Lost Voice

Communication orally or written is vital and arguably the most significant skill to have as human beings, but imagine struggling with this form of expression. This is the case for many children in Canada. Amongst the young population in Ontario, there has been a rise of speech impediments caused by many factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

What are speech impediments?
Speech impediments are any condition that influences an individual’s ability to produce sounds that make words (Speech Disorders in Children). This can be caused by chronic throat infections, underdeveloped vocal cords, vocal abuse (persistent yelling, screaming, crying, etc), hearing loss, autism and other medical conditions. Examples of speech impediments include lisps, stuttering, apraxia, etc (Eske).
Factors that affect speech impediments and delays in speech:
An increasing amount of children have developed speech disorders caused by increased screen time, especially during the pandemic. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends no screen time for children under 2 years of age and limited screen time for children aged 2-5 years. However, a recent study conducted by Western University found that children spent nearly three times the recommended time on screens during the pandemic. Other research indicates that for every 30-minute increase in screen time, the risk of developing language delay increases by 49% (Fehr).

How many children in Ontario are affected by speech impediments?
A study conducted in 2022 by Komodo Health organization found a 110% increase in speech impediments among children from 0-12 years compared to the pre-pandemic era in North America (Fitch).
How does having a speech impediment affect the children?
Having a speech impediment negatively impacts children's learning and social development. Children may experience more bullying, and negative social interactions reducing quality of life (Edelmam). A research study conducted by The University of Western Australia found that 70% - 80% of late-talking toddlers outgrow language delay if it is expressive delay only (ie. only spoken language, no delays in comprehension and/or social use of language) however the 20%-30% will not catch up to their peers. The children that fall into the 20-30% category often continue to have language difficulties as well as difficulty reading and writing when they get to school (A Closer Look at the Late Talker Study). Having a speech impediment also poses a threat to forming relationships as it affects the individual’s ability to communicate and build relationships as well as express feelings when speaking. It can also be very isolating when untreated, which may make individuals feel shame, embarrassment, frustration, anger and/or depression (Howes).
“It was difficult. I couldn't read or write properly at school, and now sometimes people make fun of the way I speak, calling me a baby,” said a child with a speech sound disorder.
What are the mental and physical long term effects of having a speech impediment?
As adults, quality of life is not affected if as a child they had overcome their speech impediment. However, individuals with a history of speech disorders may experience long-term difficulties in mental health, social well-being, self-esteem, confidence and serious academic achievements. (Langbecker et al).
Early intervention resources for speech impediments
Providing children with the treatment they require will not only improve their speech impediment, but also better their quality of life. The earlier a child with a speech disorder receives treatment, results in a better outcome for the child. Whereas untreated speech delay can remain in 40%-60% of children, with these children at a greater risk of social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive issues in adulthood. Children with speech impediments oftentimes have late diagnosis and intervention for speech delay, as parents choose to “wait-and-watch”. However, this is proven to have far worse outcomes for the child's future (Sunderajan & Kanhere).
In Ontario, the Ministry of Children and Youth has recognized the urgency by significantly increasing the funding for speech and language services to decrease the age of referral to age two and to ensure that every child arrives at school ready and able to learn (A Closer Look at the Late Talker Study).
However, public-provided aid is still lacking in Ontario. In Ontario, there are almost 100,000 children who face long wait times for these publicly funded services, this puts many at risk of lifelong issues such as communication and literacy concerns. This can also be attributed to the change of the system in 2019 when the government opted for a private system. There is also a shortage of speech-language pathologists and pediatricians that can treat and diagnose children which also contributes to the late intervention (Weeks).
A certified speech pathologist has stated, “when it comes to schools and speech sound disorders the system is backlogged and in that area, I believe everyone is suffering, both high-need and low-need children because they (the school board) don’t have the resources to get everyone seen as soon as they should be seen”.

Next Steps
To ensure all children are being provided with the care they require, early diagnosis and prevention measures should be taken with teachers as well as caregivers. Bringing more awareness to this issue can help identify the issues in the system to bring a better, brighter education and future for these children.