A child who is slow to speak or scream can be a sign of autism. Children always tend not to use words to express or communicate, but only scream to express when there is a need, making parents not understand what they want. If it is related to autism, it is necessary to quickly take timely interventions to enhance language and ability to communicate properly for children.
A child who is slow to speak or scream is a symptom of what disease?
Speech delay in children can be caused by many reasons, such as environmental factors, children have not been able to directly interact with their parents since childhood, children are lazy to talk because their parents are too protective. In particular, another factor directly related to speech delay is autism – a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by impairments in language, communication and abnormal behaviour.
In fact, children screaming can have many causes. For example, children feel uncomfortable, feel hot, but do not have enough language to express themselves, so they tend to scream to get their parents’ attention. However, if the child is in the age of learning to speak, the age that needs to be able to communicate but cannot speak and often screams, parents need to pay more attention.
Children who are slow to speak or scream are abnormal behaviors that may be related to autism
A child’s delay in speech or shouting may be characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. Children with autism speak very slowly, even many children in the first years do not talk and do not actively communicate, do not actively express their individual needs. Instead, they tend to scream, scratch, and tantrum when they are not satisfied or want attention to express their personal needs.
There are many reasons why children are slow to speak or scream like
- Children do not have enough language to express their needs: children who are slow to speak tend to scream, mainly because they do not have enough vocabulary to express their needs and wants. For example, when your child feels hungry but doesn’t know how to say it, doesn’t know how to say it, he will scream. Similarly, if your child is feeling uncomfortable somewhere but can’t use his tongue to express it, he will also choose to scream.
- I want to get attention: because I don’t know how to use words to call others, I scream. In addition, children with autism will tend to prefer to play alone, connect with objects more than people, but they may still feel lonely. Children often have a special bond with someone, usually a parent, and when they want attention they often scream to get people to come running. On the other hand, if they see a parent holding another child and don’t like it, they may also scream to get their parents’ attention.
- Children do not know how to express emotions: normal children will show emotions with expressions, even when they are not yet able to speak. For example, if you are happy or excited, you will laugh, if you are upset or worried, you will cry. However, in children with autism, the child seems to have no expression, the face is always emotionless. Therefore, the fact that children with autism are slow to speak and scream seems to be a way for children to express their feelings. In a state of discomfort, some children also tend to throw things, scratch themselves, or hurt themselves.
- Sensory disturbances: a characteristic that can be seen in most children with autism is extremely sensitive senses. The sounds and colors that other children find normal are extremely annoying. For example, the boiling sound of a super-fast bottle, the colors are too bright, the fluorescent lights will make your child extremely uncomfortable and agitated, so they tend to scream.
Children who are slow to speak or scream to determine if they are autistic or not still need to be examined for the most accurate diagnosis. It is not only through two factors that are slow to speak or scream, but also say that a child has autism, but it also needs many other characteristics that need to be determined, such as whether the child knows how to make eye contact, whether the child is expressive, What is your child’s language ability?
Does the child’s speech delay or screaming have any effect?
Children who are slow to speak or scream, regardless of the circumstances, have effects on young children. Basically, speech delay is already an unusual problem compared to the general developmental stages of a child. Speech delay is not only unable to speak, but also very limited vocabulary, children do not understand language and speech, so their awareness of the surrounding things is also limited.
Children who scream if they are not controlled are agitated and have self-injurious behaviors
If a child’s delay in speech or shouting is a sign of autism, it will often appear especially clearly between the ages of 4 and 7. Not only did he scream, but he also scratched, even pulled his hair or banged his head against the wall. However, parents who do not fully understand their child’s condition will not be able to respond to their child, not knowing the controls, causing the child to scream and become more and more agitated.
The fact that children often scream makes the children themselves feel tired and parents are also very upset. Screaming children does not make them feel more comfortable, on the contrary, it makes them more excited. Children not only hurt themselves but also unintentionally harm those around them, so parents must absolutely not be subjective when they see their children fall into this situation.
On the other hand, if children are slow to speak or scream uncontrollably early, it will be difficult to go to crowded places, especially to school. Children do not know how to control emotions, not enough words to express, it will be difficult to make friends, difficult to integrate with crowded places. Even children who go to school, if they have not improved their speech delay and still scream, will easily be isolated and bullied by friends.
Respond quickly when children are slow to talk or scream
As soon as the child screams, parents need to take early remedial measures to control the child’s state, to prevent the child from becoming more agitated. So what should parents do now?
Available immediately
Children are slow to speak or scream because they do not have enough language to express their needs, so parents need to be there quickly to make their children feel safe, absolutely not to ignore them. Some parents think that their children are screaming because they are nagging, so they tend to worry about them, and let their children scream “bored” and they will stop themselves. However, if you are a child with autism, you will not stop but become more and more excited.
Parents should be there quickly when their children scream to calm them down
Therefore, as soon as they see their children screaming, parents need to quickly appear to take measures to calm their children. Pay attention absolutely not to be angry or upset, to shout loudly, but to gently calm your child down. If your child continues to scream, raise your voice or maybe give them a gentle hug to show that you are here and that your child can rest easy.
Observe your child’s problem
Surely children cannot express what they are having problems with in words, so parents need to use all their flexibility to observe and find out the reason why the child is screaming. For example, a child who is slow to speak or scream can be because they are hungry, because they want to drink water or they want to get something, or it can also be because they are feeling uncomfortable and help them solve it quickly.
Parents can also use these situations to teach and encourage their children to speak. For example, if your child is hungry, tell him to “call mom and dad” when he feels like eating. Of course, it can’t be effective immediately, but when parents often tell their children like that, repeated many times, right at the times when the child needs to say, the child may also be able to remember and express. when needed.
