Language and speech are the core developmental milestones, without which nothing can be understood.
Is your child undergoing a language and speech developmental delay?
About 5 to 10 percent of preschoolers usually undergo such developmental delays.
Seeking advice is important, but unfortunately, most parents don’t.
“Some walk early others talk early……..It’s just a matter of time.”
Giving space and time to let your child develop his own set of communication skills is great but at the same time, you need to be aware of what is right and what is not.
In this post, you will find some great ways to help you understand and aid your little one if he has any language and speech delay.
Language and Speech Delay
Language and speech delay has become common these days.
Most kids, even beyond the age of 2, don’t learn to talk well and reciprocate.
There are numerous check points to make sure that your child’s development is on track.
Here, are a few check points:
Language receptivity
You need to check from your child’s reciprocation, as to how much he understands the language spoken to him.
Understanding may not have anything to do with speaking, but recent research has shown that kids who start speaking late have comparatively poor receptivity at times.
If you feel that your child understands most of what you tell him, then you need not worry much about speech delay.
Else, a professional advice needs to be sought.
Use of facial and body gestures
If your child talks less but uses body gestures well, then you need not worry.
Some kids pick up non verbal communication skills faster than oral communication skills.
If your child uses a lot of gestures, later on, he will be able to match his peers in oral communication.
It is also
- the genetic makeup,
- the grasping and
- the choice of the baby to exhibit his development at his own pace.
If you notice that your child using enough gestures despite having speech delays then you need not worry at all.
Age of Diagnosis
These delays, especially those related to speech and language, need to be attended to as early as possible.
Analyze if you, or your spouse, or your respective relatives, have had such developmental delays as babies.
If yes, then probably it is genetic and would sort out with time.
If not, then you better seek professional advice immediately, as the older your child grows, the more difficult it becomes to help him come out of his language barrier.
Normally, parents are advised to talk a lot to such kids.
If there is any delay beyond acceptance then your child might be referred to a speech therapist.
Check the gradual progress
Your child may develop slower than expected, but look for new additions to his vocabulary every now and then.
A gradual increase to the child’s vocabulary shows that he is developing fine.
The delay is only temporary and should not be a matter of concern any more.
Also, look for different sentence formation using the same word.
If he is trying to ask different questions every day with regard to the same object, this clearly shows that he is developing well.
These are small check points which help you to track the communication development of your child.
Remember,
Every child is unique and different and it is absolutely okay if there is a delay in one or more milestones as such.
There is a difference in speech delay and speech disorder.
A speech disorder will surely have to be treated with professional help but speech delay is only temporary and gets solved by its own.
More Interesting Articles For You:
- Speech Therapy for your child
- Stop Hitting and Biting in your child
- How to get your child to sit quietly in the car