation or sound, or perhaps gets cut off repeatedly even though your child continues to mouth the words. In the same fashion, a speech disorder will become obvious if a certain word is continuously repeated time and again. Be on the lookout for these signs and symptoms and do not take them lightly. Document your findings and discuss them with your child's physician.

You will want to rule out contributory factors such as colds, ear infections, or dental problems. The latter should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist who will have the knowledge and tools needed to measure any inconsistencies and abnormalities that may or may not be related to your child's birth defect.