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Early Language Delays: Important Facts/Information
Babies start to communicate long before they start speaking. Babies use smiles, giggles, crying, gestures, etc. to communicate their needs long before they start using language.
To be able to understand early language delays, it’s important to understand the language milestones that every child goes through for the first two years.
1st Year
By year 1 most babies can; respond to their names most (if not all) of the time. Most babies are also able to respond to sounds appropriately i.e. look and find where a sound is coming from. 1-year-old's can also say at least one word, say dad and mom as 'da da' and 'ma ma' as well as point to things they want.
2nd Year
Between ages 1 and 2, most toddlers will be able to follow simple commands communicated to them using both language and gestures. Most toddlers aged between 1 and 2 years will also be able to name some common objects, learn new words every week and use gestures and words effectively.
By age 2, most toddlers are able to say several two-word sentences, communicate in a language that many adults can understand about 50% of the time. By age 2, most toddlers can be able to point to pictures in books, body parts as well as common objects, say 50-100 words as well as say a few three-word sentences.
Early Language Delays
Early language delays occur when the above milestones are delayed. If your child can’t follow simple language commands, he/she can't name common objects and/or learn new words on a weekly basis, he/she may have early language delay problems.
It is worth noting that language delays usually occur alongside some behaviors. For instance, if your baby stops doing certain things he/she used to do/like doing or he/she stops talking, this kind of behavior is common with children suffering from early language delays.
Common Behavior Signs
- Your baby doesn’t return a smile.
- Your baby doesn’t enjoy cuddling like other babies.
- He/she doesn’t notice certain noises.
- He/she acts distant/doesn’t notice you in a room.
- He/she can’t use simple words to communicate needs.
There are some of the most common behavioral signs to look out for among children experiencing early language delays.
Although some children learn how to use language later than others, some children (who experience language delays) tend to exhibit certain behavioral problems which portray their frustration when they are unable to express their needs and wants. Simple language delays may be temporary or solvable with a little help from family members. In severe cases however, a child may require professional help from a speech-language therapist (SLP).
Early language delays shouldn’t be avoided since some delays are warning signs of more serious problems i.e. hearing loss, developmental delays in other areas or even ASD (autism spectrum disorder).
Diagnosis
Early language delays should be diagnosed by speech-language therapists. The sole purpose of diagnosis is finding out whether the delays are normal or not. Parents are usually asked questions to find out information such as; when the delay started, behavior changes, medical history of the child, etc. Diagnosis also involves and interaction session between the child and the speech-language therapist in an effort to learn more about the language delay as well as the child’s development. A hearing test is also conducted during diagnosis. A speech-language therapist's main job is evaluating a child’s ability to understand speech as well as gestures.
Treatment
Depending on the diagnosis, the SLP may recommend various treatments. Early language delays are usually treated using early language intervention programs. If your child has expressive language delays only, the SLP should be able to recommend some home remedies and/or recommend formal speech therapy.
If your child has a delay in both language and understanding i.e. receptive language and the hearing test turns out normal, your child will require further evaluation to determine the root cause of the language delays. In typical early language delay problems, speech therapy alongside ways of improving a child’s social skills and behavior are adequate enough to deal with the delays effectively. In severe cases, direct therapy and special equipment may be used. Treatment also involves parent training and support.
Sometimes your doctor may tell you not to worry i.e. it’s just a normal language delay problem. If that’s the case, there is no cause for concern. It is, however, advisable to get a second opinion if the problem persists for months.
Related Posts
Receptive language delays can be defined as the inability to comprehend both verbal and nonverbal language. Children who suffer from receptive language delays have problems understanding both spoken as well as written and gestural language.
Is your child having trouble expressing himself/herself using language? If yes, look no further. Your child may be experiencing expressive language delays. Below is everything you need to know.
Development of Language: There are many factors that affect a child’s language development ranging from early learning experiences, their physical development, to social interaction. It can also be influenced by a developmental delay, hearing impairment, genetics, or autism. Children with language delays or disorders may also have difficulties with reading, spelling and school subjects, so early assessment and treatment (intervention) is important.
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Our team specializes in speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy for children, adults, and seniors. Our offices are in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but we travel to communities in Northwestern Ontario.
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