Ray Hull, professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders in audiology/neurosciences at Wichita State, has spent years educating audiences on how to talk to young children. He has performed research, published numerous papers and articles and spoken worldwide on the topic.
And he says the bottom line is adults need to slow down their rate of speech when talking to young children. This is so a young child鈥檚 developing central nervous system (the auditory portions of the brain) is given the time necessary to process what is heard.
Many young children may find it difficult to understand adults because they speak too quickly for children鈥檚 normally developing central nervous system to comprehend. Often children are blamed for not listening or are misdiagnosed with a hearing or language deficit, but in reality they cannot process what is being said.
Hull says the central nervous system of a child preschool age to third grade can process speech and language with a fair degree of accuracy at a rate of approximately 120 words per minute. Hull鈥檚 research with parents and teachers found that most average between 160 to 180 words per minute.
"A child's developing central nervous system is simply not agile enough to process speech that quickly," says Hull. "It's just not designed to do it."
Talking at a slower pace is a good tactic for parents, teachers, physicians and anybody who works with children, Hull says. By speaking at a rate children can comprehend, adults may prevent possible misdiagnoses of auditory processing problems, or language learning disorders.
Hull says each time he presents on this topic he receives a surprised response from his audience.
鈥淭his is new information to most people,鈥� says Hull. 鈥淎fter almost every presentation, I receive emails from people around the world wanting to know more.鈥�
With the new school year approaching, now is a good time for teachers to practice talking more slowly. He suggests the late Fred Rogers, star of the classic children鈥檚 show Mister Rogers鈥� Neighborhood, as a good example.
鈥淔red Rogers spoke at a rate of around 124 words per minute on his television show, which is the perfect rate for the young developing central nervous system,鈥� says Hull. 鈥淗e may have been one of the only adults young children could understand without difficulty.鈥�
Hull suggests practicing mimicking his rate of speech until it becomes a habit.
Speaking at a slower pace is beneficial when talking to aging adults as well. When people reach around age 40, as time goes by, their central nervous system gradually slows in its ability to process the rapid speech of most adults.
鈥淎 human鈥檚 central nervous system reaches its peak in their early 20s,鈥� says Hull. 鈥淭hings like being mentally active can help slow down the decline.鈥�
Hull says slowing down is a good approach in everyday conversation. It enhances articulation and voicing, and we begin to speak naturally with greater clarity.
鈥淭he next time you鈥檙e talking to someone, remind yourself to slow down. Your listener will thank you,鈥� he says.