If you suspect that your child has a language barrier, speak up. The key to treating language disorders is early intervention.
Perhaps no other milestone than walking generates as much anticipation as a baby's first words. Everyone wants to see and hear what their children have to say. But children need time to develop language skills. Many babies don't say "mom," "dad," or "dad" until they're one year old. So, how do you know if your child's development is on track? What are the symptoms of language disorders in young children?
Here's everything you need to know about the language your baby is developing, from what they can say and when to what you should pay attention to.
When does the baby start talking?
Most babies begin to "talk" between 9 and 14 months; however, their speech journey begins from the moment they are born. Babies begin to imitate words and sounds around 4 months of age, although this early expression is nothing more than "caas," "babbles," and "coos." At 6 months old, you may hear the first ingredient of the word. It's common to imitate vowels at this age, and by the time you're 9 months old, you're probably going to be talking gibberish here, like "ba-ba-ba-ba."
When do babies say their first words?
When it comes to their first word, many children say it before (or shortly after) their first birthday, but that can be different. Every child and situation is unique, and a "normal" for a baby may not be the norm for your child. This means that some children will say their first truth at 7 months of age, while others may remain silent until 17 months. However, if you are concerned about your child's language development, you can (and should) talk to their pediatrician.
What should you do if your child speaks slowly?
As mentioned before, if your child looks "left behind", you don't have to worry. The age of speaking ranges from 6 months to 18 months. Sure, you may be worried if your child can't speak at 19 months, but it's normal. Some children take longer to master the language than others. If in doubt, consult your child's doctor and/or a speech-language pathologist.
What are the signs of language impairment in young children?
The symptoms of language development disorders vary from child to child and from disorder to disorder. Some of the most common symptoms of expressive language disorder or difficulty using language include difficulties:
Understand gestures
Name the object
Use words correctly
Use the appropriate syntax
Children with expressive language disorders may also have problems expressing thoughts and ideas and/or asking or answering questions.
Those with receptive language disorder or difficulty mastering and understanding language may experience the following difficulties:
Follow the direction
Understand what people are saying
Learn new words
Understand the questions they are being asked
Reading comprehension in older children is also an issue.
When to talk to your doctor
Usually, a child who speaks late catches up with their peers. But a recent study found that more than 7 percent of 5-year-olds don't get away with the problem before they start school, and for those kids, the consequences of waiting can be severe. Undetected illnesses have been linked to poor reading and academic performance, as well as emotional problems.
You may want to ask for help if:
By 9 months of age, your baby hasn't learned to speak, or they've had little or no consonants.
By 12 months, your baby will look at what they want, but won't use gestures, such as pointing, to show you what they want.
By the time you're 16 months old, you haven't heard your child's first words.
By the time they are 24 to 30 months old, your child has not yet said two-word phrases, such as "more cookies."
By 36 months, your child will only speak monosyllabic words, with no end-of-word consonants. They also don't ask questions and often lose their temper when they're not understood.
You know your child best, and if, deep down, you suspect that something is wrong with your child and you are not satisfied with the pediatrician's response, make an appointment with a speech-language pathologist or neurodevelopmental pediatrician.
What is Speech Therapy?
If it turns out that your child's stunting is stunted and they will get rid of it, then it won't cause any harm, you can rest assured. On the other hand, if something goes wrong, you and your child will benefit greatly from early treatment.