May 20, 2019
By: Bill Conger
Late country music legend Mel Tillis turned his stuttering into a laughable trademark. But it’s no joke for many others who struggle with speech issues. May is designated nationally as Better Hearing and Speech month. During this time Speech-Language Pathologist Alyssa Conger of Smithville is working to let people know about how their children can improve their speech.
Conger, who is a contract worker for the Centers of Development and Cookeville Regional Medical Center, says one problem that concerns parents most is delayed speech.
“They’re waiting for their child to say that first word, and it doesn’t happen like they expect it to,” says Conger. “They don’t know where to go for help.”
Conger says parents should make their pediatricians aware of their concerns, and then physicians can refer their child for an evaluation and possible treatment.
Articulation is another troubled area for some kids. 75% of what a child says should be understood by most adults by the time a child is 3 years old.
“Imagine a child who has a lot to say, but parents and other loved ones can’t understand,” Conger says. “It can cause frustration and temper tantrums for the child. Some children shut down, give up and won’t get their needs met.”
According to a 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control, one of 59 children is diagnosed with Autism. Many of those kids are non-verbal while all children with Autism are delayed in social skills, and other areas of development.
“Getting early intervention is crucial for this population,” Conger says. “The earlier you can start interventions the better the outcome.”
“For example, one child that I saw had Autism with limited verbal communication. Through private therapy and through the interventions at his special education preschool, he began speaking in words and eventually could carry a conversation.”
Not every child who has been diagnosed with Autism can become verbal; however, there are alternative communication devices that can be used very successfully.”
In fact, well-known Autism advocate Sue Rubin is a functionally non-verbal person with Autism who has managed to earn her Ph.D through the use of alternative communications. She is the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary, Autism Is A World.
Conger says the schools have the services to meet the needs of some children; however, with severe speech issues private therapy is highly recommended. Conger has started her own speech therapy services in DeKalb County to reach the children in the area who need help. To find out more specifics about your child’s speech development, visit Conger’s Facebook page, Kids Express Therapy Services or email her with questions at kidsxpresstherapy@gmail.com.