
TODDLER LANGUAGE DELAYS
Written by Feba Maryann
Linguistic development in toddlers vary considerably, even within the same family. However, you need to look out for certain milestones that need to be hit within a certain age group.
What Is A Language Delay?
Normally, children follow a natural progression of acquiring a language, even if it’s not explicitly taught to them. They pick it up when they are exposed to language and social interaction. A speech delay happens when the child’s development progresses at a slower rate than other children of the same age. The child might not be able to comprehend or use a language. Environmental and genetic influences can affect language development.
Here are some difficulties that are faced by children with linguistic delays:
- Unable to form sentences
- Not able to understand words or sentences
- Learning new words
- Can’t answer questions
- Low attention spam
- Poor memory
- Difficulties interacting with other kids their age
- Unable to express themselves through language
- Incorrect grammar
- Difficulty in understanding what’s being said to them
- Uses actions and sounds instead of speech to get their message across
Speech Development Over Time
Even if children develop at their own rates, here’s a typical pattern of speech development:
1 – 3 months:
Cries
4 – 6 months:
laughs, squeals, sighs, grunts
6 – 9 months:
Imitates sounds, starts syllables
12 months:
First words, uses gestures and sounds to express what they want
18 months – 2 years:
Vocabulary of 50 words, combines two or more words together, understands simple questions and instructions
By two years, children start showing evident sings of language delay. Many kids will catch up as they get older, but some will still have the same difficulties.
2 – 3 years:
Your child will be able to combine longer sentences. They will also comprehend longer questions and instructions. They can identify common pictures and objects and use pronouns. Your child will also begin to start asking questions.
4 – 5 years:
Abstract and complex conversations
5 years:
By this time, children usually have a vocabulary of 2500 words. They will be able to talk in structured, grammatically correct sentences.
What’s The Difference Between Speech Disorders, Developmental Language Disorders And Language Delays?
These three terms are commonly mistaken for the same thing, that’s why it’s important for you to understand the difference between them.
If a child suffers from a speech disorder, they will find it challenging to pronounce the sounds in words. This makes it hard for us to understand what they are trying to express. Children with a speech disorder can form and understand sentences but will have difficulty in pronouncing words.
A language delay might be a sign of a developmental language disorder. These children will have difficulty speaking or understanding other people.
Children raised in bilingual families might progress at a slower rate compared to other kids their age. This shouldn’t be classified as a language delay.
Where Do You Get Help?
If you’re concerned about your child’s language development, you need to get help right away.
If you feel like your child isn’t able to understand or use language, consider visiting a speech pathologist. They can use language tests to analyse how your child responds to questions or commands and uses words.
If you feel like your child might have trouble hearing, consult an audiologist to get your child’s ears checked. A hearing impairment could also affect your child’s communication skills.
You could also talk to your kid’s teachers, a family health nurse or your doctor if you’re still worried.
Management Strategies For Children With Language Delays
If your child gets diagnosed with a speech disorder, your doctor might refer group programs that build language skills. You can also adopt certain strategies to help your child communicate. Give your child time to initiate a conversation. Always encourage the efforts they take to convey their feelings and wishes. Here are a few ideas you could implement:
- Use simple language while you interact with your child
- Use activities to motivate your child to learn
- Build a personalised plan with language goals to boost your child’s language development.
- Expose your child to diverse surroundings
- Use visuals like picture books to supplement auditory learning
- You could also use speech therapy to support your child with language delays
In some cases, delay in language skills can be indicators of development disorders like ASD, hearing impairments or intellectual disabilities. If your doctor doesn’t take your concerns seriously, you just need to trust your gut instinct and get a second opinion. After all, you know your child better than anybody else.