Development - Smartphone: Health insurance company warns of speech disorders in children
Missing words, incorrect sentence structure, less enjoyment of conversation: language development disorders in children are on the increase. The number of adolescents with deficits has risen significantly in recent years, according to the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse in Hanover, citing data from its policyholders. According to the KKH data, while one in 18 children nationwide was diagnosed with a speech and language disorder in 2012, in 2022 it was almost one in 12. The pandemic has also played a major role in this, as the language development of many adolescents has stalled due to the closure of daycare centers and schools.
"The house is colorful", Eddy instead of Teddy - many children are struggling for words. Omitting or swapping sounds is just as much a part of this as incorrect sentence structure, a vocabulary that is not age-appropriate, stuttering, lisping or even falling silent. More and more children are undergoing speech therapy. The proportion of affected KKH policyholders between the ages of 6 and 18 rose by around 59% from 2012 to 2022. Nationwide, almost nine percent of 6 to 18-year-olds are affected - almost one in ten boys and around one in 15 girls. The highest rate of increase in a ten-year comparison is among 15 to 18-year-olds at almost 144 percent (girls up 160 percent, boys up 135 percent).
"Language and speech are the cornerstones of a child's development," says Vijitha Sanjivkumar from the KKH's medical competence team. "Because language skills are one of the keys to communicating needs, thoughts and feelings, understanding the world, understanding it and helping to shape it socially." The causes of the deficits include undetected hearing disorders, genetic predisposition and anatomical reasons such as a malformed jaw as well as problems in the family or strokes of fate.
Another reason: "In many families, there is too little communication with the offspring, even at mealtimes," emphasizes Sanjivkumar. In many cases, this is due to intensive use of smartphones, PCs and other digital media. She advises parents: "Depending on their age, read stories to them, encourage them to talk using hand puppets or role-playing games, sing together, accompany your child when consuming media and talk about shared experiences, thoughts and feelings." Parents should also seek advice from their pediatrician at an early stage, even though people develop at different rates and not every abnormality hides a serious disorder.
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- The rise in speech and language development disorders in children, as highlighted by the KKH in Lower Saxony, Germany, is a cause for concern.
- Smartphones and digital media are often cited as contributing factors to the increase in speech disorders, according to Vijitha Sanjivkumar from KKH's medical competence team.
- In an effort to combat these disorders, Sanjivkumar advises parents to engage in activities that promote language development, such as reading stories or singing together.
- The KKH's data shows that while one in 18 children nationwide had a speech and language disorder in 2012, this number has increased to almost one in 12 in 2022.
- Science has identified various causes of speech and language development disorders, including undetected hearing disorders, genetic predisposition, and anatomical reasons.
- Health insurance coverage for speech therapy has become more common, reflecting the growing recognition of the importance of language development for overall health and wellbeing.
- Children who struggle with speech and language development may face long-term consequences, including difficulty in school and social situations.
Source: www.stern.de
