What effects does Speech Delay have on a childs behavior? The child is
9y9mn and is having some behavioral problems in school. The child also
had severe asthma, ear infections, and other illnesses from 5mn to
8yrs old.

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Request for Question Clarification by missy-ga on 24 May 2002 15:38 PDT

Has it been determined whether or not the ear infections and other
illnesses contributed to the child's delayed speech?

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 24 May 2002 16:27 PDT

Are we discussing a speech delay that is connected with lower than
average intelliegence, or is this a speech delay despite normal
intelligence?

There are many reasons for delays in speech and language development.
Speech delays in an otherwise normally developing child are rarely
caused by oral impairments, such as problems with the tongue or
palate.

However, hearing deficits are commonly related to delayed speech. If a
child has trouble hearing, he may have trouble understanding,
imitating, and using language. Ear infections, especially chronic
infections, can affect hearing ability. That's why it's important for
parents to aggressively pursue treatment of ear infections in babies
and young children. Simple ear infections that have been adequately
treated, though, should have no effect on speech.

A number of children with speech delays have oral-motor problems,
meaning there is inefficient communication in the areas of the brain
responsible for speech production. The child encounters difficulty
using his lips, tongue, and jaw to produce speech sounds. Speech may
be the only problem or may be accompanied by other oral-motor deficits
such as feeding difficulties. A speech delay may also indicate a more
global developmental delay.

Referring to the effects of the speech delay in children there is an
article explaining the educational implications of the speech delay. I
hope it will be very usefull to you:

 EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS

"Because all communication disorders carry the potential to isolate
individuals from their social and educational surroundings, it is
essential to find appropriate timely intervention. While many speech
and language patterns can be called "baby talk" and are part of a
young child's normal development, they can become problems if they are
not outgrown as expected. In this way an initial delay in speech and
language or an initial speech pattern can become a disorder which can
cause difficulties in learning. Because of the way the brain develops,
it is easier to learn language and communication skills before the age
of 5. When children have muscular disorders, hearing problems or
developmental delays, their acquisition of speech, language and
related skills is often affected.

Speech-language pathologists assist children who have communication
disorders in various ways. They provide individual therapy for the
child; consult with the child's teacher about the most effective ways
to facilitate the child's communication in the class setting; and work
closely with the family to develop goals and techniques for effective
therapy in class and at home. Technology can help children whose
physical conditions make communication difficult. The use of
electronic communication systems allow nonspeaking people and people
with severe physical disabilities to engage in the give and take of
shared thought.

Vocabulary and concept growth continues during the years children are
in school. Reading and writing are taught and, as students get older,
the understanding and use of language becomes more complex.
Communication skills are at the heart of the education experience.
Speech and/or language therapy may continue throughout a student's
school year either in the form of direct therapy or on a consultant
basis. The speech-language pathologist may assist vocational teachers
and counselors in establishing communication goals related to the work
experiences of students and suggest strategies that are effective for
the important transition from school to employment and adult life.

Communication has many components. All serve to increase the way
people learn about the world around them, utilize knowledge and
skills, and interact with colleagues, family and friends"

From "SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DISORDERS" 
http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs11txt.htm
NICHCY (National Information Center for Children and Youth with
Disabilities).


At MeritCare page you can read:

"Children with speech and language disorders have communication skills
that are significantly delayed compared to their intellectual
abilities. A majority (85%) of children with speech and language
disorders are boys.
...Children with expressive language disorder have difficulties
translating ideas into words, although they have normal intelligence.
...Children with speech and language disorders often have other
problems, such as difficulty reading and writing. They may also
develop behavior problems if they become frustrated by not being able
to communicate."

http://www.meritcare.com/hwdb/showtopic_childrens.asp?module_abbrev=HWKB3&pd_hwid=hw265529&topic_name=Speech%20and%20language%20disorders&sequence=1&template=childrens


In the American Academy of Family Physicians site there is an article
titled "Evaluation and Management of the Child with Speech Delay" you
can get more usefull info.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990600ap/3121.html


Another links you must check:

"Effects of Hearing Loss"
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
http://www.asha.org/hearing/disorders/effects.cfm


Speech Delay.com
http://www.speechdelay.com/


Search keywords:
speech delay
children disabilities
effects of speech delay

Search engine used:
Google of course.

Thanks for posting this question.
I hope this answer helps you.

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Request for Answer Clarification by micker-ga on 31 May 2002 18:48 PDT

The speech delay was determined to be caused by the ear infections and
the asthma. The child is having problems with taking things that she
wants, but are not hers. She does not seem to understand that she is
"stealing" and "hurting someone by the action'. She also has problems
with physically staying in her seat at school. This is also seen at
home.

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Clarification of Answer by livioflores-ga on 07 Jun 2002 08:27 PDT

Hi micker and excuse me for the delay.

