The rise in children suffering from speech and language disorders, particularly in Hanover, Lower Saxony, has become alarming. According to the KKH, or Kaufmännische Krankenkasse, one out of every 12 children was diagnosed with a speech or language disorder in 2022, a considerable increase from 2012's figure of one in 18. The pandemic has significantly contributed to this unfortunate trend, halting language development for many adolescents due to lack of contact with peers and educators.
Children's language struggles manifest in various ways, such as omitting, swapping, or mispronouncing sounds, incorrect sentence structures, and age-inappropriate vocabularies. Stuttering, lisping, and even silence are also not uncommon. Consequently, an increasing number of children have undergone speech therapy in recent years, with KKH policyholders aged 6 to 18 seeing a 59% increase between 2012 and 2022.
Language and speech are essential building blocks for a child's cognitive, social, and emotional development. Communication enables children to express their needs, thoughts, and feelings, to understand the world, and to form meaningful relationships. Despite different developmental paces, it's crucial for parents to promptly identify and address language disorders, as untreated issues can lead to stress, frustration, and feelings of inadequacy. These unaddressed concerns can result in self-isolation or exclusion by peers, potentially impacting future academic and professional achievements.
Vijitha Sanjivkumar, a medical expert from KKH's competence team, remarks, "In many families, there is too little communication with the offspring, even at mealtimes." As a result, young minds are not receiving sufficient stimulation for healthy language development. Guided by this insight, experts advise parents to maximize stimulation opportunities. By reading stories, engaging in role-playing games, singing together, and sharing experiences, parents can foster their children’s language development while fostering a stronger bond.
The pandemic has exacerbated language development issues, as children's limited interactions with their peers and educators halted their natural development. The prolonged use of smartphones, laptops, and other digital media has also contributed to the issue by providing alternative stimulation and often replacing essential face-to-face social interactions.
Although screen time is an attractive diversion for modern-day children, limiting digital use is essential for promoting healthy language development. Parents must consciously prioritize interactions and set boundaries for screen time, ensuring children receive the opportunities and stimulation they need to develop robust language skills.
As unnecessary screen time and communication gaps emerge as major contributors to language development delays among children in Germany, parents are encouraged to foster healthy communication habits at home. By engaging in age-appropriate activities, sharing experiences, and facilitating conversation, people can significantly improve their children's language development and foster a well-rounded, emotionally rich upbringing.
