Rate of speech is a sign of speech function, which facilitates the perception of heard information by others. Changes in speech rate include slowing down, speeding up, and stuttering. An incorrect speech rate can impede the development and learning of children, reduce the quality of life, and worsen a person’s social adaptation. Patients with accelerated, slow speech or stuttering require mandatory correction of speech defects. For children, therapy is prescribed as early as possible to prevent developmental delays.
Types of speech rhythm and tempo disorders
Not only a speech therapist, but also parents and teachers can hear that a child’s speech deviates from the normal pace and the rhythm is disturbed, but only a specialist can determine the structure and cause of the defect.
Violations of the tempo and rhythm of speech include:
- Tahilalia is the accelerated pronunciation of words, sounds, syllables at a speed of 20-30 sounds per second (instead of 9-14 normally). The rapidity of speech negatively affects the articulation of sounds. Pathology occurs in childhood, becomes established during adolescence, and can remain with a person for life.
- Bradylalia is a pathologically slow speech, most often found in children with mental retardation or mental retardation, since violations of basic mental processes (memory, attention, thinking) and fine motor skills are often observed in parallel with bradylalia.
- Stumbling - against the background of accelerated speech, repetition of words, syllables and sounds occurs. It must be distinguished from stuttering, since stumbling does not have convulsions of the speech apparatus in its etiology; a child or adult with stumbling does not experience fear of speaking.
- Stuttering - during a statement, involuntary stops occur that are beyond the control of the stutterer. They are accompanied by convulsions of all parts of the speech apparatus.
Human voice timbre
High pitched voice
They are disapprovingly called shrill, and all sorts of shortcomings are attributed to its owners. If we remember teenagers whose voices regularly “grow”, it becomes obvious that this is a sign of poor self-control. Situationally, a voice that breaks into falsetto indicates strong excitement, excitement or fear.
Low timbre of voice
is perceived by people as a symbol of reliability, strength and dignity. In fact, its owners are distinguished by self-confidence. They know their worth, are thorough and not fussy. Typically, a low voice timbre is conducive to confidential communication, but an artificially low one seems insincere.
What is the timbre of the voice?
Symptoms of speech tempo and rhythm disorders
With tachylalia (accelerated speech rate), the rapid flow of utterance stuns the interlocutor, whom the speaker practically does not listen to the end of, and often interrupts. The articulatory apparatus does not have time to clearly pronounce sounds, syllables and words; the entire utterance is pronounced in one exhalation, without respite. Tachylalia may be accompanied by twitching of the body or separately of the arms and legs, and grimacing.
Stumbling is distinguished, in addition to the frequent repetition of speech units, by unjustified pauses in speech, stops in the middle of a speech utterance. Unlike stuttering when stumbling, a child’s speech does not deteriorate in front of an unfamiliar audience and does not have periodicity.
With bradylalia , the articulation of sounds is sluggish and unclear, vowel sounds are pronounced stretched out. The voice is monotonous, the statements are not emotionally colored, they lack characteristic modulations. Speech is so slow that it causes impatience and irritation among others.
Children, seeing such an attitude, try to remain silent more often than to speak. This position further retards their mental development. According to scientific research, with bradylalia, not only external, but also internal speech has a slow pace.
Stuttering has a wide clinical picture. It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Convulsions of all parts of the articulatory apparatus.
- Accompanying movements of the muscles of the face, neck, arms and legs - squinting, stomping, clenching fists, frequent blinking.
- Speech tricks - all kinds of “uh”, “well”. “so”, “here”, etc.
- Fear of speech, fear of pronouncing individual sounds and words.
- Increased stuttering when communicating with unfamiliar people.
Intonation
It is not for nothing that in the Russian language there are so many different definitions applied to this characteristic of speech. Intonations can be “capricious”, “bored”, “hysterical”, “ingratiating”. The maximum amount of information can be obtained by carefully listening to the tone in which the interlocutor speaks to us.
No other characteristic of speech is so revealing! It is intonation that gives us the opportunity to recognize the character of the person with whom we communicate.
In order to understand who we are dealing with, it is enough to choose an exact definition of the tone that our communication partner most often uses.
Capricious intonations are characteristic of people accustomed to comfort and satisfaction of any of their needs; ingratiating ones - unsure of themselves; whiny - irresponsible. An imperative tone is a sign of arrogance and power, an arrogant tone is a sign of narcissism. You can continue this list yourself, based on your own observations.