I was looking for more specific data concerning with the behavior of
your child. I am not a doctor, so may be you can understand to me.

I donīt understand your point whenyou say "She also has problems
with physically staying in her seat at school".
If you talk about keeping balance this is related with internal ear
damage.
But if you talk about she demonstrates problem staying seated in a one
place or she has short attention span, this is one symptom of a
communication disorder.
Check the following test:
Warning signals for School aged Children
http://www.cyberus.ca/~oafccd/factshee/fact10.htm

According with the relationship between ear infections and the
children development:
"When a child gets ear infections several times during a year, it is
called recurrent otitis media. A preschool child with recurrent otitis
media frequently experiences a temporary loss of hearing. The loss may
continue for up to six weeks after the ear infection has healed. Such
a hearing loss is described as "mild and fluctuating". But it may be a
major cause of speech and language delay during preschool years.
Communication development is at its peak from twelve months through
four years of age. Fluctuating hearing loss during that time
interferes with learning speech and language. Children who can not
hear clearly may "tune out" everyday sounds - even your voice! If your
child has fluid in the middle ear, similar words may sound the same.
It is not surprising that final consonants, past tense, and plural
word endings are often left off by children with recurrent otitis
media. Since they don't hear these sounds when others talk, they don't
learn how to say them properly.

Children with recurrent otitis media over several months or years may
develop:

Permanent hearing loss if left untreated 
Speech and language loss 
Problems focussing their attention 
Problems with school work 
Poor self esteem or Social problems "

From the article "Ear Infections and Speech and Language Development".
Article based on excerpts from Parent Articles 1, "Otitis Media and
Speech and Language Development," (1988).
http://www.cyberus.ca/~oafccd/factshee/fact24.htm


Your girlīs "staying on her chair" problem suggests me some
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder  (ADHD)

The following article will guide you in this way:
"Diagnosis and Evaluation of the Child With
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder " from the AMERICAN ACADEMY
OF PEDIATRICS
http://www.aap.org/policy/ac0002.html

There is a suggestive paragraph from this article:
"ADHD commonly occurs in association with oppositional defiant
disorder, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety disorder,16 and with
many developmental disorders, such as speech and language delays and
learning disabilities."


You can find more info in the following Ask-to-experts sites:

"Dr Spock" (need register)free
http://www.drspock.com/faq/home/0,1515,,00.html

"BBC Health"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_doctor/submit_question.shtml

"Ask experts"
http://www.pioneercounseling.com/displaylist.asp?atype=3

http://www.wellplace.com/displaylist.asp?atype=3

I hope this clarify my answer, if not let me know.
Regards
livioflores-ga

Dear micker-ga,

speech delay doesn't necessarily have effects on a childs behavior.
But if a child has a disorder, that might have effects on behavior.


General discussion about speech problems:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&threadm=uCxCTo91%23GA.357%40cpmsnbbsa03&rnum=4&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522speech%2Bdelay%2522%2Bsocial%26hl%3Dfi%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF8%26oe%3DUTF8%26selm%3DuCxCTo91%2523GA.357%2540cpmsnbbsa03%26rnum%3D4

Pages about speech delay:
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/speechdelay.html
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990600ap/3121.html

Page about disorders:
http://www.specialchild.com/disorder.html

Hi Micker,

I know this is a little late but hopefully it will help a little. I'm
the mother of 2 children who had Severe Language Delay/Disorders. From
my experience just as a mum and knowing other mums, the behavioural
problems are very common.

My girls used to get very frustrated at school and could never sit
still in their seats mainly because they were bored due to not
understanding what their teacher or peers were saying or because they
had not understood what was expected of them in the classroom.

With little understanding of "cause and effect" it was very easy for
them to behave in a way that was not only troubling for myself and the
school, but also put them at risk.

From what I've learned as a mother the difference between a speech
delay and a communication/language disorder is this.
A speech delay is a general delay in the speech , with the child
having appropiate understanding of the language .
Whereas when it is disordered a child may know the words yet not
understand the meanings of them or the context to use them in .
Sometimes they even make up their own words, blending 2 words
together. And often they rely heavily on gestures, face signals , body
language.

When one area of a childs development is behind or lacking another
often strengthens . One of my children had learned to read the
expressions on our faces so well, not to mention body language that
the speech pathologist literally had to sit on her hands to assess her
without giving away answers to the questions.

I know it is difficult but try not to focus too much on the speech
language alone and look at the your child as a whole. Both of my
children despite all the best recommendations that they would never
improve or would always be language impaired now test normal on all
tests.

 My advice to you is Love your child. There is more power in the love
of a mother than in any amount of therapy (although speech therapy has
its place). Never give up Hope and always believe that your child will
improve - thats the key !
The Researcher gave excellent answers too ! 
Wishing you the best of Luck !