When children do not reach the anticipated developmental milestones in the areas of speech and language, this is known as delayed talking. Delays could occur in the acquisition of speech vocabulary, sounds, or sentence construction.
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Although children grow and learn at their own rate, teachers look for signs of progress toward specific language milestones to see if their students are on track.
Here are 9 ways to help a child with delay in talking.
Creating an environment that encourages communication, being patient, and offering words of encouragement are all ways to help a child who is experiencing a speech delay. Here are a few realistic approaches
1. Encouraging Social Communication
Social interactions encourage the development of expressive language skills. This can be achieved via play; you can set up get-togethers with other kids, such as group activities or playdates. Social interactions will also build social skills in your child.
2. Limiting Screen Time
Social interaction, which is essential for speech development, is achievable through limiting screen time. Instead, focus on in-person interactions and recreation moments.
3. Use Sign Languages and Gestures
Introduce rudimentary sign language or simple gestures to supplement spoken words. As a result, children can improve communication and their language skills through repeated gestures while interacting with those close to them.
4. Using Repetition
Use the same words over and over, particularly when naming things, people, or actions that you know. The youngster gains comprehension and, with practice, attempts to articulate the words.
5. Offer Choices
Asking, “Would you rather have the book or ball?” is one way to give children agency and promote dialogue. This teaches children that words and gestures are more effective decision-making tools.
6. Model Right Speech
Don’t correct a child’s speech out loud. Instead, show someone a good example of how to say the term correctly.
7. Encourage Communication
Use simple verbs like “let’s put on socks” or “we’re washing our face” to describe actions and help children learn new words.
Pick out picture books that they can interact with by mimicking sounds or pointing to things.
Carry on a consistent dialogue regardless of their response rate. Make use of straightforward language.
8. Play Games and Sing Songs
A child can learn to make various sounds by mimicking the sounds of animals or other objects.
Play games, sing songs, and use nursery rhymes that have repetitive actions, words, and sounds. This way, they learn to connect sounds with meaning.
9. Consult an Expert
Seeking the advice of a speech-language pathologist can offer individualized assistance if the difficulty continues or is substantial. Resolving the delay as soon as possible is highly recommended.
12 Causes of Speech Delay
Causes of speech delay in children can range from common developmental differences to more complex issues related to the brain, medicine, or the environment. The following are some common reasons:
Premature birth
Delays in speech and language development are among the developmental delays that may affect children who are born prematurely.
Psychosocial factors
Temperament or anxiety may make some kids nervous when speaking in public. Help your child deal with anxiety by instilling confidence before a speaking engagement.
Hearing difficulties
Children learn to speak through sound, so having trouble hearing can cause them to have delayed speech development. Ear infections or birth-present hearing loss can exacerbate this.
Neurological disorders
Neurological issues that affect motor control or cognitive functions can cause speech delays.
Autism spectrum disorder
Children with the condition have trouble interacting socially and developing their language skills. They may have delayed speech or irregular patterns of communication.
Speech and language disorders
Neurological problems frequently cause muscle control issues, such as dysarthria, which can impact speech intelligibility.
Apraxia, a motor speech disease, is defined as the brain’s inability to properly coordinate the motor motions required for speech.
Environmental factors
Delays in speech and language development can occur as a result of inadequate care, neglect, or emotional trauma.
Delays in speech development may occur in children whose environments are devoid of linguistic diversity or who have few interactions with adults.
Bilingualism
Children who hear many languages spoken at once may take longer to begin speaking. This is because they are learning new norms for each language at the same time.
Cognitive or intellectual disabilities
Intellectually disabled children may experience slower cognitive development, which can lead to delays in speech development.
Genetic conditions
In children with Down syndrome, structural issues and intellectual impairments with the mouth and throat contribute to speech delays.
Growing variations
While some children may experience delays in speech development, they are able to catch up on their own time.
Oral-motor issues
Children who have a cleft palate, tongue-tie, or other birth defects may experience physical difficulties in word formation.
Signs of Speech Delay in Children
The severity of speech delay in children might vary; however, there are certain common signs:
By 12 months:
- Reacts slowly or not at all when addressed by name.
- Hand gestures and other nonverbal cues are used very little or not at all.
- Very little effort is put into making babble sound like “ma-ma” or “da-da.”
By 18 months:
- It appears that the child is having difficulty understanding the words “bye-bye” and “no.”
- Has difficulty imitating other people’s words or voices.
- You have a vocabulary of less than ten words or none at all.
By 24 months:
- Even simple sentences like “go outside” or “more milk” lack coherence when combined.
- People are not following simple commands like “give me the pen” or “go there.”
- The child has a much lower vocabulary compared to their mates, or they have difficulty combining words.
Other general signs:
- Echolalia, in which one speaks out loud rather than answering appropriately, is a common symptom.
- Without the typical intonation for their age, the child’s speech may sound robotic or flat.
- When the child is attempting to communicate but has difficulty, they may appear angry or irritated.
When it comes to helping children overcome speech problems, early detection and intervention, like speech therapy, are usually crucial. If you suspect a delay, we recommend visiting a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist for an evaluation.
Conclusion
A speech delay may not necessarily indicate a problem because children develop at different rates. It may be beneficial to seek the advice of a pediatrician or speech therapist if a child exhibits more than one symptom or if the delay is occurring alongside other developmental concerns.