Thanks to speech, we can not only communicate with other people but also express emotions. That is why mastering this skill is crucial for the development of every child. Most toddlers acquire new words with ease. Unfortunately, for some, this process is slower and requires appropriate support. What is a speech development delay, and what should you do if it is confirmed in your child by a specialist?
How can you tell if there is a speech development delay?
When you suspect a speech development delay in your child, consult a pediatric speech therapist. It happens that toddlers have a very limited vocabulary or have trouble with the correct articulation of words. A specialist will assess whether there is a speech development delay, taking into account the young person's skills, their age, and the language abilities of their peers. It may be that a child is introverted, which is why they talk little. Sometimes they mispronounce sounds because of anatomical irregularities. A pediatric speech therapist may also refer you to an audiologist to rule out or confirm hearing loss.
Speech development in a child – basic information
- Children start saying their first sounds, syllables, and words around their first birthday, but this is a very individual process that progresses at a different speed for every child. Some toddlers start talking at 10–12 months of age, while others start a bit later.
- Specific sounds or syllables that are permanently assigned to a given thing, person, or activity are treated as a word. A word can be "mama," "give," "no," but also "oooo" as a way of pointing to, for example, an airplane, "bam" to describe an impact, or "woof woof" as a name for a dog.
- It is generally assumed that 15-month-old children use about 3–5 words.
- A two-year-old should use about 200 words (as understood above); if this is not the case, you should visit a speech therapist.
- Professional help will also be necessary for a younger child in whom we notice a stagnation in the acquisition of new sounds, syllables, and words. If no new sounds appear for about 2–3 months, a speech therapy consultation will be necessary. It is worth noting down the sounds and words uttered by the child – thanks to this, we can see if our little one is making steady progress in this area.
The following symptoms may indicate a speech development delay:
- the child not recognizing their own name,
- unclear and incomprehensible speech,
- lack of interest in the surroundings,
- avoiding eye contact,
- preferring solitary play,
- a poor vocabulary – 2 words that are used to describe all objects in the surroundings,
- not saying any words around the 12th month of life,
- not saying simple sentences around the 24th month of life,
- lack of a close bond between the parent and the child, the toddler does not ask the caregiver for help.
A speech development delay in a 2-year-old should be consulted with a specialist immediately. See a speech therapist when the child does not react to their name or seems to understand your messages but does not formulate their own.
A speech development delay in a 3-year-old requires taking appropriate steps. Take care of the emotional bond with your toddler and perform speech therapy exercises in the form of play during everyday activities. Imitate animal and vehicle noises together, as well as clear articulation of sounds, e.g., "OOO! What a big car!", "AAA, I'm so sleepy," and encourage the child to repeat along with you.
A speech development delay in a 4-year-old can be overcome by supplementing speech therapy with games that encourage the child to speak. Incorporate an object hunt into your daily routine. Let the child choose their favorites and try to name and describe them.
A speech development delay in a 5-year-old requires expanding their laconic statements. For example, when your son/daughter says, "That is a cat," you can add: "That is the neighbor's cat, which has black fur and meows." The point is to expand your child's vocabulary while simultaneously bringing the world closer to them.
Speech development delay in a child – causes
Has your child been diagnosed with a speech development delay? The causes of this problem may include:
- a tongue-tie that is too short,
- enlarged tonsils, which lead to hearing disorders,
- sensory hypersensitivity and a high tendency for overstimulation,
- experienced trauma, e.g., related to domestic violence or separation from the mother,
- incorrect relationships with a parent who maintains emotional distance, neglects the child's needs, does not praise them for their achievements, and rarely talks to them.
The causes of speech development delay are environmental, psychological, anatomical, physiological, metabolic, or genetic in nature. Determining the source of the problem is very important because it sets the direction for further action.
For problems with the frenulum, surgical intervention is recommended. Hearing problems require the support of an audiologist. On the other hand, bond disorders, trauma, and high sensory processing sensitivity are difficulties for which psychological help is recommended. Sometimes, sensory integration classes turn out to be necessary.
Consequences of speech development delay
Speech therapists diagnose speech development delay in many children. The consequences of this problem include:
- incorrect articulation,
- reading and writing problems,
- stuttering,
- difficulties in building relationships with peers,
- emotional hypersensitivity,
- low self-esteem in the child,
- inhibitions in the child, which are often associated with a greater tendency to anxiety,
- mood disorders,
- shyness.
Speech development delay – where to start?
You suspect a speech development delay in your child. Where to start to make it easier for the toddler to learn words? First, consult a pediatric speech therapist. They will conduct a detailed interview and assess the young person's skills. If they decide that the child is at a lower developmental stage than their peers, they will make a diagnosis. Do not treat it as a sentence. Your child can catch up on their speech delay by attending speech therapy. It is recommended to support it by performing simple exercises indicated by the specialist at home. Supplement and make them more attractive with toys that stimulate speech development.
Speech therapy exercises for speech development delay
In the case of exercises, consistency is extremely important. The way you perform them also plays a key role. A toddler learns emotionally. They undertake an activity when it is accompanied by the building of a bond with the caregiver. This is due to the fact that the human brain has been shaped by evolution to remember emotions better than facts.
Stimulate the child's emotional memory by performing speech therapy exercises. Take care of closeness, eye contact, touch, and affection. Avoid the stance of a teacher who works authoritatively. This creates unnecessary stress. A child develops better in a kind and friendly atmosphere. If they have been diagnosed with a speech development delay, the speech therapy exercises found below will prove to be a good solution.
- While performing speech therapy exercises, maintain eye contact with the child. Thanks to this solution, you will not only build a bond with the toddler but also show them how to position their mouth when saying individual words. A young person learns through imitation, so they need a role model.
- Perform exercises with the child that support fine motor skills. Get started on cutting out cookies together, molding figures out of playdough, etc. This is important because by stimulating the motor center, you also activate the speech center. Both are adjacent to each other in the brain.
- Introduce cheek, lip, and tongue exercises that support the articulation of words. Blow bubbles together, blow out candles, and imitate sounds made by different animals.
- It is worth opting for a face and hand massage; it is a great way to stimulate speech development as well as to have a moment of relaxation and calm. You can ask a pediatric physiotherapist, speech therapist, or neurological speech therapist to show you the techniques for such a massage.
- Describe the world surrounding the child. The aforementioned activity is very important. It helps to build a bond of closeness, carries information about the world, and gets them comfortable with speech.
- Make sure to say words correctly and clearly. Avoid diminutives and complicated words. Use simple words and short sentences that are easy for the young person to remember and repeat.
- Proper hearing development is the foundation of speech. Encourage the child to sing simple and rhythmic songs together. You can also introduce dancing and lively gestures. Let this exercise become fun, and learning will come easily to the toddler.
- Listen carefully to what the child has to say to you. Do not hurry them and do not criticize them for mistakes made. When a child feels unimportant because you are not listening to them or you are finishing sentences for them, discouragement appears. None of us likes to perform activities that are met with a lack of appreciation. We abandon them quite quickly.
We also recommend toys that support speech development to your attention. In our assortment, you will find many great products that will supplement and make speech therapy exercises more attractive. We offer, among others, wooden toys, which are considered eco-friendly and durable. You can keep them for the next child.
