Digital tablets and smart phones are growing numbers of children with serious speech problem. Many children are starved of conversation with their family because they spend so much time on electronic devices. Children are been exposed to television, tablets, smart phones at their early ages from birth with decrease speech language stimulation . Speech language stimulation from birth is important in children for development of speech, language social, emotional development. At birth babies communicate their needs through crying and facial expression. As they get older, children develop friendships with other children through talking and playing together. They learn about their world by listening to other children and adults and by talking about what they see and what they are doing.
Children with good speech, language and communication skills find it easier to learn in school and develop friendships. Children who have developed good speaking and listening skills often find it easier to learn to read and write. Parents rely on tech devices to entertain their kids instead of direct conversation, reading and games. Parents of twins age 3 yrs found behavioural changes in their kids after been veined out of these gadgets. These children were exposed to television whole day till their parents came from work at 8pm by the maids and later father used to entertain them with laptops. As these gadgets were taken away from them these children did not know how to behave and how to spend time resulting in losing temper, yelling shouting and self injurious behaviour and would tend to remain aloof. Schools also reported rising numbers of children arriving with “obvious speech delays”, including the inability to sound out vowels and poor language skills. Some also needed speech and language therapy. “Technology is incredibly useful but I am alarmed at telivision, iPads and iPhones being used to pacify kids — to just shut them up. “People are so plugged in all the time — babies in strollers and people in restaurants who order food and bring out the devices. No one talks.” Instead of avoiding these gadgets children can be exposed to these smart phones after 5 years of age. According to research most of the physical, mental, emotional, speech & language development is completed upto 5 years of age. The children may be exposed to these devices but not more then 15 to 20 minutes. Nutan Korgaonkar (Audiologist & Speech Language Pathologist)
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