Signs of Speech Delay: When to Seek Help for Your Child

Early development is a foundational period in a child’s life to ensure healthy growth and maturation. Speech and language learning are key components during this development process, and delays in these areas can negatively impact a child’s communication, interactions, and overall learning.

This article provides valuable information regarding speech delay, including detection, signs, and understanding when to seek professional help to manage this concern.

Understanding Speech Delay

Speech delay refers to the delay of developmental milestones of a child’s verbal communication at the average, expected age. Unlike speech disorders, which involve atypical language development and difficulties in understanding language, speech delay is slower language learning skills than other peers.

While speech skills develop at different ages and rates, the general developmental milestones, which refer to skills most children typically acquire at certain ages, include the following:

1.      By 12 Months

• Children usually use gestures like waving goodbye and shaking their heads to refuse.
• They respond to their name.
• They communicate in some way when needing help.

2.      By 15 Months

• Children usually respond to words like “up” or “no.”
• They point to objects when asked about the location of something.

3.      By 18 Months

• Children usually understand simple orders like “Don’t touch.”
• They should use at least 20 words, including “Mama” or “Dada.”
• They respond with a word or gesture when asked about something, such as “Where’s your head?” or “Who’s that?”

4.      By 24 Months

• Children usually use up to 100 words.
• They can join two words, like “Daddy go.”
• They imitate actions and words.
• They play with toys, such as a toy man driving a toy car.

5.      By 30 Months

• Children usually use up to 300 words.
• They use action words, such as “eat”, “run,” and “fall.”
• They begin to use simple grammar, like plural nouns, such as “two cars.”

6.      By 3-4 Years

• Children frequently ask questions.
• They use phrases, like “I don’t want to eat” and “My toy is broken”.
• They can tell a simple story about their day or feelings.

Any delay in one or more of the previous developmental milestones may indicate a speech delay that requires professional evaluation.

Signs of Speech Delay

While speech development varies among children, some crucial signs of speech delay may need further assessment and consideration. These signs include the following:

1.      Limited Vocabulary

It is often the first noticeable sign of speech delay, where a child uses fewer words than other children of the same age.

2.      Difficulty Combining Words

Children with a speech delay cannot combine words to form simple sentences, such as “More milk.”

3.      Limited Understanding of Language

A child who has difficulty understanding simple commands, like “Come here” or “Don’t touch”, or does not respond to their name, may have a speech delay.

Additionally, by age 2, parents should understand about 50% of the child’s speech and about 75% by age 3. Otherwise, the child may need professional attention.

4.      Pronunciation Issues

Children may normally have pronunciation issues, however, persistently mispronouncing words that alter the ability to be understood is concerning.

5.      Lack of Social Interaction

Social interaction is as important as verbal communication. If a child avoids eye contact and does not show responses to simple games like “peek-a-boo” can indicate having a speech delay.

When to Seek Help

Early detection of signs of speech delay is essential to ensure a child’s normal development and overall health. Some children may resolve this issue spontaneously without intervention. However, others may require referral to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who can effectively diagnose and treat this condition, offering comprehensive approaches and guidance to caregivers on how to support their child with speech delay and develop effective communication skills.

References

1. https://wohum.org/recognizing-developmental-delays-in-children-key-signs-to-watch-for/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrKu2BhDkARIsAD7GBouZG2llDiKlCaj2z2v2ptASS9Q_wibRA8N3i77S3e40–GDZwEGs6EaAhcCEALw_wcB
2. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/not-talk.html
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/language-delay
4. https://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/When-You-Are-Concerned/Warning-Signs.aspx
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6559061/

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