SloveniaThe number of elementary school students in Slovenia who receive guidance due to speech and language disorders has increased significantly over the past decade, according to data from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth. Previously around 1,000 students were affected, but by the end of last school year, this number had risen to 2,577. Research indicates that 30% of preschool children aged three to six experience speech and language difficulties, though more than half do not attend speech therapy. This increase is not attributed to the growing proportion of children whose first language is not Slovenian, as those who are bilingual are not included in the count if their issues are limited to one language. Factors contributing to the rise include changes in lifestyle, diet, health factors, and excessive screen time. Speech therapists note both biological and environmental causes, such as frequent illnesses leading to ear infections, anatomical differences, and poor family communication. Excessive screen time before age two is discouraged, as it negatively impacts attention span and overall learning ability. Cases like a five-year-old using a bottle and pacifier, a six-year-‐
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data and expert opinions without overtly favoring any political stance. It discusses rising concerns about speech and language disorders among children, attributing them to various factors including lifestyle, health, and technology use, without taking a position on the