Distracting attention
When in more than agitated, annoyed if parents do not know how, it will be difficult to control their children. Even holding your baby too tightly can sometimes make your baby more uncomfortable, especially if it’s a child with autism. Therefore, parents need to quickly have a direction to control their children’s behaviors by distracting children’s attention from issues that concern them.
Toys that can distract children to stop screaming
For example, you can give your child a favorite toy (for children who are slow to speak or scream because of autism, they can refer to round toys, toys with rotation) that can create attention. It makes me focus. Or the mother can constantly ask questions, raise doubts that are making the child uncomfortable to stimulate the baby to answer, and at the same time solve that factor.
If your child has stopped yelling, praise him and stay with him until he is completely fine. Let’s talk with your child, parents can also rephrase the behavior and status of their child to remind them not to continue doing so. Pay attention to use the simplest, most concise words so that your child can understand and remember.
Long-term measures when children are slow to talk or scream
If the child’s delay in speech or shouting occurs repeatedly and parents cannot determine the cause, it is necessary to quickly take the child to the doctor to diagnose the exact cause. Only when you know exactly what your child is having problems with, the doctor can prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Especially if autism is related, it is necessary to apply early intervention therapies to overcome the child’s defects.
Professional therapeutic intervention
In fact, with children with delayed speech, even if the child does not have screaming behavior, it is necessary to participate in early treatment to supplement in terms of language and improve the deficit for the child. Only when children have language, can perceive and use words to express their needs, can they stop screaming in all circumstances.
Speech therapy is essential to limit the child’s behaviors that are slow to speak or scream
Especially delayed speech is related to some other medical conditions, such as hearing damage, mouth muscle damage.. These are problems that can be treated with some medical measures, such as surgery. Experts also say that children with speech delay due to deafness can be completely treated before the age of 5, or in the worst case, use hearing aids.
Children who are slow to speak or scream if related to autism, the problem is somewhat more complicated because it cannot be completely treated. The goals of professional interventions for children with autism are mostly to improve children’s skills deficits, enhance cognitive and communication abilities, control abnormal behaviors and emotions so that children gradually adjust more in tune with life.
Besides, therapeutic care is also an essential aspect with children who are slow to speak or scream. Psychotherapy can promote correct awareness or at least help children control their own emotions and stimulating behaviors. Some children with delayed speech may also be psychologically unstable, so psychotherapy can respond to all cases.
Enhance communication with children
It is important to know that the most important factor that causes children to be slow to speak or scream is their inability to express their needs verbally. Therefore, if the child wants to stop screaming, it is necessary to strengthen the child’s language so that the child can express his/her personal needs, thereby limiting the situation of shouting, agitation and discomfort.
Parents should enhance interaction, conversation, language and communication skills for children through daily activities. For example, guide children to read the names of objects around the house, memorize the names of themselves and their parents. Or, through daily fun activities, parents can also take advantage of reinforcing language for their children.
A small note is that for children who are slow to speak, whether autistic or simply slow to speak, when teaching children, they also need to use words that are easy to understand, concise, repeated many times and should be combined with pictures. Vibrant, intuitive illustrations. Teaching children once may not be able to memorize them all, but when they repeat the same thing many times, they will still be able to remember and apply them.
On the other hand, in interacting with children who are slow to speak or yell, parents absolutely must not raise their voice, scream or use violence. Not only does this frighten the child, but he may also assume that these are normal behaviors and learn from them, continuing to do the same behaviors the next time. Therefore, the education of children with speech delay, especially children with autism, requires the patience of parents.
Minimize factors that make children agitated
Understanding autism, parents will find around that there are many factors that can make autistic children feel uncomfortable and agitated even though it may be normal for other children. Children who are slow to speak or scream if related to autism need to minimize these factors around the living environment in order for them to feel most comfortable and at ease.
Wearing headphones when there are going to be exciting sounds will limit the baby’s panic, startling and screaming
For example, parents can refer to some of the following issues to limit the situation when children are slow to speak or scream:
- The design of the child’s bedroom space should be soundproof, limiting the outside sounds that can accidentally startle and scream.
- When using devices that can make loud sounds, such as blenders, vacuum cleaners or kettles, try to keep the sound as low as possible or make sure children are not in an area where they can be heard. Autistic children’s hearing is quite sensitive, so keep them as far away as possible, or limit them by letting them wear headphones or listen to music.
- The living space or living space of children with autism should not use fluorescent lights, limit colors that are too colorful, and do not use flickering colored lights. According to experts, it is best to use lamps with the ability to adjust brightness or diffuse light
- Absolutely do not let children use TV, phones, computers, this both affects the brain waves and makes the child’s speech delay more serious.
Let your child participate in a special education program
There are many problems if a child’s delay in speech or shouting is related to autism. Because children with autism often have cognitive limitations, sensitive nerves and many other problems that directly affect their mental, physical and life. Additional language education for children with autism is not easy, especially without expertise.
Therefore, with children who are slow to speak or scream, experts also encourage children to participate in special education. In specialized environments, children will receive therapy to develop personal language, enhance awareness and communication ability in accordance with the roadmap built based on the child’s original condition. .
On the other hand, due to the lack of language, if children with speech delay learn in normal environments, it will be difficult to keep up with friends, leading to negative emotions, more discomfort, and more excitement and shouting. . Therefore, children with speech delay need to be supplemented with language, communication and basic cognitive deficits before going to school to be easier to integrate.
Children who are slow to speak or scream, regardless of the cause, are abnormal signs that need early intervention measures. Because there is not enough expressive language, parents need to try to approach and encourage their children to talk more through daily activities or quickly take them to the doctor for the most effective treatment.
