Speech and language delay is when the child does not develop the speech and language at the expected level. It is a common developmental problem that affects as many as 10% of preschool children.
Now let us understand the symptoms of a speech and language delay:
- Say simple words (such as “mama” or “dada”) either clearly or unclearly by 12 to 15 months of age.
- Understand simple words (such as “no” or “stop”) by 18 months of age.
- Speak in short sentences by 3 years of age.
- Tell them a simple story at 4 to 5 years of age.
Common Causes of Speech and Language Delay
The most common causes of speech delay include:
- hearing problem or loss
- physically & mentally slow development
- intelligent disability
- Other causes include:
- Psychosocial deficiency, where the child doesn’t spend enough time with adults.
- Being a twin.
- A developmental disorder.
- The child just doesn’t want to talk.
- A movement disorder caused by brain damage.
- oral disabilities, such as language or oral problems (the roof of the mouth)
- a short frenulum (the lower part of the tongue), which can slow down the movement of the tongue
- Many children with speech impediments have a mouth problem. This happens when there is a problem in the areas of the brain that are responsible for speaking. This makes it difficult to connect the lips, the tongue and the jaw to make speech sounds. These children may also have other oral problems, such as feeding problems.
- Hearing problems can also affect speech. A hearing specialist should therefore test a child’s hearing whenever there is a speech impediment. Children with hearing impairments may have difficulty speaking, understanding, imitating, and using language.
- Ear infections, especially chronic diseases, can affect hearing. But as long as there is a normal hearing in one ear, speaking and language will grow normally.
Let us look at the Milestones that demonstrate normal speech development:
Age | Language Level |
Birth | Cries |
2-3 months | Coos in response to you, smiles |
6 months | Babbles, turns and looks at new sounds |
8 months | Responds to name, pats self in mirror |
10 months | Shouts to attract attention, says a syllable repeatedly |
12 months | Says 1-2 words; recognizes name; imitates familiar sounds; points to objects |
12-17 months | Understands simple instructions, understands “no,” uses “mama” “dada” |
18 months | Uses names, combine 2 words “all gone,” “bye-bye mama,” uses words “up” “all done” or “more;” knows body parts |
2 years | Says 2-3 word sentences; asks “what’s this” and “where’s my”; identifies body parts, names pictures in book |
2 ½ years | Gives first name; calls self “me” instead of name; combines nouns and verbs; uses short sentences; matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little; likes to hear same story |
3 years | Can tell a story; sentence length of 3-4 words; knows last name, name of street, several nursery rhymes, can sing songs |
4 years | Sentence length of 4-5 words; uses past tense; identifies colors, shapes; asks many questions like “why?” and “who?” Uses following sounds correctly: b, d, f, g, h, m, n, ng, t, w, y |