ENHANCING SPEECH DEVELOPMENT IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH MOTOR ACTIVITY

In working with children who have speech disorders, a notable delay in motor function development is often observed. This delay manifests through a lack of coordination, imprecision in movement execution, motor clumsiness, a slower pace of movements, and compromised fluidity and range during exercises, whether demonstrated or instructed verbally. These children typically face challenges in mastering self-care skills, and their coordination of hand movements along with visual control (hand-eye coordination) is significantly compromised. Moreover, their motor memory appears diminished. An examination of the medical histories (anamnesis) of children with speech pathologies reveals that signs of atypical motor development can be seen from a very early age. For instance, milestones such as holding up their head, sitting, standing, and other physical activities such as climbing, walking, and jumping are achieved later than expected. Frequently, these children also exhibit signs of being physically frail, having low endurance, and experiencing rapid fatigue.