What is Speech and language delay ?
A speech and language delay is when a child isn’t developing speech and language at an expected rate. It’s a common developmental problem that affects as many as 10% of preschool children.
Speech and language delay means that a child is not able to use words or other forms of communication at the expected ages. Language delays include problems understanding what is heard or read. There can also be problems putting words together to form meaning.
Your child may have a language delay if they don’t meet the language developmental milestones for their age. Their language abilities may be developing at a slower rate than most children’s. They may have trouble expressing themselves or understanding others. Their delay may involve a combination of hearing, speech, and cognitive impairments.
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A child with a language delay might say words well but only be able to put two words together. A child with a speech delay might use words and phrases to express ideas but be hard to understand.
Symptoms
If your child has a language delay, they won’t reach language milestones at the typical age. Their specific symptoms and missed milestones depend on their age and the nature of their language delay.
Common symptoms of a language delay include:
by 12 months: isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving bye-bye
by 18 months: prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate
by 18 months: has trouble imitating sounds
has trouble understanding simple verbal requests
by 2 years: can only imitate speech or actions and doesn't produce words or phrases spontaneously
by 2 years: says only some sounds or words repeatedly and can't use oral language to . . communicate more than their immediate needs
by 2 years: can't follow simple directions
by 2 years: has an unusual tone of voice (such as raspy or nasal sounding)
by 3 years: inability to speak in short sentences
Causes
Language delays in children have many possible causes. In some instances, more than one factor contributes to a language delay. Some common causes include the following:
Hearing impairment: It’s common for children who have a hearing impairment to have a language impairment as well. If they can’t hear language, learning to communicate can be difficult.
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Autism: While not all children with autism have language delays, autism frequently affects communication.
Intellectual disability: A variety of intellectual disabilities can cause language delays. For instance,
dyslexia and other learning disabilities lead to language delays in some cases.
Several psychosocial issues: These can cause language delays, as well. For example, severe neglect can lead to problems with language development.
Treatment
After diagnosis, your child’s treatment plan will likely involve speech and language therapy. A licensed speech-language pathologist will complete an evaluation to determine the types of problems that your child is facing. This information will help them develop and implement a treatment plan.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech therapy is an intervention service that focuses on improving a child's speech and abilities to understand and express language, including nonverbal language.
Speech therapists, or speech and language pathologists (SLPs), are the professionals who provide these services. Speech therapy includes two components:
1) coordinating the mouth to produce sounds to form words and sentences to address articulation, fluency, and voice volume regulation); and
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2) understanding and expressing language (to address the use of language through written, pictorial, body, and sign forms, and the use of language through alternative communication systems such as social media, computers etc.).
In addition, the role of SLPs in treating swallowing disorders has broadened to include all aspects of feeding.