Conversation intonations
In addition, it is worth considering that the perception of our words by others directly depends on what intonation we use. A harmless phrase uttered arrogantly and disrespectfully can take on an offensive sound and cause conflict. And even the most unthinkable request, expressed in the right tone, will be fulfilled. Therefore, we can avoid misunderstanding, inadequacy and unnecessary tension in relationships if we learn to first monitor the intonations we use, and then consciously select the appropriate tone of speech for the situation.
Examination of children with violations of the tempo and rhythm of speech
If parents suspect that their child has disturbances in the tempo and rhythm of speech, they should consult with a speech therapist at a children's clinic, speech center, school or kindergarten. Sometimes you can hear the erroneous opinion that you should not start correcting speech deficiencies until the child is 5 years old.
This is partly true for uncomplicated cases of sound pronunciation formation, since the speech apparatus has not yet been formed, and sounds can appear on their own. In all other cases, the sooner correction work begins, the more successful it will be.
At the initial visit, the specialist is required to conduct a speech therapy examination. The main directions of this survey:
- Establishing the cause and nature of speech impairment.
- Determining the rate of speech of the child and his parents.
- Diagnosis of basic mental processes (memory, attention, thinking).
- Studying the history of speech development - the appearance of the first words, phrases, the likelihood of parents forcing the child’s speech. Bilingualism in the family.
- Determining the style of family education, attitude towards the child, the presence of conflicts, difficult life situations.
- Collecting anamnesis of the disorder and concomitant pathologies.
- Determination of existing articulation deficiencies.
- Correspondence of the level of speech development of the child to the age norm.
Perhaps some questions may seem unnecessary to parents, but the speech therapist does not ask them out of idle curiosity - there are no trifles in the development and correction of speech disorders, the situation in the family and the presence of psychological problems are very important.
Therapeutic measures
Treatment measures include eliminating the causes of speech dysfunction, as well as corrective work. If a child has a pathology that has caused a change in speech, he is first prescribed a course of treatment. Upon completion of therapy for the underlying disease, the patient is referred to a speech therapist. The speech therapist draws up a plan for speech therapy sessions. Correction is carried out both at home and in educational institutions. The number of classes is determined by the severity of speech disorders.
For bradyllalia, speech therapy classes are aimed at developing a faster pace of conversation and training the articulatory and motor apparatus. The speech therapist teaches the child to write, read, and clearly pronounce phrases and sentences faster. The classes train memory and attention. Outdoor games, skits, and dialogues are actively used, which help accelerate the pace of speech function. A good effect from the correction can be expected after 4 weeks. During a monthly course of therapy, speech speed becomes faster and pronunciation becomes clearer.
Children with slow speech need to conduct independent studies at home and control their conversation.
When treating tachylalia, a speech therapist conducts classes that include breathing training (slow, even), reading, and orderly, calm speech. The specialist teaches the child to work with a team, organizing performances in front of a group of people or children. During classes, they must develop general, auditory attention and train diction. The course of treatment for preschoolers and primary school students is 6-12 months.
It is better to correct tachylalia as early as possible (before 5 years of age), since therapy is less effective during puberty.
Stuttering correction is carried out at home and in the speech therapist's office. Family members need to avoid conflict and speak slowly and clearly. During treatment, it is better to refrain from visiting kindergarten for 2 months, events, and holidays, so as not to excite the patient. The correction course includes physical activity (running, swimming, cycling). During classes, you need to practice counting (count clothespins by attaching them to paper cut out in the shape of a circle), and use silent games. For correction, tongue twisters, gymnastics for the articulation apparatus, and breathing exercises are used.
Causes of speech pathologies
The basis for disturbances in the tempo and rhythm of speech is an incorrect relationship between the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex.
The causes of tachylalia (accelerated speech rate) are:
- The predominance of excitation processes in the cerebral cortex, responsible for the formation of speech.
- Heredity, congenital characteristics of temperament.
- Imitating the fast-talking of others, mistakes in education - such speech is most often found in unbalanced and excitable children.
The causes of bradyllalia (slow speech) can be:
- Dominance of inhibition over excitation in the speech areas of the cerebral cortex.
- This feature of external and internal speech can be inherited.
