The Potential Effects of Forbrain® on Speech Disorder

Speech disorder or speech impairment is a condition where a person experiences problems in forming words or creating sounds to communicate with others. While this communication disorder is usually noticed in kids, adults have also endured it either from their childhood or after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or dementia. 

Common among preschool-age children, a child with a speech disorder may have issues with voice, resonance or fluency of speech. However, for most kids, the root cause of the speech sound disorder is still unknown.

So then, how do you overcome speech disorders?

Also, how prevalent are speech and language disorders?

And most importantly, how are speech disorders diagnosed?

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What Are The Common Speech and Language Disorders? 

A study in NSW (McLeod & McKinnon, 2007) reported that 13% of children at primary and secondary schools had been diagnosed with a communication disorder, reflecting a significant prevalence of speech and language impairment in preschool-aged kids. 

It was also found that 1 in every 100 Australians stutters. Stuttering is a speech disorder that disrupts your normal speech and can affect children, adolescents and adults.

The list below briefly takes you through the common types of speech & language disorders, which can root from a neurological condition, brain damage, muscle weakness, or hearing loss. 

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) – This particular type of speech impairment makes a kid or person hard to speak since the brain finds it hard to develop plans for speech movement.

Dysarthria – This condition exhibits limited tongue, jaw, or lip movement, slurred or slowed speech, change in voice quality, among other symptoms. Dysarthria is caused by nerve or muscle damage where the muscles involved in the process of speaking become weak.

Articulation Disorders – A child with this condition may find it difficult to pronounce words. They possess the inability to produce sounds correctly (For instance, they may lisp, where ‘s’ sounds like ‘th’) and say things like “wabbit” instead of “rabbit.”

Stuttering – Stuttering or stammering disrupts normal fluency and flow of speech. While it is not always constant, it often occurs among children between the ages of 3 to 6 but still can be recognised among adults. 

Receptive Disorders – This condition occurs when your child finds it hard to understand speech. Hence, it makes them difficult to 

• Express themselves
• Respond to a question
• Follow directions
• Point to any object, colour, or person when asked

Resonance Disorders – It is a disorder that takes place due to an obstruction of airflow (or too much airflow) through the oral (mouth) and nasal (nose) cavities, resulting in a change in voice quality. 

Autism-Related Speech Disorders

Autism spectrum disorder has made it to this list since one of its aspects is communication concern. An individual with autism also has social communication problems if we go by its definition. And that is why the primary diagnostic criteria for autism is deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills. 

Struggles Of Speech Impediment 

A study on the speech perception skills of children with and without speech sound disorder (SSD) reports that Australian-English speaking children with SSD showed poor accuracy in perceiving speech compared to the typically developing kids. This promising study was conducted with children aged between 48-60 months. 

The life of an individual with communication needs is hard to explain and even more challenging for others to understand where speech impairment affects socialisation. 

From not being able to express their thoughts or share their ideas in classrooms or the workplace to getting misunderstood; or feeling left out every day are some experiences that are not rare but common impacts of speech and language disorder. 

Since the ones with speech impairment are less likely to be heard, today we will try to share some of their struggles with you through a blog by Dr Jane McCormack (speech-language pathologist) so that if you come across one, you may be able to hear or understand them. 

“How I feel when I come to school is (that) I feel left out in the playground,” – A 3-year-old said

“They treat me like I’m mentally challenged and incapable of doing any meaningful work and earning an income,” – One exclaimed.

“Communication issues are invisible in the classroom unless you have a trained eye,” – One wrote. 

That said, it is no surprise that support from parents and teachers works as a confidence booster among children with speech disorders. A study also indicated that almost one in four parents in Australia were concerned about their preschool kid’s motor or social-emotional development.

“It was heartbreaking to watch helplessly as my gregarious little girl turned into a shy, introverted child in the space of a year.” – From Daisy’s mother. 

Parent Involvement & Support

While various methods such as Forbrain® assist your child or loved ones in strengthening and improving the specific pattern or frequencies of their speech, parents’ involvement and intervention also help them be motivated. 

An Australian survey concluded that speech-language pathologists (96.4% of the total) involved parents in intervention for SSD, especially in providing home practice. The SLPs (95.8%) believed that family, parent, or teacher involvement is crucial for the intervention to be effective.

This 2020 study concerning the engagement in early intervention illustrates:

• Families were reliable and ready for therapy.
• The families initiated an open and honest relationship with the speech-language pathologist.
• The families were noticed taking the initiative and actively participating.
• They were setting goals together and celebrating even little progress.
• The families were also invested in intervention at home, which showed their belief, concern, and love for their child. 

Overcoming The Struggles Of Speech Disorder

While there are a number of factors that can cause the debilitating speech disorder, you can still conquer it by observing the symptoms of this condition, especially among preschool-aged children. Notice:

• If they can respond through shrugging or nodding or any other gestures.
• If they can answer your questions.
• If they can name objects.
• If they can follow directions.
• If they are repeating or prolonging sounds.
• If they are struggling to pronounce the correct word or sound. 
• If they are rearranging syllables.
• If they are facing difficulty in learning songs and rhymes.
• If their behaviour, such as the voice, gets louder or softer in different places (for instance, getting louder outside the house).

Dr Jane McCormack mentions in her blog that sometimes the real struggle of these kids or adults (who grew up with this condition) fade away in the midst of “data”, “analysis,” and “research.”

So, not getting further into the studies and surveys, let’s discuss the solution that can truly change the face of this challenging condition that induces the inability to speak comfortably. 

Forbrain® – Empower Your Speech

Forbrain® is an advanced technology known to enhance language and speech fluency. It is a device featuring an electronic filter that keeps out the surrounding sounds and helps listen to the user’s own voice through bone conduction. 

A continuous exercise with Forbrain® headphones can assist you in improving your:

• Ability to focus on a task
• Short-term and verbal memory
• Reading and writing skills
• Concentration and attention
• Speech, pronunciation, sound discrimination, rhythm, and fluency

Now, most of you would want to understand how Forbrain® works.

Well, it uses the natural process of perceiving, analysing, assimilating and continuously adjusting the information received and rendered through sound. Through Auditory Feedback Loop and amplified bone conduction, an individual seamlessly activates the abilities of auditory discrimination, integration of rhythm, and phonological awareness. 

Top Tips For Parents With An Sound and Speech Disorder Child

• Teach yourself, your family, and their teachers how to talk with your child.
• Encourage imitation of sounds and gestures while focusing on communication.
• Listen to your child even if they are not able to speak. 
• While being a good listener, use eye contact.
• Include simple gestures in your communication.
• Read to your child every day.
• Talking turns.
• Try not to criticise.

Remember that you can make a difference.

The Change That You Aspire Is Accessible

Forbrain®, recommended as the go-to tool to improve learning, reflects the science used in Tomatis® Method – the world-renowned auditory stimulation program. 

We, at the Australian Tomatis® Method, believe that this tool comprises the attribute to assist everyone and not just people with speech and language disorders. This revolutionary device improves cognitive abilities and can help you grow your self-confidence, whether you are a professional, senior, university student, or a parent who needs it for their child. 

In fact, Monique Blok, a speech therapist in the Netherlands (and a Tomatis Consultant), also recommends using Forbrain® since its effects are deeper and last longer.

So, feel free to contact our Tomatis® professionals in Sydney, Australia, to acquire more information or visit our website to learn how Forbrain® works.

How have you been dealing with your child’s speech disorder? Share with us in the comments section below.