The difficulties in pronouncing “S” and “CH” are frequent and considered normal until the loss of milk teeth. What if these language disorders persist? We take stock with Françoise Garcia, speech therapist and vice-president of the National Federation of speech therapists.
Zozot, zenching, hunting … So many small pronunciation defects that can support language learning. If they remain completely common in children under 6 years oldwhen the global maturation of the dental joint is complete, they can nevertheless persist and require the consultation of a speech therapist.
Why does my child zozote?
Some factors promote Development of zozoting (or hunting) as sucking your thumb or pacifier excessively. Also, other children retain primary infant swallowing: the tongue is advanced between the incisors and prevents the top teeth and those from the bottom to touch. Consequence: The child badly pronounces “s” or “z”hence a zozoting. Moreover, “If the child is still swallowing or sucking, his cheeks will not yet be toned enough to pronounce certain sounds like “ch”specifies Françoise Garcia before adding that it is only during growth that language will naturally accommodate behind the incisors“. On the other hand, dental deformations can also harm the good pronunciation of certain sounds.
“Language hair” or deeper language disorder?
Zozoting only becomes a disorder when the overall maturation of dental joint is over and the child continues to have a lack of language. “”The child’s articulation is perfectible over the months and its ability to pronounce certain letters will evolve with age. Indeed, the “S” or the “Ch”, are among the sounds that are more pronounced later than the “A” or the “O” for example“. Before 6 years, the child can have other linguistic disorders which can prevent him from understanding what he is told, of doing phrases or not finding the right words to express themselves: alterations of language which are very often imperceptible. Hence the importance of ensuring that the child validates all language stages. “”Some parents focus on what they hear without exploring the syntax, overall understanding or child phonology while these elements are more important than articulatory disorder“, Adds the speech therapist. Finally, It is important to know if the child under 6 years old perceives the difference between an “S” and a “ch” when we speak. If yes, this means that he has a good perception of sounds and that he has only a defect in motor production linked to maturation. If the child does not make this phonological difference, there may be an underlying problem and it is then necessary to make a language assessment.
“Before 6 years old, it is not useful to consult a speech therapist”
At what age consult a speech therapist for her child?
Isolated zozoting (or hunting) is not considered a disorder until the loss of milk teeth and the appearance of the definitive teeth, between 5 and 6 and a half, and all the likely to disappear naturally. Before, it is not useful to consult a speech therapist. Indeed, not only will children’s articulation points evolve during secondary swallowing then “The speech therapist will use the tongue support on the teeth to pronounce the “S” and the “Z” (the two sounds concerned by the zozoting), this position of rehabilitation is then only possible when the final teeth appeared“, Specifies the expert. As soon as her dentition is formed, but that pronunciation defects persist, we can call on a speech therapist, in parallel with orthodontist support when necessary, to help the child properly position his language in order to pronounce all the sounds. The child can then work on each point of articulation through exercises, songs, listening games, and daily stimulation to help him acquire the agility of his language.
“”You can only improve your language … by practicing and this every day!“, says Françoise Garcia before clarifying “that‘It is useless to make the word repeat, insistently, until it is properly pronouncedespecially if the word remains despite this understandable“. Indeed, the child risks tense his tongue, to stress or even get upset and zozot may even intensify. It is better to arrange playful moments when the child will have to make a particular effort to listen to each word well and try to repeat them properly. It is by using a large palette of different words, allowing him to be more attentive and more attentive to the articulatory movements of his interlocutors. Mimicry, try to reproduce what he hears or sees. offer him to gradually abandon the thumb or pacifier and listen to him : Sometimes a zozoting testifies to a fear of growing up, a lack of confidence or a means of attracting your attention.