- Pathology appears as a result of a child’s imitation of incorrect speech patterns from others.
Causes of stuttering can be:
- Unbearable speech load (learning large poems, memorizing texts that are not age appropriate, memorizing difficult and obscure words).
- Frequent punishment of children, sudden and severe fear, mental trauma due to improper upbringing.
- Excessively accelerated speech due to imitation of family members, getting stuck on individual sounds during speech;
- Traumatic brain injuries, neuroinfections.
The main factors provoking pathology of speech development are congenital or acquired weakness of the nervous system and a decrease in its stability.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of speech dysfunction (tachylalia, bradylalia, stuttering) includes identifying the cause of the disease. The child is referred to a neurologist. The neurologist conducts an examination, collects anamnestic data (speech function of relatives, pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth), prescribes an examination (electroencephalogram, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound examination of blood vessels and other techniques). If there are mental traumas that contribute to the occurrence of stuttering, the patient is referred to a psychologist. After the examination is completed, a speech therapist works with the child by specialized specialists.
The speech therapist also collects anamnestic data on the speech characteristics of relatives, looks at the examination results, and conducts a speech therapy study. The specialist determines the state of the child’s motor activity (general, speech), evaluates speech function (quality of pronunciation of sounds), rate of speech: fast, slow, stuttering. It is also important for a speech therapist to know the state of the articulatory apparatus and facial muscles. If the child can write and read, the specialist assesses the state of writing and reading (speed, correctness of words, presence of pauses in sentences, presence of stuttering, hesitation during reading, speed and correctness of writing words and sentences). At the end of the examination, the speech therapist draws up a speech therapy report.
What should parents do if their child has a speech disorder?
You should not try to correct this pathology through prohibitions and shouts like “Come on, stop making faces, speak correctly now.” Since these disorders are closely related to the state of the nervous system, you should try to create a calm atmosphere in the family, try to adjust communication with the child, and establish a trusting relationship.
Correction of speech disorders should be carried out by a qualified speech therapist. It is advisable to consult with a neurologist, psychotherapist, or psychologist who works with children with developmental disabilities before starting classes. You will have to be prepared for the fact that the cycle of correctional classes will be long - several months, perhaps several years.
If there are people in the family with speech impairments, you need to work on correcting it. It is advisable for the child to hear calm, quiet speech around him at a leisurely pace for imitation. It is necessary to celebrate any, even the smallest, successes of the child, convince him that the defect can be overcome, and encourage him.
To strengthen the child’s nervous system, it is advisable to carry out general strengthening measures:
- Hardening.
- Doing feasible sports.
- Taking vitamin complexes, a large amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet.
- Maintaining a daily routine.
- Optimization of teaching load.
- As recommended by your doctor, take antipsychotics.
Compliance with such recommendations will lead to the correction of speech disorders.
Manner of speaking
- People who are ready to sacrifice their own interests in order to earn the affection of those around them usually speak softly and quietly.
- An overly self-confident person speaks loudly and harshly, sharply and shrilly. He overestimates himself and his own abilities, so what he says is often at odds with reality.
- Conceited people speak clearly, assertively, with pressure, sometimes in chopped words. They are arrogant and selfish, demanding recognition and respect from the people around them.
- A person who prefers to live in the world of his own fantasies, where he is successful and significant, speaks quickly, indistinctly, hastily, uncollectively. He always remains a child who believes that one day everything will be different and his dreams will come true.
- Loud and clear speech is characteristic of energetic people.
- Words spoken loudly and quickly are usually perceived as a direct threat.
- A person begins to speak softly and quickly in a state of inspiration.
- A soft and clear manner of speaking indicates a person’s caution and prudence.
- A person who feels the need for security speaks softly and slowly.
- A person who is characterized by a fear of failure speaks quietly and indistinctly.
Manner of conversation
Based on all this, certain conclusions can be drawn about a person. About his character, demeanor and reliability. That’s why it’s so important to pay special attention to the delivery of your speech.
It should be noted that all of the above characteristics of speech are amenable to conscious regulation, which means they can be used as a tool of manipulation.
We can achieve our goals more successfully by learning to control our own speech. But we shouldn’t forget that the people around us can also use it. Therefore, hasty conclusions drawn on the basis of a limited amount of information may be erroneous. Only long-term and careful observation can enable us to correctly determine with whom we are dealing.
