Speech and Language Development - From Birth to Six Years
Mind
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Speech is the verbal expression of language, whereas, language is the way we get and give information. It is a way of communication and can be verbal, non-verbal and written.
Speech delay means the child is unable to speak or produce any sound of the language that is appropriate for his age. A child with a speech delay might use words to express his ideas but he will be hard to understand.
Language delay means a delay in the verbal components of a language. A child is said to have language delay when he lacks the age-appropriate language skills, either in terms of understanding it or speaking it. A child with language delay might say words well but only be able to put two words together.
The following is a rough guideline to help track your child’s speech and language development:
|
Age of Child |
Ability |
|
At birth |
Crying |
|
2 to 3 months |
Variations in crying depending on what the baby is trying to communicate. |
|
3 to 4 months |
Babbling, Crying |
|
5 to 6 months |
Rhythmic Babbling, Crying |
|
6 to 11 months |
Talking through expressive babbling. |
|
One year |
|
|
18 months |
|
|
Two years |
|
|
Three years |
|
|
Four years |
|
|
Five years |
|
|
Six years |
|
Reasons for speech and language delay: Delay can be caused by a variety of reasons like learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, hearing impairment, chronic ear infections, abnormalities in the tongue or palate, oral motor issues, children born premature and birth-related neurological issues like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. These days nuclear families and busy parents force children to be stuck with too much screen time. Not having enough opportunities for a two-way communication process can also lead to a delay.
It is important to provide a home environment where the baby can develop his language skills early on. Here are some tips:
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Talk to you baby right from birth. It stimulates the language centre of the brain.
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When the child starts babbling, encourage him by pretending to understand the conversation and respond to him.
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While doing your chores, keep talking to your child about what you are doing.
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Read a lot of books to your baby. It's never too much and never too early to start.
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Sings songs to your baby. Music has a positive effect on the brain and stimulates the language centre.
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After about 2.5-3 years, your child will have a never-ending stream of whys and hows. Answer them patiently to help them understand things and encourage two-way communication.
When parents observe signs of delay, it is best to consult a speech-language pathologist, who can evaluate the underlying problem and address it. The earlier it is identified, the sooner it can be set right. The pathologist will advise the kind of speech therapy required to put your child on the path to proper speech and language development.
Stay Tuned! Stay Relevant!
