10/25/2024
While many factors contribute to speech and language development, one often overlooked area is the impact of persistent oral habits. These are repetitive behaviors that involve prolonged oral contact with non-nutritive objects like pacifiers, thumbs, or fingers. The most common examples of these are thumb sucking and pacifier use.
While these habits may seem harmless and normal, they can create challenges down the road for our littles. Read on for how these habits can impact developing speech muscles and oral structures in young children:
Tongue Placement: Prolonged sucking prevents the natural resting position of the tongue. This can lead to a tongue thrust, where the tongue pushes forward between the teeth when swallowing or speaking. This can affect articulation, making certain sounds like “s” and “z” unclear.
Lip Closure: Constant contact with foreign objects can interfere with the development of a mature lip seal. This seal is crucial for producing clear and controlled speech sounds like “p,” “b,” and “m.” Without a proper seal, these sounds may be weak or breathy.
Jaw Development: Certain habits, like thumb sucking, can put excessive pressure on the jaw, potentially altering its growth pattern. This can lead to an overbite, open bite, or other malocclusions, which can further impact speech clarity and bite function.
Sensory Processing: Some children use these habits for self-regulation and sensory input. While they may appear soothing, they can actually hinder the development of other sensory pathways that are crucial for speech and language processing.
It’s important to remember that every child develops at their own pace. However, if you notice your child engaging in persistent oral habits beyond the typical developmental stages (around 4 years old), it’s advisable to consult a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Here’s what an SLP can do:
Evaluate your child’s oral habits and their impact on speech and language development.
Provide gentle guidance and strategies to break the habit in a supportive and age-appropriate manner.
Offer exercises and activities to strengthen oral muscles and promote proper tongue placement.
Collaborate with other professionals, like dentists or orthodontists, if necessary.
At Point Speech Pathology we have a decade of experience helping families overcome these habits- get in touch today for a free 10 minute consultation call to see if your child is a good candidate for our Two Thumbs Up Program!
Medical research based on the peer reviewed journal article by Costello and Kanellopoulos Kanellopoulos AK, Costello SE. The effects of prolonged pacifier use on language development in infants and toddlers. Front Psychol. 2024 Feb 20;15:1349323. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349323. PMID: 38445061; PMCID: PMC10912588.
