Speech Delay

As children grow, there are certain milestones parents look forward to, such as crawling, walking, and speaking. By their first birthday, most children know a word or two; at 18 months, their vocabulary should consist of five to twenty words and include simple two-word sentences. But these are rough guidelines. Every child progresses at a different pace.

Approximately one out of every four children experiences a speech delay, and most eventually catch up without any sort of intervention.

Still, it’s best to bring up any concerns with your child’s doctor. If there is a language disorder or developmental problem, early treatment is key to preventing learning problems down the road.

What Are The Reasons for a Speech Delay?

A variety of factors can lead to delayed speech and language skills. These include:

Heredity
Hearing loss
Oral anatomy (problems with the tongue or soft palate)
Dysarthria (a disorder involving the muscles that control speech)
Exposure to multiple languages
Neurological disorders such as autism, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
Learning disabilities
Auditory processing disorders
Premature birth
Environmental deprivation

If your child’s doctor cannot rule out a speech delay, a speech-language pathologist should be consulted for a full evaluation. This involves a series of tests that will be used to assess your child’s receptive language and expressive language skills, sound development, speech clarity, and oral-motor skills. Speech therapy may be recommended to help your child develop the skills necessary for effective communication.

What Can Parents Do?

Both heredity and environment play a role in speech development. As a parent, there are steps you can take to assist your child with speech development. Communicate often (talk and sing), encourage verbal interaction whenever possible, and read to your child starting at a young age.

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Boynton Beach

Jupiter

Speech Delay

What Are The Reasons for a Speech Delay?

What Can Parents Do?

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