Symptom 3: The Prolonged Pause – A Unique DVD Characteristic
Within the landscape of speech, pauses can sometimes speak louder than words. This holds especially true for children grappling with Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD). You might have observed your child taking unusually long pauses between words or syllables. This seemingly small sign could be a crucial symptom indicating the presence of DVD.
A normal conversation, filled with a healthy mix of words and silence, flows like a well-choreographed dance. However, the rhythm of speech for a child with DVD may stumble, falter, and pause, much like an unsteady dancer. These pauses may occur in unusual spots – between syllables of the same word or before a complex word or sound.
A child may want to say “watermelon” but it comes out as “water…melon,” with a noticeable delay. This is because the brain is working overtime to plan and program the speech movements needed for the rest of the word. This symptom is peculiar to DVD, revealing a subtle yet significant clue about the neurological aspect of this speech disorder.
A noteworthy point here is the child’s awareness during these pauses. Unlike a silent thought-filled pause, these children often seem aware and may appear frustrated during these prolonged breaks. They know what they want to say but struggle with how to say it. These frustrating pauses, therefore, bring to light the disconnect between the child’s intent and their speech production ability.
The elongated pause, while easy to overlook, is a distinctive hallmark of DVD. It provides an insight into the child’s internal struggle to coordinate their speech movements. Recognizing this unusual symptom can be a step towards understanding the unique communication challenges faced by children with DVD. (3)
