How Does Motor Development Influence Speech Development in Children?

A child’s early years are filled with developmental milestones, from sitting up and crawling to walking and talking. While motor skills are crucial for a child's independence, they may also provide valuable insights into the development of speech. But how exactly are these physical and linguistic abilities related? Recent research suggests that cognitive development is intricately linked with both gross motor skills, such as walking, and fine motor skills, such as writing. The connection between these skills and cognitive abilities may be even more profound and interdependent than previously understood.

Early Speech Development

Speech development in children is a complex journey, progressing from cooing and babbling to forming words, sentences, and eventually engaging in conversations. Research indicates that changes in a child's motor actions often precede language milestones. For example, before reaching a new language milestone, children typically exhibit frequent arm movements such as shaking or waving. Interestingly, these motor actions tend to diminish after a few weeks. This close correlation between motor actions and language milestones suggests that both are developing in tandem.

In Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), children have language and communication problems and often also show difficulties in motor skills. Although children develop at different rates, this suggests that poor early motor skills could be one factor affecting the development of language difficulties, particularly for those at risk of developing ASD.

Postural Control

Postural control, also known as postural stability, is a child's ability to maintain an upright posture against gravity and ensure balance in relation to their environment and the task they are performing. Poor postural control can lead to difficulties with distal skills. Children need to maintain an upright posture before they can effectively participate in a distal skills task like writing.

It is often overlooked that for children to have clear speech, they also need good trunk control. Postural control is necessary for the coordination of the articulators (jaw, lips, and tongue) for speech. W-sitting, with knees turned out and feet on either side of the hips, is an example of a toddler sitting position that requires minimal effort but can lead to postural weakness. Other examples may include lying down while playing, leaning over onto a table for support, walking with a wide base of support, or increased wiggliness when sitting still. When there’s an issue with postural support due to core muscle weakness or primitive reflexes, a child’s speech is affected.

Facilitating Speech Through Movement

Incorporating movement into activities stimulates both the vestibular and auditory systems, as these two senses are interconnected. Studies show that stimulation of the vestibular system through movement can enhance spontaneous speech production and auditory recall. This can be achieved by integrating speech activities with movement, which may encompass gross motor skills, fine motor skills, oral motor skills, balance, hand-eye coordination, or cross-lateral movements. Examples of fun movement activities that can be paired with speech are sensory bins, scooter boards, slides, trampolines, ball pits, obstacle courses, yoga, and exercise balls.

Sources:

Early motor skills may affect language development (theconversation.com) Ebert, C. (2018, April 18). Sensory Integration & Speech Delays. Retrieved from seminar.