Speech Delays in Children

Parents want their children to develop in a healthy and normal manner. Unfortunately, no matter how hard a parent may try, some children do not meet developmental milestones like their peers of the same age. There are several different types of developmental delays in children. A developmental delay is diagnosed when a child does not reach normal developmental milestones at the expected age. In this article, we will explore the developmental delay of speech in children.

What is a Speech Delay? What is a Language Delay?

Speech delay and language delay can be easily confused but they are different. A child who has a language delay articulates words well but has trouble putting words together. A child with a speech delay struggles to articulate words.

What are the Signs of a Speech Delay?

Since kids develop at different paces it may be difficult to identify a speech delay. It is important to pay attention to see if your child is hitting their developmental milestones by the recommended age. This is another reason why attending regularly scheduled appointments with your child’s pediatrician is recommended. Nemours KidsHealth recommends watching for the following milestones and signs of a speech delay in your child:

By 12 months a child should be using gestures such as pointing or waving
By 18 months a child should prefer using vocalization in order to communicate, should be imitating sounds, understanding simple verbal requests, and have about 50 words in their vocabulary
By 2 years old a child should be producing words spontaneously, should be using oral language to communicate, following simple directions, and have about 100 words in their vocabulary

What Causes a Speech Delay?

The specific cause of a speech delay cannot always be found but some possible causes include an oral impairment or abnormality, oral-motor issues, hearing problems, and ear infections.

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Child Has a Speech Delay?

Contact your pediatrician if you believe that your child may have a speech delay or is not reaching their developmental milestones at the expected age. They will do a physical exam to see if a medical issue is causing the speech delay and likely recommend seeing a speech-language pathologist. These specialists are experts in speech and language development. They will be able to perform speech and language testing, make recommendations, and provide speech therapy.